Willem Smit is an experienced practitioner in the field of mergers and acquisitions and brings over 14 years of transaction experience and has closed on over 140 deals. His coverage experience encompasses a number of industries including, among other, mining, oil and gas, health services, pharmaceuticals, transportation and logistics, aerospace and defense, renewable energy and international franchising.
Before joining Blue River, beginning in 2002, Mr. Smit served as Managing Director and Principal Broker of Business Hunters International, a lower middle market mergers & acquisitions firm. In this role, he provided execution expertise on M&A transactions and private debt/equity offerings for global lower-middle market clients.
Mr. Smit holds the Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Professional (CM&AP) certification from the Kennesaw State University – Coles School of Business. He is further completing his Master of Business Administration through the Edinburgh Business School – Heriot-Watt University. He further holds professional membership to the M&A Source, the International Business Brokers Association and is the Chairman of the Institute of Business Brokers Southern Africa. He is also the author of the ‘Complete Guide to Business Brokerage in South Africa’ the leading training manual used by Main Street business brokers in Southern Africa. He is also an experienced business owner and investor who successfully started and sold a multiple of his own businesses.
Mr. Smit is recognized in Southern Africa and the United States as a leading Mergers & Acquisitions specialis