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Questions to ask when hiring an M&A advisor
June 29, 2023 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
When it comes time to sell your company, the right M&A firm or investment bank can make all the difference. From preparing a stellar offering memorandum, to running a well-organized process, to generating multiple offers, to negotiating the best possible deal for you, your advisor needs to bring the right mix of transactional skill, processes, resources, and chemistry to the table. This article presents several questions that you should be asking as you search for …
Market Pulse – Seller Market Sentiment
June 29, 2023 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
Lower middle market M&A is experiencing a dip in seller market sentiment, marking the lowest levels seen since early in the pandemic and resembling figures observed during the recovery from the Great Recession. In a seller’s market, buyers typically compete for deals, leading to increased values and more favorable deal terms for sellers. However, this recent slide in sentiment signifies a change in market dynamics, where sellers may still receive strong valuations, but buyers may …
How ASC 842 (the lease reporting standard) Can Impact the Sale of Your Business
June 14, 2023 / in Sell a Business / by Adam Wiskind
What is ASC 842? The Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-02, commonly known as ASC 842, requires that all companies large and small that issue GAAP-based financials account for leases on their financial statements. It was issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) in February 2016 and was effective January 1, 2022. ASC 842 significantly changes how companies account for leases on their financial statements and may impact the sale of your small business. ASC …
A Difference of Opinions: Closely-Held vs. Venture-Backed Companies- Part 2 of 2
June 8, 2023 / in Business Valuation / by Joe Orlando
In Part 1 of 2 of this blog, I spoke about my transition from valuing venture-backed technology startups to valuing owner-operated small to middle-market businesses with $2 million to $50 million in revenue. As part of that discussion, I set the stage for three differences in how these types of businesses are valued, specifically differences in Diligence, Tools, and Approaches. Part 1 looked at Diligence and Tools, and Part 2 will complete this discussion with …
Representation and Warranty Insurance in M&A
June 6, 2023 / in Acquire a Business, Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
When selling your business, you make a set of promises to the buyer. You “represent and warrant” certain facts about the business. Essentially, you’re certifying that you provided accurate information and there are no known issues pending (e.g., financial, legal, tax, compliance, etc.). If it turns out those promises are false, the buyer has the right to recoup a percentage of the purchase price. Non-fundamental reps and warranties (typically all items aside from key …
M&A Glossary: Confidential Information Memorandum
June 6, 2023 / in Exit Planning / by Exit Strategies
A Confidential Information Memorandum (CIM) is a summary of your business used to help pre-screened buyers determine their interest. A CIM contains overview information about your operations, financials, industry trends, and growth prospects. As your investment bank, we’ll prepare the CIM for you, with your cooperation and review. You approve all material before it’s presented to a buyer. The CIM is only distributed to a select group of vetted, qualified buyers who have signed a …
Selling your business should not be a 50/50 coin flip
May 30, 2023 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
So, you’re ready to sell your business. You have an M&A advisor helping you, your numbers are in order, and you’re feeling confident. But did you know that only half of businesses will successfully sell—and that’s with a qualified advisor? For years, member advisors of the International Business Brokers Association and the M&A Source have been reporting their quarterly closing rates in the Market Pulse Report. Every quarter, roughly 50% of deals terminate without a …
M&A Glossary: SDE vs. Normalized EBITDA
May 30, 2023 / in Exit Planning / by Exit Strategies
M&A Glossary: SDE vs. Normalized EBITDA Seller discretionary earnings (SDE) and normalized EBITDA are two common measures used to assess the profitability of a business. While they are both used to determine a business’s value, they differ in the expenses and adjustments made in their calculations. Seller discretionary earnings (SDE) is a measure of the business’s cash flow that includes the owner’s compensation and benefits, as well as perks and discretionary expenses that are not …
A Key Performance Indicator to Improve the Results of your Testing Lab Exit
May 22, 2023 / in Business Strategy, Sell a Business / by Adam Wiskind
When preparing to sell your Testing Laboratory using Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) can help to focus your efforts and resources in the right areas. While numerous KPIs exist, one metric that should be on the radar of all business owners in the testing laboratory industry is the Sales/Employee Ratio. Labor costs make up the largest single expense for Laboratory Testing businesses, accounting for an estimated 38.4% of industry revenue in 2022 (IBIS WORLD July 2022). …
Exit Strategies Group Advises Shepherd Controls in Sale
May 14, 2023 / in News, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
May 2023 – Exit Strategies Group is pleased to announce that it represented Shepherd Controls & Associates, a leading regional supplier of industrial automation products, in a recent sale to Flow Control Group, a portfolio company of KKR. Shepherd Controls & Associates, founded in 1985 by Ron Shepherd and Bill Benko, is headquartered in Allen, Texas. The Company has branch offices in El Paso and Houston and serves the Gulf states and Mexico. It offers …
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