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Exit Planning Insights
M&A Glossary: No-Shop Clause
December 2, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Ignacio Ochoa
Many M&A negotiations include a no-shop clause. This is a period of exclusivity when the seller cannot solicit offers from other parties. The due diligence process is expensive for buyers, so sellers sign these agreements as an act of good faith. Typically, a no-shop clause has a near-term expiration date and is only in effect for a couple of months (45—90 days). Buyers with a lot of leverage, and those working with inexperienced sellers trying …
Scaling for Sale: Growth Strategies that Double as Exit Plans
December 2, 2024 / in Business Strategy, Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
As a business owner, you’re likely consumed with the daily challenges of building and growing your business. The question of selling might seem like a distant concern—something to worry about years down the road. But the reality is that planning your exit and growing your business are two sides of the same coin. We’ve been conditioned to think about entrepreneurship in distinct phases: First, you build; then, you grow; finally, you sell or pass it …
M&A Glossary: Add-backs
December 2, 2024 / in Business Valuation, Exit Planning / by Al Statz
Add-backs are adjustments made to a company’s financial statements to more accurately reflect its true earning potential and normalize its financial performance. These adjustments are typically made to the target company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to create a metric known as “Adjusted EBITDA” or “Normalized EBITDA.” Add-backs are expenses or income items that are considered non-recurring, one-time, or not essential to the company’s core operations. Common examples of add-backs include: …
From the M&A Glossary: Search Fund
October 10, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
A search fund is an investment vehicle through which an entrepreneur raises capital from investors to fund the search for and eventually the acquisition of a privately-held company. The search fund model allows the entrepreneur to collect a salary while they search for a suitable target company and negotiate a letter of intent and perform due diligence. Once a target company is acquired, the entrepreneur usually takes an active role in managing and growing the business, …
Equity Rollover Benefits
October 8, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
An equity rollover occurs when a business owner sells their company but chooses to reinvest, or “roll over,” a portion of the proceeds into the newly acquired business. An equity rollover allows a shareholder to benefit from any future growth and value creation. In a bolt-on acquisition or consolidation, the owner would likely receive equity in a larger, more diverse and less risky business enterprise. The benefits of an equity rollover for the shareholder include: …
Timing the Sale of Your Founder-Owned Enterprise
September 8, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
For founder- and family-owned businesses, deciding to sell is much more than a financial decision. Its a pivotal moment that marks the culmination of years, often decades, of dedication and hard work. The timing decision involves personal and market factors that can significantly influence the outcome of a sale. Understanding the right moment to sell requires an appreciation of the market environment, the business’s lifecycle, and the personal readiness of the owners. Market Conditions The …
Add-On Acquisitions Continue Popularity
August 25, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
PE firms are increasingly using strategic “add-on” (aka bolt-on) acquisitions to consolidate fragmented industries, particularly in sectors like healthcare and business services, where operational efficiencies and market share gains are achievable. This approach to growth allows firms to create more valuable and competitive entities more quickly than organic growth, usually with lower business and financial risk. These transactions often require less capital and can be financed through existing cash flows or smaller debt tranches, thus …
Business Sale Advice: 15 Insights from Past Sellers
August 13, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
I recently surveyed a dozen former business owners—many of whom were my sell-side M&A clients and some who were not. I asked them to share the advice they give to business owners who plan to sell someday and the mistakes they should avoid, and several themes emerged. Here’s what they had to say … Assess Earlier. Many sellers wished they had commissioned a comprehensive business Assessment a year or two earlier. A proactive pre-sale evaluation …
From the M&A Glossary: Sale Leaseback
July 20, 2024 / in Business Strategy, Exit Planning / by Exit Strategies
A Sale Leaseback is a financial transaction in which a company sells an asset, usually real estate, to another party and then leases it back from the new owner for a negotiated period and other agreed upon terms. This arrangement allows the seller to convert the value of the asset into cash while retaining the right to use the asset through a lease agreement. Sale leasebacks can be advantageous for companies looking for a source …
Why Business Owners Sell, According to the Data
July 15, 2024 / in Exit Planning, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Retirement is the number one reason business owners sell, but 40 to 50% of business owners sell for other reasons. For over a decade, the IBBA and M&A Source Market Pulse survey of M&A advisors and business brokers has been tracking what motivates owners to sell their businesses. And the reasons have been fairly consistent over the years. After retirement, these are the leading reasons according to the survey: 1. Burnout The long hours and …
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