Claire McAdams brings over three decades of hands-on M&A experience, with a focus on the semiconductor, capital equipment, and advanced manufacturing sectors. Acting as an embedded deal execution specialist within executive leadership teams or as an independent strategic advisor, Headgate Partners has led or supported over 25 successfully completed transactions across the full spectrum of M&A activity – from sellside assignments and divestitures, to targeted IP or “tuck-in” acquisitions, to transformative acquisitions and mergers valued over $1 billion.
Claire’s M&A expertise also spans the complete M&A life cycle, from deal origination and strategy – to deal execution (either acting as the agent or selecting the agent) – to strategic financial communications (IR messaging and shareholder engagement).
Headgate Partners understands the operational, financial, and governance complexities that underpin successful M&A outcomes. As a former investment banker herself, Claire is a seasoned consumer of investment banking services (as well as that of proxy advisors, crisis PR, outside legal counsel, and more), enabling her to add significant value for her companies by orchestrating the most cost-effective and optimized execution teams for her companies. Claire’s M&A work is defined by sector expertise, strategic clarity, executional discipline, and long-term value creation — made all the more effective by removing the incentive of a “success fee” … now having completed the majority of her M&A as an integral member of company management teams.
Headgate Has Led or Supported >25 M&A Transactions
2021
M&A
$70,000,000
Sale of Photonics business to EOTECH
2021
M&A
$270,000,000
Acquisition of IMG
2020
M&A
Acquisition of CR Machine (Mexico operation)
2019
M&A
$1,700,000,000
Merger with Rudolph to become ONTO
2019
M&A
Acquisition of Flow Control IP
2018
M&A
$7,000,000
Acquisition of IAN Engineering
2018
M&A
$40,000,000
Acquisition of 4D Technology
2017
M&A
$130,000,000
Acquisition of Talon
2017
M&A
$50,000,000
Acquisition of Cal-Weld
2016
M&A
$1,000,000,000
IR Messaging for Newport Acquisition
2014
M&A
$87,000,000
IR Messaging for Granville-Phillips Acquisition
2011
M&A
$12,000,000
Acquisition of Solar Implant Technologies
2011
M&A
$23,000,000
Acquisition of Nanda Technology
2010
M&A
Sale to AMETEK
2009
M&A
$8,000,000
Acquisition of Zygo Semi. Solutions
2008
M&A
$15,000,000
Acquisition of Oerlikon HDD business
2008
M&A
$3,500,000
Acquisition of Tevet
2007
M&A
$6,000,000
Acquisition of Creative Display Solutions
2007
M&A
Divestiture of CD-SEM & DiVA product lines
2006
M&A
$36,000,000
Acquisition of Si Automation
2006
M&A
$55,000,000
Acquisition of Accent Optical
2006
M&A
$7,000,000
Acquisition of Soluris
2003
M&A
$10,000,000
Sale to Applied Materials
2003
M&A
$27,000,000
Sale to Inficon
2001
M&A
$39,000,000
Sale to Brooks Automation
1999
M&A
$161,000,000
Sale to Applied Materials
1999
M&A
$36,000,000
Sale to Steag