Offering support to searchers in the US, Israel and LatAm

I am Rafael Guerra, Founding Partner at Apeltrys Advisors, an independent M&A advisory firm focused on the lower middle market. We operate across the United States, Israel, and LatAm, advising clients on both sell-side and buy-side mandates, with a strong emphasis on execution, positioning, and navigating complex transaction dynamics. Our work is centered on situations that require a higher degree of structuring, analytical depth, and strategic positioning. This includes founder-led businesses, cross-border opportunities, and processes where information asymmetry or lack of preparation can directly impact valuation, deal certainty, and timelines. For searchers: we act as a technical and strategic partner throughout the investment lifecycle. We support deep-dive financial analysis, quality of earnings assessments, working capital normalization, and transaction structuring. We also help identify non-obvious risks and value creation angles that can materially influence underwriting and negotiation outcomes. We are also actively involved in structuring potential exit pathways for searchers who are already operating their businesses. This includes positioning the company for future strategic buyers, preparing the asset for a sell-side process, and aligning operational and financial narratives to maximize exit optionality and valuation. A recurring dynamic in the lower middle market involves entrepreneurs operating without proper advisory. This often introduces inefficiencies, misaligned expectations, and friction points that can stall or break transactions. In these cases, we can step in to help organize the process, structure communication, and align incentives to improve execution and increase the likelihood of a successful outcome. If you are currently evaluating opportunities, underwriting a target, managing a portfolio company, or navigating a challenging process, we are available to support both on a transactional basis and as a strategic partner.