A Letter from Management
Dear Reader,
At RLS Associates we are dedicated to providing ethical, professional and confidential mergers, acquisitions, divestiture, and strategic management consulting services to clients involved with closely held mid-market businesses with $1 million to $100 million in revenues, as well as smaller enterprises in high growth industries. This website will provide you with a basic understanding of our history, values, approach to business, skills, experience, and service offerings.
Rodney L. Sirois founded RLS in Wilmington, Delaware, in March 1986. In 1999, Mr. Sirois transitioned RLS to his colleagues, David K. Bernstein, who joined RLS in 1988; Anthony J. Piovoso, who has been with the firm since its inception in 1986; and Richard J. Squadron.
In the early 1990s, RLS responded to the needs of companies engaged in “mid-market” merger, acquisition, and disposition transactions – a market RLS identified as being inadequately served by firms who were both professional and ethical.
The quality of the RLS’ professional talents and personalities, its highly structured and client-friendly approach, and the analysis and strategic skills RLS brought to the market were significantly above the level of capabilities and experience generally available from most of the other individuals or firms in the industry. With extensive experience in the middle market, RLS remains committed to providing premier services to this under-served market.
We recognize that middle-market companies have distinct attributes and needs. The success of a mid-sized company through business growth, mergers, acquisitions, or divestiture, requires specialized skills, focus, and market knowledge. Our firm is comprised of senior consulting and M&A professionals who are dedicated to assisting mid-market companies and transactions.
Our approach is to partner with our clients, aligning our financial interests with theirs, with each of us learning enough about the other to foster mutual trust and understanding. We invite you to meet with us to get to know us better and to explore how we can help you to meet your objectives. We look forward to the opportunity to serve and assist you in meeting and surpassing your business objectives.
David K. Bernstein, Principal
Letter from Founder
Dear Reader,
In this electronic age of instant everything, the pace is so fast that by the time busy people start to pick away at the “must do” pile conditions will have changed. Sometimes good, sometimes not so good, but one thing you can be sure of is that both the pace and quantity of business information will increase.
For the small to medium size business owner, this often translates into running faster and working longer just to stand still. No time, too much going on, can’t find time to take a vacation to enjoy the pleasant parts of life resulting from years of hard work. While this may not warm your heart or be true in your case, if it somewhat applies to your situation, this may be the time to call RLS for a discussion of various options you may wish to consider.
I established RLS Associates because the needs of the mid-market, private sector business community were not served by any dedicated professional group. RLS has been tailored over its lifetime to fill this niche by providing buyers and sellers of closely held businesses with the professional level of service that is common to Wall Street, but not often available in connection with sales, acquisitions, mergers, divestitures, and strategic growth of mid-market businesses.
Our methods are quiet and professional, and all transactions are completely confidential. We first meet privately with the owners to identify their specific needs and to explain our approach and role with details of each step along the critical path to success. For many of our clients, we are assisting in a merger or divestiture transaction that is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so our focus is on a successful transaction that maximizes their value from the transaction.
All members of RLS have extensive and varied advanced educational training, business and/or corporate backgrounds and M&A experience, allowing us to select the best team to assist in each transaction. Each has extensive training in our unique field and continues their learning with personal involvement and attendance at seminars and programs and in professional business associations to maintain contacts and expertise.
Our product is professional business service in the traditional, personal style. The range of services we offer, as well as our methods and resources, are described in detail in this folder. We have available a list of individuals who have worked with RLS as friends, clients, professionals, and advisors who you may contact and inquire about our services and expertise, as well as our integrity.
Rodney L. Sirois, Founder
