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Spring Break 2022
June 21, 2022 / in Business Valuation / by Joe Orlando
We all remember the question; what did you do on your spring break? Whether it was the title of a paper you needed to write for 11th grade English class or the topic of discussion at the pub in late April of your senior year of college, it’s a great question whose answer can be as boring as it is exciting. So what did I do on my spring break this year? I’ll tell you… …
Is it the right time to sell your business?
May 6, 2022 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Adam Wiskind
Business owners often ask, “When is the right time to sell my business?” The answer is some version of “A good time to sell is when there is a seller’s market, and the owner and the business are prepared”. Simple enough, but there is a lot to unpack in this response. Don’t Try to Time the Market A seller’s market exists when, because of economic conditions, demand for viable businesses is higher than the supply …
Market Pulse – Quarter 4, 2021
May 6, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Seller’s Market Presented by IBBA & M&A Source A seller’s market occurs when demand exceeds supply. There are more interested, active buyers than there are quality deals on the market. In a seller’s market, buyer’s compete in order to win deals. This typically translates to increased values and more favorable deal terms for the seller. In Q4 2021, seller market sentiment rebounded, setting a new peak in all but the $5M-$50M sector. “Business confidence, and …
Small business values up in 2021
May 6, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Business values increased in 2021, despite ongoing challenges from the pandemic, talent shortages, and supply chain disruption. Deal activity continued at an intense pace, with advisors across the country reporting increases in both incoming deal flow and completed engagements. More advisors characterized this as a seller’s market than nearly any other time in the last decade, according to the year-end Market Pulse report from IBBA and the M&A Source. Buyer confidence is high, as is …
Six Benefits of Monitoring Company Value
April 21, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Business Valuation / by Al Statz
Even if your business is not for sale, monitoring its market value can be incredibly helpful. This article describes six ways that understanding value over the life of a closely held business benefits shareholders, directors and managers. 1. Value Report Card Like financial statements, an annual independent business valuation is a type of report card on company health. CEO’s can use this report card to educate, align and focus executive teams on maximizing enterprise value. …
From 60 days to 6 months: Why you need an M&A attorney
April 8, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
We had a signed letter of intent in April and were set to close the transaction in June – until the seller’s lawyer got in the way. What should have taken 60 days ballooned into a full six months. Luckily, it still closed. Why you need an M&A attorney When selling your business, the M&A attorney looks out for your best interests. They help you understand the risks involved and how to mitigate them. They …
M&A Advisor Tip: And the economist says…”Sell!”
April 8, 2022 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Economist Steven Chiavarone presented at CIA partner’s annual State of M&A conference in February. As he pointed out, there have been 11 rate hike cycles since 1970 of three hikes or more. Of those, nine were followed by a recession. (The other two were followed by a stock market crash and the Mexican peso crisis.) He had about 50 minutes more of economic analysis for us, but his takeaway advice was this: “If you are …
The Importance of Valuation in Business Sales
April 4, 2022 / in Business Valuation, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
With decades of expert valuation and real-world business transaction experience, Exit Strategies routinely values companies and positions them for successful sales. At a minimum, buyers should be willing to pay the fair market value of a business. The initial and perhaps most important step in selling a business is a thorough, objective, and accurate business valuation. Too many sellers and brokers shortcut the valuation phase, not understanding that it is an essential step to accurately …
M&A Deal Terms: Average Capital Structure
March 31, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
The following chart from GF Data shows the average capital structure over the past 5 years for middle market business acquisitions. Equity contributions have varied only slightly over that time, in the range of 46% to 49%. Overall there was a slight rise during COVID, but nothing major. There are two different stories based on deal size however. In the $10-50 million total enterprise value (TEV) bracket, average equity contribution dropped. However, for deals in …
M&A in 2022: Is this the year to sell?
March 31, 2022 / in Business Strategy, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
If you’re a business owner, you’ve probably had a rough couple of years – and the challenges aren’t over. While COVID-19 may be weakening its grip, talent shortages, supply chain issues, and inflation are still very much at play. And yet, the economy is surging. Many of the business owners we talk to have all the work they can handle and strong balance sheets. So on the plus side, performance is good. On the negative, …