Lane Carrick wins state and national M&A honors for 2025 deal results

Dallas advisor B. Lane Carrick earned awards from both the Texas Association of Business Brokers and the International Business Brokers Association for closing more than $10 million in qualified transactions in 2025. The recognition underscores demand for sell-side advice for founder-led companies that sit between Main Street brokers and investment banks.

Why it matters: - The awards spotlight a niche in the M&A market that serves founder-led businesses valued at $10 million to $100 million. - Carrick’s recognition points to continued deal activity for owners who need full-service sell-side help but may not fit traditional broker or investment bank models.

What happened: - B. Lane Carrick, CBI, founder and managing director of Dallas-based Optima Mergers & Acquisitions, was recognized for his 2025 transaction results by the Texas Association of Business Brokers and the International Business Brokers Association. - TABB gave Carrick its President’s Council Award for closing qualified business transactions totaling at least $10 million in aggregate purchase price during the 2025 calendar year. - IBBA gave Carrick its Platinum Chairman’s Circle Award for closing qualified business transactions totaling at least $10 million in purchase price during the 2025 calendar year. - IBBA honored recipients at its 2026 Annual Conference, held May 29-31 in Minneapolis.

The details: - TABB is the oldest business broker trade association in the country. - Carrick launched Optima two and a half years ago to serve founders and owner-operators of companies worth $10 million to $100 million. - Optima handles sell-side advisory from sale preparation through negotiation and closing. - Carrick said the awards reflect the trust business owners place in advisors during a major life event. - Carrick wrote The Optima Advantage, a guide for owners on what makes a business sellable. - Carrick co-hosts The Deal Table podcast, which features conversations with owners, investors and advisors about buying and selling companies. - Optima’s website is the company’s website.

Between the lines: - The awards suggest that middle-market owners continue to seek specialized advice for transactions that are too complex for Main Street brokers and too small for many investment banks. - Carrick’s positioning shows how boutique advisory firms are competing on focus rather than scale.

What's next: - Optima is likely to continue targeting founder-led and owner-operated businesses in the $10 million to $100 million range. - Carrick’s 2025 results and awards may help the firm win new engagements from owners preparing to sell.

The bottom line: - Carrick’s dual honors validate Optima’s role in a crowded but undersupplied slice of the M&A market.