Entries by Exit Strategies

It’s About Deal Structure in M&A

Sometimes we work on the buy-side, helping strategic buyers and financial sponsors find and execute acquisitions. For one buy-side client, we approached a seller with what we thought was a fair offer, but the seller wanted more. We talked it over with our client and decided we could come close to the seller’s number, provided […]

What’s behind the door for M&A in 2024?

We’re coming off a recalibration year for M&A. While 2021 and 2022 saw record activity, the first half of 2023 was marked by significant declines. Inflation, interest rates, increased capital costs, and geopolitical uncertainty all made buyers wary, and the global market held back on deal making.   Now we’re anticipating an uptick in 2024. […]

Time to Close

Median time to close remains somewhat consistent year-over-year, with businesses generally selling within one year of a listing engagement. Main Street deals typically close faster due to reduced due diligence demands. Follow these links for more information on Exit Planning Benefits, common Exit Options, and the Exit Planning Process. About the Market Pulse Survey — Each quarter, […]

Exiting Without a Plan

Even though retirement is far and away the biggest reason that business owners sell, many owners are doing little to no exit planning before going to market. The above chart shows that the smaller the business, the less likely owners are to plan. Of those owners who did plan, most started less than a year […]

M&A Glossary: Multiple

A multiple is a way to measure how much a company is worth. If a company has $2 million in EBITDA and it sells for $10 million, we say it sold at a “5 multiple.” Multiples are used as a valuation tool by analyzing the multiple similar companies obtained in a sale. For example, if […]