Articles

As excitement builds for the upcoming M&A Source Spring Conference in Louisville, attendees are gearing up for an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of mergers and acquisitions. Central to this experience is the Deal Market—an innovative platform where connections are forged, deals are explored, and relationships are cultivated. Here’s what you […]

According to informal interviews with owners of middle market businesses who sold all or portions of their companies, the determination to sell was among the most difficult decisions in their lifetimes.  Many shared that the sale was one of the most important milestones on the journey through life. As important as selling decisions were to […]

One of the most common phrases often heard in merger and acquisition negotiations is: “The deal is done; we’re not buying the company.” As a rule of thumb, all good deals die seven times. Most business owners are under the impression sales are simple, like real estate transactions. However, that’s an unfair comparison. People tend […]

Transactions are major decisions in the life of a business, for both Sellers and Buyers. In a standard transaction a Buyer will request money from the purchase price be held in escrow. And, while I’ll admit there is a strong argument justifying those types of requests, there are also viable alternatives. First, why do Buyers […]

“Take Care of Key Employees When Selling Your Business” We had found the perfect buyer, a strategic in the same industry. It looked like this transaction had a good chance to close. The owner of this successful Twin Cities business, who was living in another state, had done a nice job of removing herself from […]

That famous business owner question … what is my business worth, really means how much will I get in my blue jeans.? Total Proceeds Typically, there are 3 main contributors to Sellers’ total proceeds: Offer Price – Cash at closing and any Promissory Note; Final Adjustments – including excess transferred Working Capital settlement payment after […]

As I sit down and attempt a recap of the recently concluded Charlotte conference, I realize that anything I talk about to those who were not in attendance is like serving the leftovers of a great meal.  It just isn’t going to be the same.  It will be a dry recast of a class or […]

This is the second part of Blue River’s educational series entitled “Straight Talk to Owners About Business Valuations”  written by Blue River’s Managing Partner, William Loftis. The series is designed to help middle market business owners and their transaction advisors (i.e., attorneys, CPAs, investment bankers, M&A brokers, and others) appreciate the importance of accurately understanding business value before going […]

These matter to you on so many levels, please read. If you include SBA financing in your transactions, then you must have heard about the many changes going into effect on August 1st of 2023 in SOP 50-10-7. Many posts are promoting these changes as beneficial to our industry, but today I will explain the […]

It was only a few years ago that many “Baby Boomer” business owners were beginning to strategically position their businesses for eventual sale. Unfortunately for many of these owners, the economic upheaval postponed their retirement schedules as caution pushed potential buyers to the sidelines. Navigating recent difficulties has left these business owners a bit older, […]