Mitchell’s Oil Field Service, Inc. (MOFS) is the Williston Basin’s premiere oilfield construction and lease maintenance company service its customers in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. The Company was founded in 1977 by Mr. Everett Mitchell, and is headquartered in Sidney, Montana. Mr. Mitchell had the foresight to allow employee ownership of the Company, and formed an employee stock ownership program (ESOP) to attract and retain employees. At the time of the sale, the ESOP owned almost half the equity of MOFS.
Mr. Mitchell was referred to the Dillard Anderson Group by a previous client. With a fiduciary obligation to his ESOP shareholders, Mr. Mitchell knew he must be able to demonstrate to those shareholders that the best possible value would be received. After DAG explained the process, Mr. Mitchell elected to engage. DAG approached a select group of prospective and strategic buyers. After an extensive marketing period, DAG located Stone Arch Capital, a private equity firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Stone Arch was developing a platform for power infrastructure management, and MOFS fit all their criteria.
Through a number of negotiating sessions, a deal was struck for the purchase of 85% of the stock of MOFS. Mr. Mitchell retains the 15% balance, and continues to manage the Company. Mr. Mitchell and the ESOP shareholders were pleased with the value delivered by DAG.