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A Proven Structured Sale Process
Selling your company represents the culmination of many years of hard work, dedication and sacrifice. There’s too much at stake to short-cut the sale process or try going it alone. At Exit Strategies, senior M&A advisors represent you through the entire process, which we tailor to your unique needs and objectives:
Initial Consultation
We’ll get to know each other, learn about your business and goals, and provide answers regarding:
- Sale process steps and benefits
- Market conditions
- How we will assess probable selling price and sale readiness
- The feasibility of achieving your goals
Phase 1: Assessment and Decision Making
An objective and reasonably thorough assessment of your business helps you make better decisions. An assessment involves analyzing financial performance, business operations, working capital levels, capital spending needs, growth projections and plans, intangible assets, agreements, relationships, business plans, industry trends, and numerous other drivers of value. It involves normalizing financial statements, forecasting, and applying formal business valuation methods, not just pricing rules of thumb. During our initial visit we will recommend the appropriate level of analysis for your situation.
Questions answered during this phase:
- Probable selling price range
- Value drivers and detractors
- Target buyers, likely deal structures and terms
- Sale-readiness issues and potential roadblocks
- Go-to-market preparation
- Managing your stakeholders
Armed with this information, you can make the best decisions for you, your family and other stakeholders, alongside us and your legal, tax and financial advisors. If the time is right, we go to market. If a sale today won’t satisfy your personal goals, the Assessment provides a roadmap to closing value and sale-readiness gaps. If you want further assistance, we can offer Exit Planning consultation.
Phase 2: Sale Process
Preparation, Strategic Outreach, Confidential Marketing
Exit Strategies creates a custom campaign to reach the right potential buyers for your company. We combine extensive research with our own database to build the perfect target buyer list. We target strategic and financial buyers, and local, national and international buyers, as appropriate. We prepare an executive summary or “teaser” for target buyer outreach.
In parallel, we prepare a professional Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) that tells your company’s unique story and presents important investment information. A CIM contains most of the facts and data that buyers need to grasp the business, understand its value and formulate an offer. Buyers sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before receiving the CIM.
Before buyer outreach begins, we can help you address any preparedness issues discovered during the Assessment phase, line up financing, round out your transaction team, and develop strategies that will maximize value in the sale process. Proper preparation ensures seamless execution and stronger outcomes.
A confidentiality breach can harm your business and stall your sale. Therefore, we have procedures to preserve confidentiality throughout the sale process. Normally, no employees, customers, suppliers or competitors learn of your plans until we are ready to announce the sale.
Negotiations, Due Diligence & Closing
With buyer candidates contacted, screened and informed, we fill in information gaps that can influence offers. We help you prepare for meetings with the most serious candidates. We usually orchestrate a competitive bid process.
We obtain offers and discuss their pros and cons with you. We negotiate favorable terms and deal structure in concert with your tax and legal advisors. There is no substitute for experience in this phase.
After settling the major deal points, our attention shifts to managing your transaction. We facilitate due diligence and coordinate with attorneys, CPA’s, quality of earnings funding sources, and other diligence providers. We assist with financing, third-party approvals, definitive agreement preparation, working capital and other ancillary negotiations, closing statements, and other closing procedures. We work to keep everyone focused on the right things at the right time, anticipate and resolve problems, and work tirelessly to keep your deal on track.
Yes, Selling a Business is a Process!
Having a professional M&A advisor run a structured sale process, while you focus on business performance, is the best way to maximize value and ensure a successful exit.
Free Consultation
Our client relationships all start with a conversation. If you are considering selling, merging or recapitalizing your company, contact us for a complimentary and confidential conversation.
Exit Strategies Group, Inc. is a leading provider of business sales and acquisitions, business valuations, and exit planning services for family owned and closely-held companies since 2002.
DRE #01878920
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