Chris Ayala
Associate
As an Associate, Chris supports a wide range of activities for the Firm, including sale transactions to strategic or financial buyers, employee ownership (ESOP) transactions, capital advisory engagements, and valuation advisory.
Chris joined ButcherJoseph & Co. after serving as a Senior Analyst at Broadview Group, where he managed investment decisions and portfolio management for the hedge fund’s agricultural commodities portfolio. Previously, he worked as an Equity Research Analyst at Cleveland Research Company.
Chris has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Saint Louis University in both Finance and Economics and is a CFA charterholder.
Keith’s Blogs
News & Insights
April 2024
Business Owners Looking to Sell Can Use ESOPs to Their Advantage
ESOPs have become a compelling choice for business owners planning to sell within the next five years….
April 2024
ButcherJoseph Advises ITR Economics on Its Sale to Crowe
ButcherJoseph Advises ITR Economics on Its Sale to Crowe…
November 2023
The “Missing Ingredient” for ESOP-Owned Companies: Part 2
Keith Butcher discusses the interplay between Private Equity and ESOPs, including what opportunities private equity firms see in ESOP investments, ret…
November 2023
The “Missing Ingredient” for ESOP-Owned Companies: Part 1
ButcherJoseph & Co. Managing Partner and Co-founder Keith Butcher shares his view that when mature ESOPs run into trouble, it is not usually because t…
October 2023
Webinar Replay: Positioning for Prosperity – Business Environment in a Recession
ITR Economics CEO Brian Beaulieu and ButcherJoseph Co-Founder and Managing Partner Keith Butcher provide business owners and operators with key insigh…
September 2023
ButcherJoseph & Co. Announced Finalists for Five M&A Deal of the Year Awards
ButcherJoseph & Co. Announced Finalists for Five M&A Deal of the Year Awards by The M&A Advisor for the 22nd Annual M&A Advisor Awards….
June 2023
The Changing Landscape for Manufacturing Ownership Transitions
Keith Butcher answers the questions that many manufacturing business owners who may be looking sell their business in the years ahead might be asking….
May 2023
Keith Butcher on KPWC/NPR Discussing Employee Stock Ownership Plans
Keith Butcher discusses ESOPs with KPWC/NPR as a way for business owners to cash out at a fair value while making sure their employees are valued and …
April 2023
Rising Interest Rates and the Evolving Dealmaking Environment
Learn about recent changes in the dealmaking environment that have stemmed from the evolving macroeconomic landscape and subsequent policy responses….
April 2023
The ‘Silver Tsunami’ and Its Effects on the M&A Landscape
Keith Butcher and Brian Beaulieu take a deep dive into the facts surrounding the metaphor known as the “Silver Tsunami” and how it will impact suc…
February 2023
Tristan Tahmaseb Named a 2023 M&A Investment Banking Business Development Professional to Watch
Tristan Tahmaseb named a 2023 M&A Business Development Professional to Watch by Middle Market Growth magazine in its Middle Market DealMaker 2023 Wint…
September 2022
ButcherJoseph & Co. Announced as Finalist of the 21st Annual M&A Advisor Awards
ButcherJoseph & Co. Announced as Finalist of the 21st Annual M&A Advisor Awards. The awards will be presented, and winners revealed at a Black-Tie Gal…
March 2022
Carter Smith Honored as Recipient of Small Business Monthly’s 2022 Best M&A Professionals
Carter Smith, Vice President, has been named a recipient of Small Business Monthly’s 2022 Best M&A Professionals….
November 2021
ButcherJoseph Advised Fred Weber on the Divestment of its Aggregates and Asphalt Assets
ButcherJoseph & Co. advised Fred Weber Inc on the sale of its aggregates and asphalt assets to New Frontier Materials….
October 2021
Three Things to Consider Before You Sell and How to Create an Effective Succession Plan
In this webinar, Brian Beaulieu, CEO, ITR Economics and Keith Butcher, Managing Partner, ButcherJoseph examine three areas every potential seller shou…
September 2021
Newly Proposed Tax Changes and How IRC 1042 Just Became Everything for Business Owners
The Biden administration’s original tax proposal sought to raise the capital gains rate for people earning above $1 million from 20% to 39.6% in add…
August 2021
Patrick O’Neil Honored as Recipient of The M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leaders Awards
ButcherJoseph & Co would like to congratulate Patrick O’Neil, Associate, on being named a recipient of The M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leaders Awards, …
August 2021
Potential Impact of Proposed Tax Legislation Changes on Business Owners
With President Biden’s proposed tax increases on the wealthiest Americans and business owners, an ESOP just got a whole lot more attractive for owne…
December 2020
ButcherJoseph Adds Trey Dodd to Analyst Team
ButcherJoseph & Co. is pleased to announce that Trey Dodd has joined the team as an Analyst. His responsibilities will include conducting financial an…
December 2019
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises DAI on Acquisition of Human Dynamics
ButcherJoseph & Co. advised DAI Global, LLC on the acquisition of Human Dynamics, a leading provider of development aid and consulting services to the…
November 2019
ButcherJoseph Announces Office Move to Accommodate Growth
ButcherJoseph & Co., a boutique investment banking firm specializing in ESOPs, mergers and acquisitions, private capital sourcing and valuation adviso…
July 2019
ButcherJoseph Announces Key Employee Promotions
ButcherJoseph announced the promotion of key leaders within the firm. The promotion of these professionals represents significant growth to our deal t…
March 2019
The Basics of ESOPs Transactions
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) can provide an ownership transition and retirement plan for owners of privately owned businesses. Learn more a…
December 2018
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises Destinations by Design on Sale to Employees
ButcherJoseph & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Destinations by Design, on its sale to The Destinations by Design, Inc. ESOP. …
August 2018
Main Street Employee Ownership Act Signed into Law
ButcherJoseph & Co. proudly served as subject matter experts leading up to the enactment of the Main Street Employee Ownership Act, a bill that encour…
April 2018
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises Mann Media Inc. on Sale to Employees
ButcherJoseph & Co. served as the exclusive financial advisor to Mann Media Inc., doing business as Our State magazine, on its sale to The Mann Media …
June 2017
What’s Driving ESOP Momentum
As more business owners turn to employee ownership, exploring the forces and driving factors offers critical insight to understanding ESOP momentum. L…
November 2016
IRC Section 1042 Tax Deferral [Part 2]
The Section 1042 election is a “like-kind” exchange in that the seller can defer all or a portion of proceeds from the sale of stock by reinvestin…
November 2016
IRC Section 1042 Capital Gains Tax Deferral [Part 1]
The tax benefits associated with an ESOP can provide significant value to the selling shareholder(s), the company and the employees participating in t…
July 2016
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises DAI Global, LLC
ButcherJoseph advised DAI Global on the optimization and recapitalization of its Employee Stock Ownership Plan. …
March 2016
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises Advanced Diagnostic Group on Implementing Its Employee Stock Ownership Plan
ButcherJoseph served as the exclusive financial advisor to ADG Acquisition Holdings in the structuring and funding of the Advanced Diagnostic Group Em…
February 2016
ButcherJoseph & Co. Advises Triad Manufacturing on Sale to Employees
ButcherJoseph served as the exclusive financial advisor to Triad Manufacturing in its sale to the Triad Manufacturing Employee Stock Ownership Plan (…
March 2015
ButcherJoseph & Co. Assists TMI Hospitality in Sale to Starwood Capital Group
ButcherJoseph & Co. served as one of the financial advisors to TMI Hospitality in its sale from the TMI Hospitality Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“…
February 2012
Butcher Joseph Hayes Serves as Exclusive Financial Advisor in ESOP for The Spinx Company
Stewart Spinks completed a partial sale of The Spinx Company to an ESOP with advisement and structuring support from Butcher Joseph Hayes, a merchant …