Chapman Syme

Managing Director, Founder of Blackland Advisors

Chapman Syme is the Managing Director and Founder of Blackland Advisors, a boutique advisory firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions, capital raising, and strategic financial consulting. With over 26 years of experience spanning investment banking, alternative investments, and entrepreneurship, Mr. Syme brings a rare combination of institutional expertise and hands-on operating experience to his clients.

Prior to founding Blackland Advisors, Mr. Syme served as a Vice President at Greenhill & Co., a global investment bank focused on M&A advisory, restructuring, and capital solutions for financial sponsors. Before Greenhill, he was a Research Analyst at Marblegate Asset Management, a leading alternative investment firm specializing in credit opportunities and special situations. Prior to Marblegate, he served as a Research Analyst at Durham Asset Management, a distressed debt and event-driven global alternative investment platform. Mr. Syme also held investment banking roles at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), and began his financial career at Bank of America.

Beyond his advisory work, Mr. Syme has extensive direct experience sourcing, negotiating, closing, and operating businesses across multiple sectors, including final-mile and over-the-road transportation, warehousing, foodservice distribution, and specialty retail. He has also demonstrated expertise in the acquisition and asset management of multifamily and industrial real estate.

Mr. Syme holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA from the University of Virginia. He is based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he resides with his wife and two children.

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Recent Articles by Chapman Syme

The Valuation Gap: How to Handle the Difference Between Your Expectation and the Market | Blackland Advisors

There is a gap between what most owners think their business is worth and what the market will pay. Learn how to close it—or bridge it—without walking away from a viable transaction. Chapman Syme from... ...more

Valuation

July 10, 2026•13 min read

Solving Customer Concentration Risk: How to Sell When One Customer Is 40% of Revenue | Blackland Advisors

A single customer at 40% of revenue doesn't have to kill your deal — but it will compress your multiple and complicate your structure if you don't address it first. Here's what buyers look for and how... ...more

Valuation

June 29, 2026•15 min read

Ten Add-Backs Lower Middle Market Owners Often Overlook | Blackland Advisors

Most owners know about owner compensation and personal expenses. These ten add-backs go deeper—and are routinely left on the table in lower middle market transactions. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advi... ...more

Valuation

June 05, 2026•14 min read

The 12-Month Pre-Exit Checklist for Business Founders | Blackland Advisors

The best exits are built long before the first buyer call. This quarter-by-quarter checklist covers exactly what founders need to do in the 12 months before engaging an M&A advisor — and why each step... ...more

Process

May 21, 2026•15 min read

Asset Sale vs. Stock Sale: Tax Implications for Small Business Owners | Blackland Advisors

Asset sales and stock sales produce very different tax outcomes for sellers. Learn how each structure is taxed, why buyers and sellers typically prefer opposite approaches, and how to negotiate the ga... ...more

Process ,Valuation &Underwriting

May 20, 2026•22 min read

What Is an Earnout in a Business Sale? | Blackland Advisors

An earnout makes part of your sale price contingent on future results. Learn how earnouts are structured, when they make sense, and the protections every seller should demand before signing. Chapman S... ...more

Process ,Valuation

May 14, 2026•21 min read

The Quality of Earnings Report: Why Every Seller Needs One | Blackland Advisors

A sell-side QoE report is the single most effective way to prevent diligence surprises from collapsing your deal. Learn what it covers, what it costs, and when to commission one. Chapman Syme from Bla... ...more

Valuation

May 08, 2026•14 min read

How to Handle an Unsolicited Offer to Buy Your Business: A Complete Guide for Sellers | Blackland Advisors

An unsolicited offer means a motivated buyer — but no competition and no market signal on price. Learn how to respond, protect your leverage, and decide whether to sell or run a broader process. Chapm... ...more

Process

April 27, 2026•21 min read

EBITDA vs. SDE: Which Metric Will Buyers Use? | Blackland Advisors

Sophisticated buyers use EBITDA, not SDE. Learn the difference, why it matters for your company, and how the metric your buyer chooses shapes your valuation. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors. ...more

Valuation

April 10, 2026•14 min read

5 LOI ‘Gotcha’ Clauses That Can Hurt Sellers During Exclusivity | Blackland Advisors

The LOI is non-binding on price but binding where it matters. Learn five gotcha clauses that cost sellers millions after they’ve granted exclusivity. Chapman Syme from Blackland Advisors. ...more

Process

March 31, 2026•17 min read

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Blackland Advisors provides M&A and succession planning services to business owners across the Southeast.