KONE buys Empire Elevator, strengthening its position in San Francisco Bay Area, California

/in /by Al Statz

Excerpted from KONE Corporation press release, July 2013:
33543KONE has acquired the San Francisco-based business of Empire Elevator Co., Inc., an independent elevator company. Empire has operated in the attractive Bay Area market since 1978 under the capable leadership of President Bruce Moore, who will join the combined KONE team in a key role.

“The Empire and KONE operations will fit well together and we are thrilled to be adding great new customers in the very important San Francisco market,” said Larry Wash, KONE Executive Vice President for the Americas. “We are also gaining a wealth of talent from the skilled and experienced employees joining KONE from Empire and look forward to welcoming these new team members to our team,” Wash added.

KONE is one of the global leaders in the elevator and escalator industry. In 2012, KONE had annual net sales of EUR 6.3 billion and around 40,000 employees. KONE class B shares are listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki Ltd in Finland. https://www.kone.com/

Exit Strategies Group, Inc. initiated the above transaction and advised the seller.

Terms of the transaction are confidential and will not be disclosed.  For advice on exiting your company, please do not hesitate to call. 

News of a Recent Event

/in /by Al Statz

CABB100x99On March 23, 2013, Al Statz of Exit Strategies presented an advanced workshop – Valuation of Lower Middle Market Companies – at the California Associate of Business Brokers (CABB) annual productivity conference.

The workshop focused on …

  • How finance theory relates to M&A transactions
  • Appropriate benefit streams, normalization adjustments, valuation methods, rate of return
  • Transaction databases and industry research
  • Strategic buyer valuation
  • CapEx and working capital treatment
  • Common mistakes and how to avoid them.

Thank you CABB members for your positive feedback. It was great seeing all of you again and hearing that you’re closing deals. And, thank you CABB conference committee for inviting me to speak again this year.

2013 Sonoma County Backroad Challenge Ride

/in /by Al Statz

Again this year, Exit Strategies will support the Sonoma County Backroad Challenge ride, which will take place on May 18, 2013 in Petaluma, California, one day before the Amgen Tour of California’s OVERALL FINISH next door in Santa Rosa. Visiting cyclists have a rare opportunity to experience the beauty of Sonoma County backroads and the thrill of the Tour of California professional race!

Cyclists of all levels can enjoy spectacular
SCBC Sonoma County scenery on one of three fully-supported rides (100 miles, 100 Km and 50 Km) ranging from leisurely to grueling. The acclaimed Backroad Fest takes place after the ride, with local cuisine, cold brews, live music, fun and fellowship until 6 pm. Register at  www.backroadchallenge.com. Registration is limited to 1,750 riders this year.

The Amgen Tour of California is one of the nation’s largest and most recognized annual sporting events.  An eight-day event, this prestigious cycling road race features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world.  Known as one of the top cycling destinations in the world, Sonoma County is home to three-time Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer, home of the US headquarters of the 2011 Tour de France winning Team BMC, and host to training camps for many elite pro-cycling teams, as well as amateur clubs and bike-passionate individuals. But it isn’t just cyclists who journey here. Sonoma County, voted the #1 US wine destination in the 2012 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards, holds a romantic allure for anyone who gets a taste of our award-winning wines and world-class cuisine, glimpses the majestic beauty of our towering redwoods and colorful vineyards, or meanders to the coast to feel cool sand between their toes and an ocean breeze in their hair… As Levi says: “I’ve made a life out of riding and racing my bike all over the globe. With the entire world from which to choose, I opted for Santa Rosa.”

The Backroad Challenge is a fundraiser for the Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Foundation. All proceeds support worthy local and international charitable projects. Every day, Rotary members throughout the world are working to combat hunger, eradicate polio, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, and promote goodwill and peace. Please join Exit Strategies in supporting Rotary and the 2013 Backroad Challenge.

October 25th Seminar: Maximizing the Value of Your Business

/in , , /by Al Statz

In this fast-paced workshop, business owners learn …

  • Valuation basics
  • Factors that increase enterprise value and marketability
  • Steps to developing your exit strategy
  • Steps in a proven M&A selling process
  • Current market conditions and trends
  • Tax implications and impending changes
  • Answers to many common questions that owners have

This is essential information for private business owners who wish to sell in the next 1-5 years.  It is not too early to plan the successful exit you deserve.

When:            Thursday, October 25th, 4:00 to 6:30 pm

Where:           Petaluma, California

Presenters:    Al Statz and Bob Altieri of Exit Strategies, and David Fisher CPA

More Information: Call 707-778-2040 or Email info@exitstrategiesgroup.com for availability and further information.

For confidentiality, we limit attendance to one business owner per business type and pre-register all participants.

Engineering the Future

/in , /by Al Statz

As a father of two budding technophiles, and having my first college degree in electrical and computer engineering, please allow me this opportunity to promote this important profession …

As the world’s population nears seven-billion people, mechanical engineers will play a major role in meeting global challenges says a research study conducted by ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers). The study, The State of Mechanical Engineering: Today and Beyond, was the result of a survey of over 1,200 engineers.

With the expanding global population comes the need to address challenges such as clean water, sanitation, food and energy. While the study shows optimism about the ability of engineers to meet global challenges, it points to the importance of working on interdisciplinary teams of professionals to address these issues.

The study also revealed that early career engineers and students will play a major role in meeting global challenges over the next 10-20 years, especially in the areas of sustainability or renewable energy, bioengineering and biomedical fields, nanotechnology, green building technology, energy storage, smart grids and greenhouse gas mitigation.

The ASME research study also revealed that over the next two decades:

  • The prestige of working as an engineer will increase
  • The financial rewards of working as an engineer will be greater
  • The number of engineers working in less-developed countries will be greater
  • The need for engineers to increase their ability to communicate more effectively, increase language skills and manage global teams will increase

When participants were asked how they would acquire additional knowledge or expertise needed to address future challenges, almost all engineers said they would employ self-study.  According to the survey, “early career engineers prefer traditional face-to-face instruction for acquiring knowledge such as in-house training, mentoring, and part-time graduate degree programs. More experienced engineers, on the other hand, are more comfortable relying on magazines, books and online courses.”

The study also indicated that “basic engineering disciplines will continue to be indispensable. Abilities such as multilingual and multicultural skills will be essential in the anticipated increasingly global work environment.”

Download the study results here: The State of Mechanical Engineering: Today and Beyond

2012 Sonoma County Backroad Challenge Century Ride Announced

/in /by Al Statz

SCBCYes, this is a business blog, but we want you to know about the annual Sonoma County Backroad Challenge on May 19, 2012 in Petaluma. Cyclists of all levels can enjoy spectacular Sonoma County backroad scenery on one of three fully-supported rides (100 miles, 100 Km and 50 Km) ranging from leisurely to grueling. The Backroad Fest at Lagunitas Brewery will be in full swing when you return from your ride.  Enjoy local cuisine, cold brews, live music, fun and fellowship until 6 pm. Register at  www.backroadchallenge.com. Limited to 999 riders.

Bring your friends and family. Our website includes a primer on organizing a team of riders for your company or cycling group.

This is a fundraiser for the Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Foundation and all proceeds support charitable projects. Rotary club members volunteer locally and internationally to combat hunger, eradicate polio, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, and promote goodwill and peace. Please join Exit Strategies in supporting Rotary.

October 27th “Maximize the Value of Your Business” Seminar Announced

/in , , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies announces the next in its series of executive briefings for business owners. At this candid, fast-paced workshop, business owners will learn …

  1. Valuation basics & 20 ways to build enterprise value
  2. Preparing a successful exit strategy
  3. Market conditions and trends
  4. Tax advantages of selling in the next 15 months
  5. Steps in a successful M&A sale process
  6. Answers to common questions

When:    Thursday, October 27th, 5:00 to 7:30 pm

Where:   Petaluma, California

Cost:      Free of charge to private business owners

Presenters:   Al Statz, President, Exit Strategies Group, Inc., and David Fisher CPA

Registration Required:  Call 707-778-2040, or Email info@exitstrategiesgroup.com. Space is limited. We will confirm attendance.

This is essential information for private business owners who intend to sell in the next 3-5 years.  It is never too early to plan ahead to achieve the successful exit that you, your family and partners deserve, and avoid unnecessary surprises.

•    •    •

Exit Strategies’ executive briefings are free or nearly free workshops on essential topics for private business owners. These topics originate from years spent guiding clients through successful exits, mergers and acquisitions. The sessions are presented by our knowledgeable staff and subject matter experts within our professional network, in a private, small group setting. For confidentiality, we strictly limit attendance to one business owner per business type and pre-register all participants.

Exit Strategies Joins National Business Valuation Group

/in , /by Al Statz

Exit Strategies has joined forces with National Business Valuation Group, LLC, a consortium of independent business valuation and litigation support firms that have affiliated in order to provide clients with highest quality  professional expertise.  The relationship between offices allows each firm to provide its clients with technical, database, industry, geographic and consulting expertise that would not be available from typical business valuation firms.  Offices regularly communicate with each other regarding specific cases and valuation issues in order to ensure the highest quality work for clients.

Each office in the group is required to have senior level business appraisers with either Certified Business Appraiser (CBA) or Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) professional designations, the most coveted and difficult professional designations to obtain.

See You on the Other Side

/in , , /by Al Statz

Is a smooth transition possible when acquiring a business? I was was recently interviewed on this subject for the May 2011 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine …
Entrepreneur_1

Q:    I’ve started talks with a company’s owner to acquire her business. How do I make sure my first days as the new owner go … well, is smoothly asking too much?

A:    Ah, the first-time buyer. After talks get going, there’s always that day when you wake up and say, “Oh yeah, I’ll need to run this place.” A smooth transition isn’t too much to ask for–as long as you start working toward it early in the acquisition process. Your most important tools for a better Day One? A strong transition plan and the wisdom of the company’s original owner.

“In successful transactions, the principals have time, after the negotiating is done, to sit on the same side of the table and focus on the transition plan,” says Al Statz, president of Exit Strategies Group, a business brokerage, merger and acquisitions and valuation firm in Petaluma, Calif.

…

 Click here to see the full Entrepreneur Magazine article.

Sonoma County Backroad Challenge Century Ride * May 21, 2011

/in /by Al Statz

The Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Foundation will host its annual Sonoma County Backroad Challenge cycling event on May 21, 2011. We invite you to ride and we invite your company or club to field a team of riders. 100 Km and 50 Km rides start and end at Lagunitas Brewery where there will be a post-ride meal, cold beer, live music, fun and fellowship until 5pm. We hope you’ll join us, have a great time, and make this an annual event. Tell your colleagues, friends, neighbors and relatives. Everyone is welcome.

LAGUNITAS BREWING COMPANY AND PETALUMA SUNRISE ROTARY FOUNDATION PRESENT:

SCBC

METRIC CENTURY & HALF-CENTURY RIDES

MAY 21, 2011 — PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA

Register:  www.backroadchallenge.com

Cost: $65 (50K), $75 (100K) includes meal. Jerseys $50.

All proceeds benefit Petaluma Sunrise Rotary Foundation. 

Email alstatz@exitstrategiesgroup.com for a list of suggestions on recruiting and organizing a team of riders, or if you’d like to receive a high resolution PDF ride poster to print and display or hand out.  We also need volunteers and event sponsors.

Rotary club members are volunteers who work locally, regionally and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under the motto Service Above Self.