Our Perspective on Independent Sponsor Success

Over the past decade, we've witnessed a remarkable evolution in the lower middle market. Independent sponsors and searchers have emerged as sophisticated, agile operators—often outmaneuvering traditional funds in competitive processes. Yet the path from LOI to close remains fraught with execution risk, particularly around capital formation. The Gap Capital Challenge We've observed a consistent pattern: talented sponsors identify compelling opportunities, negotiate favorable terms, and then face the uphill battle of assembling the capital stack within compressed timeframes. Whether it's that final $2-5MM equity gap or the right growth capital partner who understands the thesis, timing becomes the enemy of execution. The Target Identification Puzzle Conversely, well-capitalized searchers and sponsors often struggle to access proprietary deal flow. The best opportunities rarely make it to broad auction processes. They're sourced through relationships, industry expertise, and systematic outreach—capabilities that require significant infrastructure. How We Add Value At Argo Advisory we focuses exclusively on bridging these gaps for independent sponsors and searchers: • Capital Formation: Leveraging our network of family offices, co-investment vehicles, and flexible capital sources to close equity gaps and structure creative solutions • Proprietary Deal Origination: Conducting systematic, targeted outreach to identify off-market and lightly-marketed opportunities that align with your investment criteria and operational expertise • Process Management: Serving as an extension of your team to manage multiple workstreams simultaneously, allowing you to focus on underwriting and value creation We've structured our practice to be responsive, efficient, and aligned with the entrepreneurial nature of the independent sponsor model. No retainers, no conflicts—just results-oriented partnership. Let's Connect If you're an independent sponsor or searcher navigating these challenges, I'd welcome a conversation about how we might support your next transaction. Whether you're three weeks from close and need to fill a capital gap, or you're beginning the search process and want to build a robust pipeline, we're here to help. Feel free to reach out directly at redacted ________________________________________ The best deals get done through preparation, relationships, and execution. Let's make yours one of them.