LUTZ BUSINESS INSIGHTS
Am i ready to sell my business?
bill kenedy, LUTZ consulting and M&A shareholder
When is the right time to exit your business? There is never a clear answer to this question. However, whether you are considering a business sale or not, it’s important to understand your options, so you are prepared when the time comes. After all, an important key to a successful transaction is finding the right buyer. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when working on a potential deal:
Non-Disclosure Agreements
Before you start any discussions, you must begin by executing an NDA or non-disclosure agreement (confidentiality agreement) with potential buyers. We recommend you have your attorney draft the contract as opposed to just signing an agreement provided by the buyer (or from a Google search!).
It’s also beneficial to utilize the help of a professional M&A advisor. These individuals spend most of their time on M&A transactions, meaning they have the knowledge and experience needed to be an extremely valuable asset to have on your team.
Financial Documents
Initially, it’s only necessary to provide high-level financial information, such as revenue and normalized EBITDA. There is no need to provide full financials or tax returns early in the process. You should request that the buyer provides you with a valuation range based on these metrics with the understanding they will have to verify those numbers if you agree to continue negotiations. If the buyer is not willing to provide a range based on these metrics, they may not be a serious buyer.
Formal Offer
If the potential buyer provides an acceptable range, ask them for a list of what they would need to review to submit a formal offer. At this point, you should involve your attorney and M&A advisor to review the list and determine what is necessary to provide. This is especially important if the potential buyer you are in discussions with is a competitor. It is imperative not to disclose too much information too soon. They could potentially misuse the information if a deal is not consummated (even though they signed and NDA)!
Use An M&A Advisor
Most importantly, don’t try to get through this alone! Based on a number of our experiences, we generally advise both buyers and sellers to work with a professional to get the most out of a business transaction. Here are two primary examples of both negative and positive sale outcomes our team has experienced over the years:
Example #1
Company A determines that the Private Equity Group they had been having discussions with for years was the group they wanted to sell to. They understood that a competitive process was an option, but chose not to take that path, as they were comfortable with the offer from this group. The transaction closed successfully, but within 15 months of the closing, the PE Group sold the company for a significantly higher price (with no significant change in the business over the 15 months). This example teaches us not to depend on factors like industry and location. Going through a competitive process is the only way to understand the full value of your business. Although, in this case, the initial sale price was slightly above the average of similar companies in their industry, it was not representative of the actual value of this particular business.
Example #2
Company A signs a non-disclosure agreement with a potential buyer; they provide them with the appropriate financial information and then receive an offer. Shortly after, Company A hires Lutz M&A to run a competitive M&A process, which includes this particular potential buyer. Based on the competitive process and properly presenting the company and its financials, the buyer ended up raising their offer to over 70% higher than their original offer (and was not the highest offer!).
Benefits of Hiring an M&A Advisor
We have many examples, similar to the two above, which is why we strongly advise business owners to engage in a competitive M&A process. Here is a list of some of the key reasons we believe this is the best course of action:
- The competition of having many potential buyers drives up the price.
- There’s a better chance of meeting the right buyer for the business (note that many of our deals have gone to buyers that were not the highest bidder!).
- This process typically ensures ‘backup’ buyers if the deal with the original buyer falls through.
- The systematic process helps reduce the amount of time it takes to close the deal. The selected buyer will know other suitors are waiting for their shot at the business, which keeps them focused.
- At the end of the process, the owner will feel as though they found the best buyer at the best price for their company.
Selling your business will be one of the biggest decisions you ever make. It’s never too early to begin exploring your options. Contact Lutz M&A today to start the conversation!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BILL KENEDY + LUTZ CONSULTING AND M&A SHAREHOLDER
Bill Kenedy is a Lutz Consulting and M&A Shareholder at Lutz. He specializes in business valuation, litigation support, and merger and acquisition advisory services.
AREAS OF FOCUS
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Business Valuation
- Litigation Support
- Business Transition Advisory Services
- Estate Planning
- Fraud Prevention and Detection
- Financial Analysis/Budgeting
AFFILIATIONS AND CREDENTIALS
- American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Member
- Nebraska Society of Certified Public Accountants, Member
- Certified Public Accountant
- Accredited in Business Valuation
- Certified in Financial Forensic
- Certified Exit Planning Advisor
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
- BSBA in Accounting, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN
COMMUNITY SERVICE
- Construction Financial Management Association, Past Treasurer, Board Member
- A Time to Heal (non-profit focused on cancer patients), Past Board Member
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- The Advantages and Drawbacks of SPACs
- EBITDA Valuation Multiples and How It's Calculated
- Net Working Capital Calculation Dilemma + Customer Deposits/Deferred Revenue
- 2021 - Is This the Year to Sell Your Business?
- Am I Ready to Sell My Business?
- Lutz M&A Advises Wings on its Acquisition by Eagle's Landing
- Selling Your Business? The Financial Information Buyers Want to See
- Can My Business Run Without Me?
- Finding the True Value of Your Business
- How Does the Business Sale Process Work?
- Understanding the Tax Implications of a Business Sale
- The M&A Client Experience
- Lutz M&A Advises Midwest Scaffold Service on its Sale to Sunbelt Rentals
- 5 Key Purchase Agreement Considerations
- Net Working Capital: What is it and How is it Used?
- Issues During the Due Diligence Process in M&A Transactions
- Lutz M&A Advises Fantasy's, Inc. on its Acquisition by Casey's General Stores
- Primary Benefits of Selling Your Company to an ESOP
- Is An Employee Stock Option Plan Right for Your Business?
- Lutz M&A Advises C&W Transportation on its Sale to Platform Capital
- Our Services, Our People, and Our Results
- Lutz M&A Advises Hands of Heartland on its Recent Investment by Evolve Capital
- Lutz M&A Advises Labor Source on its Recapitalization by Great Range Capital
- Overcoming Obstacles in Business Transition Planning
- Understanding Net Working Capital in Business Transactions
- How to Increase the Value of Your Business
- When is the Right Time to Exit My Business?
- Lutz M&A Advises Triage Staffing on Recapitalization
- Lutz M&A Advises Hockenbergs on Recent Sale to Trimark USA LLC
- Lutz M&A Advises Focus Respiratory on its Recent Buyout by Valley Healthcare Group
- Is Your Small Business at Risk of Fraud?
- Lutz M&A Advises CCW, LLC on its Recent Buyout
- Lutz M&A Advises NIFCO Mechanical Systems on Recent Sale
- Lutz M&A Advises Midwest Door & Hardware on Recent Sale
- Why is Forensic Accounting Needed?
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