Articles

Avoid Leaving Money on the Table Key Steps to Simplify M&A Working Capital Bryan Graiff, Transaction Advisory Partner, Brown Smith Wallace Dan Schoenleber Transaction Advisory Principal, Brown Smith Wallace Working capital is one of the most complex areas of transactions. Other than a rep and warranty claim, it tends to be one of the most […]

By: Heather Madland Deciding when or even if to sell—or to take on a non-control equity partner—can be a difficult decision if you’ve spent considerable time and effort building your company, are a second-generation family member carrying on the family legacy, or are part of a management team enjoying a growth period. But owners of […]

By Sam Thompson Selling your business will probably be the most challenging undertaking that you, as a business owner, experience. Most likely, your business is the largest financial asset you have, so make sure that you put ample time and energy into selling your “baby.” I owned a hospitality business for 29 years and I […]

Takeaway: Increasing the value of your business is never a bad idea. Learn some key tips that will keep you growing the value until you’re ready to sell. After many years of working closely with mid-market businesses providing valuation, divestiture and acquisition services, I have seen that many otherwise well-run companies are extremely disappointed when it’s time to sell […]

 A Priceless Self-Development Course Filled with Insights & Fun Sometimes I joke that I measure my work as a Dealmaker in dog years. And like most, I wouldn’t have it any other way. Admittedly, I’m captivated by the allure of accomplishing something complex and challenging. Each transaction journey provides me an opportunity for learning something […]

By David Wimer, CBI, M&AMI, CEPA, Senior Vice President Takeaway: Preparation is key for executing a winning strategy. There’s a saying among high performance athletes, “First you make your habits, then your habits make you.” In the axiom above, one could replace the word ‘habits’ with ‘plans’ for strategic business growth. The point is to not overlook the value of client […]

By Heather Endresen Takeaway: New entrepreneurs are flocking to the previously obscure search fund model in droves. No generation has had the impact on small business creation that the baby boomers have had over the past 50 years. As they look to retire, a new model of entrepreneurship is emerging and these new entrepreneurs are flocking to […]

By Kevin Dempsey, CBI, CMEA Takeaway: Several reasons you may want to (re)consider working with a Search Fund: Over the past five years we have been getting more calls from a special set of buyers known as Search Funds. About three years ago, after working very hard through due diligence and MBA level discovery, and three unsuccessful deals, we gave […]

1. Does the private equity firm proactively provide complete references? A potential partner should offer access to the management of all companies with whom it has worked over the years, whether or not the transactions have gone well. “Sellers should be able to choose which references to call,” says Prospect Partners’ Vice President Brett Holcomb. […]

Joe Lindsey, M&AMI, CM&AP, CBI Chairman of The M&A Source Author’s Note:  Let’s start with the thesis that this article was inspired by actual events. It could be an amalgam of multiple experiences combined into one story. Let’s assume that the names, dates, and other data relevant to this article were changed because of concerns […]