KENNETH H. MARKS is the founder and Managing Partner of High Rock Partners, Inc. He has been involved as a manager, advisor, and board member with over two dozen emerging growth and middle-market companies. Marks was a member of the Young Presidents' Organization (YPO) while growing his first company. He teaches in executive programs at Loyola University Chicago and North Carolina State University.

LARRY E. ROBBINS is a founding partner of Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP, a premier law firm located in North Carolina. He is a leading attorney in North Carolina middle-market financing and M&A transactions. Robbins received his BA, MBA, and JD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

GONZALO FERNÁNDEZ is a partner with High Rock Partners, Inc. and a retired vice president and controller of ITT's telecom business in Raleigh, North Carolina. He received a BA in accounting from Havana University, Cuba, and wrote the book, Estados Financieros (Financial Statements, Third Edition).

JOHN P. FUNKHOUSER has been a partner with two venture capital funds and operated as chief executive officer of four companies in a variety of industries. He worked in commercial banking with Chemical Bank of New York, in investment banking with Wheat First Securities, Inc., and in venture capital with Hillcrest Group.

D.L. WILLIAMS is a managing partner of High Rock Partners, Inc. As a CEO for over twenty-five years, he led three global manufacturing/technology companies through major transitions--two of which he led the buyout of, working with private equity firms. As an advisor, he has worked with companies in numerous industries on growth, operational, and turnaround strategies to create value and implement change. Williams obtained his MBA from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Foreword.

Preface.

Acknowledgments.

About the Authors.

PART I The Financing Process.

Chapter 1 Introduction.

Chapter 2 Planning and Alignment (Begin with the End in Mind).

An Overview of the Planning Process.

Strategic Planning.

Updated Forecast.

Business Valuation.

Chapter 3 Acquisitions, Recapitalizations, and Exits.

Acquisitions.

Selling the Company, Creating Shareholder Liquidity.

Chapter 4 Capital Structure and Financing Strategy.

Assimilating the Drivers.

Developing Liability Limits.

Chapter 5 Sources of Capital and What to Expect.

Bootstrapping Sources and Techniques.

Individual Investors (Private Placements Not from Angels or Institutions).

Angel Investors.

Commercial Banks.

Asset-Based Lenders.

Commercial Finance Companies.

Leasing Companies.

Private Equity.

Venture Capital Funds.

Mezzanine Funds.

Buyout Funds.

Hedge Funds.

Strategic or Industry Investors--Corporate Venture Capital.

Merchant Banks.

Community Development Initiatives and Government Agencies.

Micro-Cap Public Entities.

Royalty Financing.

Chapter 6 Equity and Debt Financings: Documentation and Regulatory Sources of Capital and What to Expect.

Basic Definition of Debt and Equity.

Debt Instruments.

Loan Documentation.

Equity Instruments.

Equity Investment Documentation.

Compliance with Securities Laws.

Chapter 7 Expert Support--The Players and Their Roles.

Counsel.

Board of Directors.

Investment Bankers.

Accountants.

Consultants/Advisers.

Summary.

Chapter 8 Closing the Deal.

Process Check-in.

Final Perspective.

PART TWO Case Studies.

Case Study 1 Asset-Based Lender, Receivables Financing.

Case Study 2 Asset-Based Lender, High Risk Loan.

Case Study 3 Asset-Based Lender, Assignment for Benefit of Creditors.

Case Study 4 Asset-Based Lender, Acquisition.

Case Study 5 Asset-Based Lender, Turnaround Funding.

Case Study 6 Asset-Based Lender, Growth Financing.

Case Study 7 Commercial Finance, Trade Financing.

Case Study 8 Angel Investor, Initial Funding and Sale of Company.

Case Study 9 Venture Capital, Early Stage Growth Equity.

Case Study 10 Royalty Financing.

Case Study 11 Venture Capital, Growth Equity.

Case Study 12 Community Development Finance, Growth Funding.

Case Study 13 Debt with Revenue Sharing.

Case Study 14 Mezzanine Investment.

Case Study 15 Private Equity, Acquisition through Exit.

Case Study 16 Private Equity, Management Buyout / Partner Exit.

Case Study 17 Private Equity, Restructuring.

Case Study 18 Private Equity, Acquisition with Management Participation.

Case Study 19 Private Equity, Public to Private Transaction.

Case Study 20 Private Equity, Buy-and-Build Strategy.

PART THREE Financing Source Directory.

Suggested Use of the Directory Section.

APPENDIX A Corporate Finance Primer.

APPENDIX B : Financial Statements.

APPENDIX C Discount Rates.

APPENDIX D How Fast Can Your Company Afford to Grow?

APPENDIX E Notes about Start-Ups.

APPENDIX F Accounting Principles--GAAP and IFRS.

Glossary.

Notes.

Index.