An Ownership Transition

Heritage Clay Partners was founded to provide a succession solution to one great business

How We’re Different

		Private Equity	Strategic Buyer
Commitment	Running this business will be my singular, full-time focus	Your company will become one of many portfolio companies	Your company will become one of many business units
Legacy	Protect and build upon the foundation you've created	Often reorganized for efficiency within the portfolio, not continuity	Often absorbed and rebranded within the larger company
Employee Future	Your employees will remain a key part of the company’s future success	High risk of job cuts	High risk of job cuts
Deal Terms	Flexible and relationship-driven to match your vision of a successful exit	Inflexible; structured to maximize investor returns	Inflexible; tailored to the needs of the acquiring company
Goal	Sustain and honor your legacy for the long run, stewarding growth into the future	Drive short term financial returns	Scale within a broader corporate strategy

Who you sell to matters. This isn’t just a transaction, it’s a handoff to the next chapter.

What I Look For

People

·  Owner interested in exiting or reducing their day-to-day involvement
·  An existing team that manages daily operations
·  Key personnel will stay with the company after a transaction
·  Owner interested in preserving their team and legacy
Business

·  Business services and tech-enabled services (B2B or B2C)
·  Outstanding customer service and team
·  Differentiated product or service
·  Recurring revenue streams
Financial

· $1M+ pretax annual profit
· History of profitable growth and strong margins
· Low customer concentration
· 15%+ net profit margin

Although this is my criteria, I understand that no business will check every box. No business is perfect. My goal is to find the right business where there’s a strong values fit, and where I can be a thoughtful and committed steward of future growth.

Our Process

We’ll begin with a brief phone or video chat to get acquainted. This is our chance to hear your story, learn about your business, and understand your vision for the future. It’s all about seeing whether there’s a mutual fit.
With a signed NDA in place, we’ll ask for some high-level financial information to better understand your business. We’ll likely arrange an in-person visit to continue the conversation face-to-face. From there, we’ll prepare an initial offer to outline how a potential deal might take shape.
If things continue to progress positively, we’ll submit a formal Letter of Intent, a non-binding proposal that includes a purchase price (or range) and key deal terms. We’ll also request an exclusivity period, usually 60–90 days, so we can complete our diligence work without distraction.
Due diligence is a detailed process where we review financials, operations, and legal documentation with the help of professional advisors. We’ll be in close communication throughout, working collaboratively to answer questions, refine deal terms, and lay the groundwork for a successful transition. We value efficiency, clarity, and empathy during this important phase.
Once all terms are finalized, we’ll sign the purchase agreement, complete the payment, and officially close the deal. After celebrating with you, we’ll continue to partner with you to complete a thoughtful handoff ensuring continuity with your team, customers, and vendors to uphold the legacy you’ve built.

Meet the Team

Deshawn Salter is the Founder and Managing Partner of Heritage Clay Partners, based in Chicago. Raised in a blue-collar family in Syracuse, NY, with a mother who worked in social services and a father in corrections, Deshawn grew up valuing hard work, personal accountability, and community. His first entrepreneurial experience came as a teenager when he organized a snow shoveling operation with his brothers and neighborhood friends, learning firsthand how to lead a team and deliver reliable service.

Deshawn went on to earn degrees in Economics and Political Science at Yale, where he also played football. After starting his career as a school teacher in an effort to give back to his community, he transitioned into business strategy roles at Frontier Communications, Deloitte, and Bain & Company. There, he advised executive teams across industries on operational improvement, growth strategy, and M&A. Most recently he has completed his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

A lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, Deshawn brings the same mix of grit, loyalty, and long-term belief to his professional journey. He has a deep appreciation for owner-led businesses and the decades of care it takes to build something lasting. That mindset also inspired the name Heritage Clay Partners - a tribute to his commitment to honoring a company’s heritage while thoughtfully molding its next chapter.