Biography

Jim Young has over 35 years of experience in Mergers & Acquisitions, Strategic Alliances and Operational Integration within multiple industries in the lower and middle markets. Jim has been involved in the origination, negotiation and execution of acquisitions, divestitures, investments and alliances across Europe, South America, Canada and the United States. He has conducted over 80 transactions valued at more than $10 billion. 

Jim joined Osage Advisors in 2020 as a Senior M&A Advisor and has since been promoted to Managing Director. Osage is a boutique investment bank offering M&A buy and sell-side client advisory providing a highly personalized service that emphasizes an open and honest line of communication with clients through every step of the transaction process. The firm offers multi-industry expertise with a focus on businesses that serve the lower to mid-sized markets.

At Legrand as the Head of Corporate Development, Jim led 20 acquisitions – quadrupling the North American subsidiary revenue - in ten years.  He has expertise in the Electrical Distribution, Lighting Fixture/Controls, Data Center Infrastructure and Audio/Visual Equipment markets.

Prior to joining Legrand, Jim worked for General Electric, IBM, Wassall PLC (a Private Equity firm now part of KKR), MCI & Philip Morris primarily as a dealmaker. His accomplishments range from turnaround activities at a cable & wire manufacturer to operational efficiencies at coffee and cereal plants to implementing voice and data networks throughout the world. 

In 1987, Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Clarkson University in Potsdam, New York majoring in Accounting & Law with a minor in Communications. He holds an MBA from the Stern School of Business at New York University where he majored in Finance and International Business and has studied Mergers & Acquisitions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a Certified Public Accountant and holds the Series 79 (Investment Banking) and 63 (Uniform Securities Agent State Law) registrations as an Investment Banking Representative.