Corporate Finance Associates
Corporate Finance Associates is an independent middle-market investment bank founded in 1956, providing M&A advisory, capital markets, exit planning, valuation, and ESOP services through 34 offices worldwide, serving business owners and mid-cap companies with $10M-$250M enterprise values.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1956
- HeadquartersLaguna Hills, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Corporate Finance Associates does
Corporate Finance Associates Worldwide (CFAW) is an independent, privately-held investment banking firm founded in 1956 and headquartered in Aliso Viejo, California. The firm specializes in middle-market M&A advisory services, targeting privately-owned businesses and mid-cap public companies with enterprise values typically between $10 million and $250 million. CFAW delivers sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, capital markets services, exit planning, business valuation, and ESOP transaction advisory, organized around 18 industry practice groups spanning aerospace/defense, healthcare, technology/media/telecom, industrials, and consumer retail, among others.
The firm operates through a federated network of 34 offices across 13+ countries in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and South America. Each member office is staffed by senior principals — many of whom are former entrepreneurs and CEOs — who deliver engagements directly without intermediaries, combining local market knowledge with the firm's global resources. Revenue is generated through transaction-based professional services fees negotiated per engagement, with no public pricing disclosure. Since its founding, CFAW has completed over 3,500 transactions across 100+ industries. Ownership is held internally following a 1996 management buyout, with no disclosed PE/VC investors. Current leadership is Jim Zipursky as Chairman and CEO, who succeeded Peter Heydenrych in 2018.
Corporate Finance Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Corporate Finance Associates
- Legal name
- Corporate Finance Associates Worldwide, Inc.
- Website
- https://cfaw.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1956
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Corporate Finance Associates is an independent middle-market investment bank founded in 1956, providing M&A advisory, capital markets, exit planning, valuation, and ESOP services through 34 offices worldwide, serving business owners and mid-cap companies with $10M-$250M enterprise values.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Corporate Finance Associates industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Middle-Market Investment Banking & M&A Advisory
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161), Other Financial Investment Activities (5239)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Security Brokers, Dealers & Flotation Companies (6211)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG), Capital Markets Advisory (IPO Readiness, SPAC, ECM/DCM Advisory) (BPAHAOAL), Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)
Keywords
Where Corporate Finance Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Laguna Hills
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices32 records
Markets served
Corporate Finance Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- M&A Advisory Fees: CFAW generates revenue through professional services fees for mergers and acquisitions advisory, including sell-side advisory, buy-side advisory, capital markets services, and exit planning. Fees are typically transaction-based, earned upon successful completion of M&A transactions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Transaction-based advisory fees negotiated per engagement |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Corporate Finance Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Corporate Finance Associates Worldwide (CFAW) is an independent international investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to middle-market businesses. Its core offerings include sell-side advisory (divestitures, mergers, recapitalizations), buy-side advisory (acquisitions, rollups, consolidation), capital markets (partner buyouts, acquisition financing, growth capital), exit planning, market value assessment/business valuation, and ESOP transactions. The firm delivers these services through a global network of 34 offices with senior principals personally managing each engagement from inception to completion.
Product overview
Corporate Finance Associates (CFAW) is a middle-market investment banking firm offering a unified suite of M&A advisory services. The core offerings include Sell Side Advisory, Buy Side Advisory, Capital Markets, Exit Planning, Market Value Assessment, and ESOP Transactions. These services are delivered through a global network of 34 offices across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific, supported by industry-specific practice groups covering Aerospace/Defense, Agriculture, Healthcare, Technology/Media/Telecom, and 14 other industry sectors. The firm serves middle-market businesses seeking to sell, acquire, or recapitalize.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Sell Side Advisory
- Buy Side Advisory
- Capital Markets
- Exit Planning
- Market Value Assessment
- ESOP Transactions
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 3,500 transactions completed since 1956
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Corporate Finance Associates
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Corporate Finance Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Corporate Finance Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BlackArch PartnersminorBlackArch Partners advised Chimney Rock on the acquisition of Gas Clip Technologies, while Corporate Finance Associates represented the seller. This represents a co-advisory relationship on a specific transaction rather than an ongoing strategic partnership.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Corporate Finance Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Houlihan Lokey: Publicly-traded middle-market investment bank with deep M&A advisory, capital markets, and valuation practices. Directly comparable business model to CFAW in serving middle-market clients with senior-led execution.
- FocalPoint Partners: Middle-market M&A advisory firm specializing in transactions typically under $1 billion in value. Comparable to CFAW in serving founder-led and family-owned businesses across multiple industry verticals.
- Generational Equity: M&A advisory firm specializing in transactions for privately held, founder-led businesses, primarily in the $10M–$250M enterprise value range. Directly comparable to CFAW in target client profile and deal size sweet spot.
- Marsh Berry: M&A and growth advisory firm specializing in insurance and financial services distribution. Comparable to CFAW in providing sell-side and buy-side advisory to middle-market companies within a defined industry specialization.
- Lincoln International: Global middle-market M&A advisory firm with a network-based model across the Americas, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Closely comparable to CFAW in deal size range, geographic coverage, and transaction-based advisory model.
- Source Capital Group: Middle-market investment bank providing M&A advisory and capital raising services. Directly comparable to CFAW in serving small-to-mid-cap companies with sell-side and capital markets advisory.
Broad incumbents
- Piper Sandler Companies: Diversified middle-market investment bank with significant M&A advisory operations. Overlaps with CFAW in middle-market deal size and industry verticals, but operates with a much broader capital markets and equity research franchise.
- Stifel Financial Corp. Diversified financial services firm with a substantial middle-market investment banking practice. Comparable to CFAW in deal size focus and industry breadth, but with broader capital markets and brokerage capabilities.
- Cowen (acquired by TD Securities): Middle-market-focused investment bank with M&A advisory and capital markets operations prior to acquisition. Comparable to CFAW in middle-market segment but with broader equities and trading capabilities.
- Robert W. Baird & Co. Employee-owned middle-market investment bank with M&A advisory, capital markets, and wealth management. Comparable to CFAW in middle-market focus but significantly larger and more diversified.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Corporate Finance Associates social profiles
Digital presenceCorporate Finance Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Corporate Finance Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Corporate Finance Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Corporate Finance Associates M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Corporate Finance Associates
What does Corporate Finance Associates do?
Corporate Finance Associates Worldwide (CFAW) is an independent international investment banking firm providing M&A advisory services to middle-market businesses. Its core offerings include sell-side advisory (divestitures, mergers, recapitalizations), buy-side advisory (acquisitions, rollups, consolidation), capital markets (partner buyouts, acquisition financing, growth capital), exit planning, market value assessment/business valuation, and ESOP transactions. The firm delivers these services through a global network of 34 offices with senior principals personally managing each engagement from inception to completion.
Is Corporate Finance Associates a public or private company?
Corporate Finance Associates is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Corporate Finance Associates founded?
Corporate Finance Associates was founded in 1956. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Corporate Finance Associates based?
Corporate Finance Associates is headquartered in Laguna Hills, United States, in the North America region.
How does Corporate Finance Associates make money?
One revenue line is on record: M&A Advisory Fees.
Who are Corporate Finance Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Houlihan Lokey, FocalPoint Partners, Generational Equity, Marsh Berry, Lincoln International and Source Capital Group. Broad incumbents are Piper Sandler Companies, Stifel Financial Corp., Cowen (acquired by TD Securities) and Robert W. Baird & Co..
Does Corporate Finance Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for Corporate Finance Associates.
What industry is Corporate Finance Associates in?
Corporate Finance Associates's product category is Middle-Market Investment Banking & M&A Advisory. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAEAGAE, Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps), with a secondary code of BPAHAOAG, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 6282.