Dedicated to the food, agribusiness, and renewable energy industries, Ascendant Partners provides consultative solutions for its clients focused in the areas of business management, credit risk management, and capital services. Ascendant Partners provides our clients with practical and comprehensive solutions with an independent perspective; a combination that is truly unique and valued in the marketplace. As a trusted and committed partner, we create exceptional value by leveraging our market, business, and financial expertise to help clients create and maintain renewable business success.

Consulting Services

Strategic Business Planning (Board Development): We take a unique approach to helping companies gain the strategic focus and alignment so critical for business success

Market Assessments: We help our clients better understand what’s possible for their organization given the realities of the marketplace and in the context of their business goals and objectives.

Pre-Feasibility Assessment Tools: These engagements leverage the latest technology to deliver web-based learning tools that help accelerate the targeted audience’s understanding of new markets and the realities of doing business in those markets.

Feasibility Studies: We help our clients understand the risks and opportunities associated with major initiatives or investments; i.e., acquisitions, building new facilities, forming alliances of JVs, etc.

Business Planning: Ascendant’s approach to business planning provides our clients a vehicle to communicate effectively with stakeholders, a robust base for legal counsel to formalize an offering memorandum and a proven framework for focused execution that minimizes costly mistakes during the construction and early operation phases.

Investment Analysis Valuation and Marketing Strategy: Ascendant Partners analyzes the unique financial, technical, operational and market attributes of each investment and how those attributes can be leveraged to provide the optimal investment returns for the client.

Project Development and Management: We help our clients navigate the project to success through each step in the process. We provide a unique and valuable perspective, while enabling the client to make better decisions.

Private Placement Memorandum: Ascendant Partners draws on our 30 combined years of experience in the banking community to help our clients present and position their projects to the investment community in a clear and effective manner to which the financial community reacts positively.

Operational Assessments and Process Improvement Initiatives: We work to provide clients an independent perspective on the state of their business against their strategic objectives and provide a disciplined process for closing the identified gaps. Much of this work is designed around ‘turnaround’ initiatives.

Financial & Business Modeling, Valuations and Assessments: Interactive modeling of business lines, enterprises, businesses and important investments to provide clients with a dynamic tool for exploring the possibilities.

Capital Services

Financial Advising and Capital Planning: Ascendant takes a unique approach to help companies reach their strategic goals and to maximize shareholder value through financial advisory and capital planning services.

Merger and Acquisition Facilitation: Building from the critical success factors assembled through years of experience, we assist clients in positioning contemplated mergers or major acquisitions to succeed. We assist clients in finding the merger or acquisition partners and, if needed, Ascendant can assist with the procurement of financing for the acquisition. We also assist companies that wish to sell some or all of their business.

Debt and Equity Capital Raising: We can assist our clients in raising equity and debt capital for new projects as well as assist existing companies in need of growth capital or liquidity.

Restructuring and Recapitalizations: We can give our clients guidance on options around potential ways to restructure their existing balance sheet for new ventures or to attract new capital. Ascendant assists companies in recapitalizing their businesses with new debt financing and outside equity capital, allowing an owner to enjoy some liquidity while remaining a part owner to participate in the future upside.

Credit Risk Management Services

Credit Reviews and Assessments: We can provide independent perspective, insight, and experience to assist your organization in assessing the volatile commodity cycles, the underlying credit risks associated with the commodity markets, and the implications to your portfolios with the following services.

• Allowance for Loan Loss Analysis and Review
• Credit Review of Loans
• Loan Administration
• Portfolio Participation Review
• Compliance with FCA Rules and Regulations
• Collateral Review, including Borrowing Base Management and Administration
• Scope of Lending and Eligibility
• Environmental Review
• Commercial and Institutional Regulatory Compliance
• Due Diligence for Portfolio Purchases
• Lease Analysis and Risk Management

Credit and Appraisal Training and Education: We provide valuable credit and appraisal training to enhance the expertise of your staff focused on the following areas.

• Risk Rating and Loss Given Default Application
• Allowance for Loan Loss Analysis and Review
• Credit Review of Loans
• Loan Administration
• Compliance with FCA Rules and Regulations
• Complex Loan Analysis
• Loan Participation Review

Commercial Bank and ACA Consulting Projects: We will assist you in customizing solutions based upon the specific needs of your organization, and we are uniquely positioned to assist your organization in the following areas.

• Valuation Automation
• Policy and Procedure Review and Analysis
• Lending Staff Efficiency Improvement
• Maximization of Lending Regulation while Maintaining Compliance