There’s A New Investment Banking Firm In Town Specializing In Mergers And Acquisitions

PierCap Partners, a new investment banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions, has been launched in San Diego by co-founders and managing directors Ashish Jariwala and Zaheer Dhruv (above). At 445 Marine View Ave in Del Mar, the firm will serve privately held and family-owned businesses, with revenues of $10M to $250M and create value through acquisitions or partial/full sale of ownership interest for the best combination of price, terms and strategic fit.

Bisnow caught up with Zaheer and Ashish, both of whom have spent the majority of their careers on the East Coast, to find out why they chose San Diego to launch this new venture. “San Diego is the perfect blend of a thriving economy, great weather, outstanding schools, a mix of outdoor activities, and a place with vibrant people and lifestyle,” Zaheer tells us.

He says over the last 20 years they have worked with businesses ranging from manufacturing, distribution and specialty firms to high-tech, healthcare and energy companies. “San Diego’s diversified mix of business sectors provides a platform for building relationships and working closely with our ideal customers: family-owned and privately held businesses," Zaheer says.

He also says their families enjoy outdoor activities, like soccer, sailing, golfing, tennis, hiking and camping. “Therefore, San Diego has always been our favorite destination, and our decision to move here was never about if, but when,” he says, noting San Diego is a market favorable to their business interests. “Our personal and professional interests aligned very well.”

The firm’s services include investment banking, partial or full business sales (sell-side M&A), acquisitions (buy-side M&A), divestitures, transaction advisory, valuations and opinions, and strategic assessments. PierCap focuses on a limited number of clients to offer senior-level engagement throughout each phase of a transaction, with the goal of helping owners achieve personal and professional goals.

"For most owners, selling their business or bringing on new investors is not something they do every day, but for us, it’s our singular focus," says Ashish (above). “We understand how important it is to get the countless details just right. Our goal is to give owners peace of mind throughout the process, knowing that they are armed with the data and insights needed to make the best decisions to meet their goals.”

Zaheer says PierCap employs a disciplined M&A process based on three principles for attaining the best outcome: maintaining the delicate balance and spirit of collaboration, establishing and negotiating from a position of strength, and securing optimal outcome and trust between all parties.

“Mergers and acquisitions are a critical part of a business strategy,” he says. “Our goal is to see all business owners explore multiple viable offers and to have the transaction cross the finish line with minimal disruptions to running their business. Being able to do so effectively benefits not just the owners and the business, but also the larger communities they serve." Strategies employed include exploring all viable financial options, providing marketing and positioning expertise, pursuing the highest-quality prospects (locally, nationally and globally), and employing proven negotiation strategies.

Ashish and Zaheer (both above) are experienced in all sides of the "transactional table," as business operators, acquirers, sellers, marketers, strategists and corporate leaders, providing a convergence of diverse perspectives for helping businesses create value.

An investment banking professional since 2002, Ashish has worked primarily with entrepreneurs and privately held companies engaged in a variety of industries throughout his career, specializing in investment banking for M&As and financial advisory services.

Zaheer supported multiple private equity and corporate acquisitions, most recently as a senior leader at Direct Energy, one of North America's largest retail providers of electricity, natural gas and home services.