Vga: Balentine acquires Valuation Growth Advisory
What's the deal? BalentineDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, an independent wealth management firm with more than $9 billion in assets under advisement, has acquired Alpharetta, Georgia-based Valuation Growth Advisory (VGA)Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → in an all-stock transaction. VGADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → is an advisory firm founded by entrepreneur and financial strategist Tom Matthesen.
The hire: Matthesen joins as head of business advisory within Balentine's Family Office Solutions group, led by chief strategy officer Mark Bell. He brings more than three decades of experience helping middle-market companies improve performance, optimise capital structures, and prepare for succession.
What's the endgame? Balentine wants to build a family office platform that combines business advisory with wealth management for entrepreneurs and multigenerational families. The firm launched its Family Office Solutions platform nearly a decade ago.
Why now? For many entrepreneurs, their business is their largest asset and a central part of their family's identity. "This acquisition will allow us to double-down on what is working for Balentine," Bell said.
Matthesen's career spans corporate lending, turnaround management, and entrepreneurship. He founded and exited a specialty finance company, then served as CEO of Presidential Financial CorporationDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, which he turned around and sold to MidFirst BankDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. Before founding VGA, he was president of Thrive FarmersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, serving brands including Chick-fil-ADealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and Delta Air LinesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
"I've spent my career working alongside business owners as a lender, advisor, CEO and entrepreneur myself, and Balentine is the perfect fit," Matthesen said.
The signal: The deal reflects a push among wealth managers to serve business owners beyond investment management, folding advisory services on building, financing, and selling companies into their offerings.
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Read more: AP News
