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Why M&A Deals Fail
December 21, 2015 / in Sell a Business / by Jim Leonhard
Companies that make multiple acquisitions are much more likely to have successful merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions than companies that have made one or less acquisitions in the past five years, according to a recent Boston Consulting Group (BCG) article. In fact, over 50 percent of all M&A transactions result in negative shareholder returns. The main culprits appear to be related to post-merger integration, especially: Poor integration of the target organization Higher complexity than anticipated …
2016 Promises to be a Banner Year for Mergers and Acquisitions
December 14, 2015 / in Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Deciding how and when to retire is one of the toughest decisions in a business owner’s life. Selling to a strategic buyer, investment group or management team represents the culmination of years of hard work and investment. Going to market when the owner is personally prepared, and the business is ready, and market conditions are conducive offers the best opportunity to maximize results. M&A activity in 2015 has been strong and 2016 market conditions look …
Interest Rates Likely to Rise After December FOMC Meeting
December 9, 2015 / in Business Valuation, News / by Louis Cionci
It is widely believed that the Federal Reserve will raise the rate it charges banks for overnight deposit lending, commonly called the federal funds rate at the December 15-16 meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee. The Federal Reserve controls the three tools of monetary policy–open market operations, the discount rate, and reserve requirements. The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is responsible for the discount rate and reserve requirements, and the Federal …
Defending Your Price
November 15, 2015 / in Sell a Business / by Don Ross
A critical component in any business transaction, whether it be a simple sale of a used car or a complex transfer of ownership of a business, is usually PRICE. The art of “the deal” is dependent upon the two parties arriving at a price they can both live with. In both cases, each party must persuasively defend their price. Market valuations are often based upon a multiple of past and future earnings. Multiples usually fall …
Terminal Value Meets the Butcher and the Skilled Craftsmen
November 9, 2015 / in Business Valuation / by Exit Strategies
I got involved in a friendly debate with a business intermediary the other day. He was talking cynically about how easy it is to manipulate valuation results by playing games with the cost of capital and the growth rate. “It’s easier to slap an industry multiple to it, without all the fiction of precision,” he said. Specifically, he was objecting to “terminal value” for growth companies. In growth companies, terminal value can often comprise 50%-70% …
Where’s the Seller Tsunami?
October 27, 2015 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
The Wall Street Journal published an article this month titled “The Missing Boom in Small-Business Sales — An expected rush in sales of small firms by the baby boomer generation has yet to materialize.” The article points out that despite predictions that a flood of private businesses would be coming up for sale as baby boomers reach retirement age, many of these owners are holding on longer than expected. We’re seeing the same thing here at Exit Strategies. …
The Significance of Disclosure in a Business Transaction
October 9, 2015 / in Acquire a Business, Sell a Business / by Don Ross
Full disclosure by buyer and seller is a vital component in any successful business sale/purchase transaction. In a small business transaction, buyer and seller disclosure statements are customarily exchanged and reviewed before or during the due diligence process. Hopefully there are no significant surprises at that point and the transaction proceeds smoothly. When the buyer is an individual, the buyer’s disclosure statement generally focuses on the buyer’s personal, professional, and financial background and reorganization plans. …
SBA Loans: Capital for Small Business Acquisitions
September 23, 2015 / in Acquire a Business, Sell a Business / by Bob Altieri
So you’re thinking of selling your business and prefer to be cashed out rather than be paid in installments over time. Uncle Sam wants to see your business continue as a job creator, and hence, works with lenders to make attractive loan terms available to business buyers, on loans up to $5 million. US Small Business Administration (SBA) loans come in two types: business loans – type 7(a), and real estate loans – type 504. According to Bob Porter of …
Event: Helping Business Owner Clients Achieve More Valuable Exits
September 16, 2015 / in Exit Planning, News, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
When: September 22, 2015 Where: San Rafael, California Host: CalCPA San Francisco-Marin Discussion Group As baby boomer owners and shareholders of privately-held businesses reach retirement age and get serious about exiting ownership, they face many new questions and challenges and turn to their professional advisors, often their CPA, for solutions. Based on his experience helping over 100 companies successfully sell or transfer ownership to partners, management or the next generation, Exit Strategies’ founder Al Statz will …
Why use a professional M&A advisor when selling your business?
September 9, 2015 / in Sell a Business / by Louis Cionci
Business owners contemplating a sale of their business sometimes wonder why they should use a professional M&A advisor. Owners may ask themselves: Why do I need an M&A advisor to sell my business? Can’t I just do it myself and save a significant amount of money in fees? Owners can frame the decision to use a professional M&A advisor in terms of a cost-benefit analysis. What are the benefits to me? What are the costs …