CriticalPoint is pleased to announce that Managing Director Nick Cipiti was named a finalist for 2025 Dealmakers of the Year in the Investment Banker of the Year category at the inaugural M&A Awards. This honor was presented by the Los Angeles Business Journal (“LABJ”) in partnership with ACG Los Angeles. Managing Director Mike Vehaskari and Director Chris Kim were also selected as nominees for LABJ’s 2025 Dealmakers of the Year, an award that recognizes investment bankers for their overall impact on successful M&A activity.
These recognitions underscore CriticalPoint’s proven track record across mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, special situations, deal sourcing, valuation, and special financial advisory situations. When clients look for a trusted advisor and partner, they rely on CriticalPoint for high-quality execution and superior outcomes.
Nick Cipiti, Managing Director
Despite this being a challenging time for M&A, Nick Cipiti continues to close transactions and earn clients’ trust in his expertise and insights. He has a wealth of experience representing family- and founder-owned businesses seeking institutional capital or undergoing their first M&A transaction. His ability to anticipate needs and consistently source and execute transactions is a testament to his client-first attitude and ability to meet a range of client and business needs.
Mike Vehaskari, Managing Director
Mike Vehaskari has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking and financial advisory across a range of industries, which give him an invaluable perspective when advising his clients who may be navigating an M&A transaction for the first time. He strives to be more than just an advisor to his clients; his goal is to be a trusted partner who advocates for their best interests to ensure the optimal outcome.
Chris Kim, Director
With over 18 years of experience at bulge bracket investment banks and in private equity, Chris Kim brings this expertise to executing mergers and acquisitions and capital raising transactions in the lower-middle market. With his client-first approach, Chris takes great pride in helping shepherd founders and business owners through what is often their first, only, or most important transaction of their lives.
To review LABJ’s M&A Awards Deals and Dealmakers 2025 in full, please click here.
About CriticalPoint
CriticalPoint provides tailored financial solutions through a trusted platform, combining the best of Investment Banking and Private Capital. Backed by decades of diverse transaction experience, the CriticalPoint team delivers the insights clients and stakeholders need to achieve superior outcomes. Founded in 2012 by senior M&A professionals with a passion for deal-making, CriticalPoint stands out for its deep expertise in Investment Banking—including mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, deal sourcing, special situations, and valuation advisory—as well as in Private Capital investing, with a focus on corporate divestitures and special situations. When business owners, management teams, private equity firms, and corporate sellers reach a defining moment across a range of industries, they rely on CriticalPoint’s proven expertise. For more information, visit criticalpoint.com.
Messrs. Kim, Cipiti, and Vehaskari are Registered Representatives of, and Securities Products are offered through CriticalPoint Partners, LLC. Member FINRA, SIPC. Any testimonial or endorsement may not be representative of the experience of other customers and is no guarantee of future performance or success.
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