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What Does ChatGPT Think?
October 14, 2024 / in Business Strategy, Business Valuation / by Joe Orlando
This October, I will celebrate my 12th year as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation with the American Society of Appraisers (also ASA). ASA members meet every year for an International Conference to discuss current topics and to share knowledge and best practices. I attended the most recent Conference in Portland, OR. A presentation entitled “The AI Revolution – Why it Matters to Appraisers & Application Strategies” by Greg Endicott of Strategic Value Group, …
How to Purchase the Company You Work For
October 13, 2024 / in Acquire a Business, Business Valuation / by Exit Strategies
For many C-Suite employees, owning the company they work for would be a dream come true. If you’ve been leading a successful private business or are a seasoned member of its executive team, acquiring that business may be a realistic goal. Secure Funding Typically, the biggest hurdle in buying a business is obtaining the cash/equity and securing the debt financing necessary to close the deal. The good news is that a healthy business is an …
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: …
From the M&A Glossary: Caps and Baskets
September 20, 2024 / in Acquire a Business, Sell a Business / by Exit Strategies
Indemnity caps and baskets are key terms in business purchase agreements that relate to the seller’s indemnification obligations for any breaches of representations and warranties made by the seller. Cap The cap is the maximum amount of damages that the seller will be obligated to pay to the buyer for breaches of reps and warranties. For example, if the purchase price is $40 million and the cap is set at 10%, the seller’s maximum indemnification …
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 …
Exit Strategies Group Advises Custom Ag Formulators in Strategic Sale
August 15, 2024 / in Acquire a Business, Sell a Business / by Al Statz
Exit Strategies Group is pleased to announce that we recently served as financial advisors to the owners of Custom Ag Formulators (CAF), a North American provider of customized agriculture formulations and products for growers, in the sale of CAF to ICL, a leading global specialty minerals company. Founded in 1998 in Fresno, California, CAF offers a diverse assortment of liquid adjuvants and enhanced nutrients, as well as various other specialty products. CAF operates two U.S.-based …
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 …
M&A Tip: Use Acquisitions to Expand Your Business
August 8, 2024 / in Acquire a Business, Business Strategy / by Exit Strategies
In today’s competitive business landscape, standing still means falling behind. Business owners and management must constantly find ways to grow, and one of their most bold and strategic moves is acquiring other businesses. This “buy and build” approach can offer a fast track to expansion, with both benefits and inherent risks. Here we summarize the benefits and risks involved in inorganic growth, and the essential advisors needed to navigate this complex terrain successfully. Benefits of …