June 14, 2023 – Blue River Financial Group announced today that it received recognition for its outstanding performance in 2022 from M&A Source, the leading trade association for lower middle market transaction advisors. The organization named Blue River Top Firm of the Year in the 10+ person firm category and awarded William Loftis, Blue River’s co-founder and Managing Partner, Platinum Club membership for surpassing the $15 million in transaction volume threshold.
M&A Source is an association of investment bankers, merger and acquisition advisors, and other business intermediaries. With an emphasis on education and excellence, M&A Source provides professional education, networking opportunities, and events focused on the middle market community. M&A Source’s top educational designation is the Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI), which Mr. Loftis holds. M&A Source also previously named Mr. Loftis a Fellow of the M&A Source for outstanding contributions and service to the organization.
“It is with great pleasure that we acknowledge the hard work and excellence of our largest awards group yet,” stated Kylene Golubski, M&A Source Executive Director. “These individuals and firms represent some of the best professionals in the lower middle market and we congratulate them on their success.”
This is the second year in a row Blue River earned Top Firm of the Year which is awarded to the firm closing the highest amount of enterprise values. William Loftis accepted both awards at the Spring Conference and Deal Market hosted in Orlando, FL in May 2023. Advisors and private equity groups were present to celebrate the work of the year’s top leaders in the M&A space.
William Loftis said, “M&A Source is a wellspring of advanced educational excellence that uniquely equips middle market investment bankers and advisors with the tools to survive and thrive as M&A professionals. Beyond education, the organization offers opportunities to build lifelong relationships with other advisors and middle-market investors through conferences, deal events, and other meaningful activities. I credit much of my personal and professional growth to M&A Source.”
He continued, “Blue River’s extraordinary growth perfectly correlates to the remarkable people who joined our team and the long list of outstanding clients who entrusted their transactional needs to our care. Our culture fuses an unshakeable commitment to timeless core values with an insatiable hunger to gain and apply specialized M&A knowledge. The combination is a reliable formula that consistently delivers outstanding outcomes for our clients. So, with enormous pride and gratitude, I accept the prestigious M&A Firm of the Year award on behalf of all the dedicated employees and clients who made this remarkable achievement possible.”
This is the second major peer-driven award for Blue River in 2023. The Detroit Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) recognized Bryan Berent, Blue River’s other co-founder and Managing Partner, as 2022 All Star Investment Banker of the Year, which acknowledges his significant achievements in 2022.
While this award may seem like an individual award, it is actually a testament to the amazing team that calls Blue River their home. I have never been prouder to be part of this group of highly skilled and dedicated professionals.” said Bryan Berent.
About Blue River
Blue River Financial Group is a middle market merger and acquisition advisory firm headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. It assists corporations, private equity groups and individuals in the sale and acquisition of businesses, and has completed assignments in multiple business segments. With over 20 years of experience spanning across 50 global industries, Blue River provides a suite of services to middle market clients including corporate development, private equity support, valuations and transaction consulting, placing a premium on relationship-centered transaction counsel and client focus.
