M&A Talk: #1 Podcast on Selling a Business

Show Summary: The private equity secondary market has grown significantly in recent years, with increasing acceptance and flexibility, but what is it exactly? Who is involved, and how do these funds operate? Jeff Bollerman has spent years in this evolving aftermarket for private equity interests, where investors can buy and sell stakes in private partnerships. He provides insights into the market'...

If you have any topic or guest suggestions for M&A Talk, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com . How can you get on the path to entrepreneurship by acquiring an established business rather than building a start-up? Harvard Business School professors Royce Yudkoff and Rick Ruback share their insights into the nuances of search fund investing, including the challenges of finding high-q...

If you have any topic or guest suggestions for M&A Talk, please email them to podcast@morganandwestfield.com. The auction process is standard for M&A transactions, but that doesn't mean it's the only way to facilitate an acquisition. Get the inside scoop on a new way of bringing companies together for the best fit. Allen Darby details how his wealth management firm matches M&A buyers and sellers b...

View the complete show notes for this episode. What impact can a partnership dispute have on the value of a company? What is the difference between a legal valuation and a market-based valuation for M&A purposes? Expert appraiser Andy Frew answers these questions and more as he discusses what's involved and what can go wrong with valuations involving companies that have a partnership dispute arise...

View the complete show notes for this episode. The successful completion of an M&A transaction often comes down to the rapport that is built between a buyer and seller and how that impacts the ultimate deal structure. Investor Matt Bodnar offers rapport-building strategies and insights into the finer points of crafting a transaction's structure. He talks about the variables that go into an LOI, un...

View the complete show notes for this episode. The acquisition process presents a rollercoaster of emotions for all involved, and how an acquisition is announced can dramatically impact integration. Loreta Tarozaite offers insights and lessons learned from an employee's perspective during an acquisition and integration. She discusses the importance of effective communication, transparency, employe...

View the complete show notes for this episode. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a new ruling (as of May 2024) regarding the enforceability of non-compete agreements. This ruling will impact every business, regardless of industry, so attorney Darshan Kulkarni joins  M&A Talk  to discuss the legal and economic implications of this controversial decision. He highlights how employers and...

View the complete show notes for this episode. "If you build it, they will come" is an expression that applies to starting a company as well as a baseball field. Thinking about what buyers want and avoiding the pressure to sell in a specific timeframe can help you increase your company's value when the time comes to sell. With 25 years in corporate M&A, Guillaume Thomas helps sellers understand wh...

View the complete show notes for this episode. What is it like to source M&A deals with a focus on B2B software technology companies? Mahmoud Hmouz answers this question and many more as he discusses what a PE firm looks for when sourcing companies to consider for acquisition. He offers insights into the metrics a PE firm first looks at, gives advice for entrepreneurs on preparing for a "first dat...

View the complete show notes for this episode. Learning from your mistakes is an important life lesson. Learning from the mistakes of others is smart business. Jim Stevenson shares a high-level overview of two M&A transactions that have gone wrong and points out the lessons that can be applied to any transaction. His suggestions include going after the  smart  money, not just the  most  money, per...

View the complete show notes for this episode. A fairly new investment model for investing in online businesses is gaining strength and interest. Justine Cooke discusses this fractional ownership program, which is accessible online and available to retail investors. In this model, investors seek passive income through fractional ownership of online businesses, with operators receiving equity and i...

View the complete show notes for this episode. What You'll Learn M&A Evolution:  Learn about the M&A transactions that resulted in the formation, growth, sale, and reformation of two multi-million dollar companies. ASME Certification:  Insights into the challenges involved in working with international suppliers and the importance of confirming valid certification.  Cannabis Industry:  An overview...

View the complete show notes for this episode. What You'll Learn Major Deal Killers:  A look at the risks private equity firms consider, such as customer concentration, off-balance sheet liabilities, cyclicality, business size, and creative accounting. Address Risks:  Tips on how to proactively address risks and liabilities like customer concentration through sales and marketing strategies to dive...

View the complete show notes for this episode. Accountant Kyle Smith shares expert insights into optimizing a business's financial health before going to market. This includes understanding and tracking five key performance indicators (KPIs) and financial metrics to evaluate a business's financial health and valuation, the need for cost control analysis, benchmarking against industry averages, and...

View the complete show notes for this episode. Thinking about retirement is different for a business owner. You want to ensure you continue living life with purpose and intent to make sure you are happy once you sell your business. Expert Elliot Kellen discusses how to avoid the vacuum that occurs after you sell your business. He offers strategies for clarifying your goals and vision for retiremen...

View the complete show notes for this episode. What are the most common mistakes sellers make when it comes to selling a middle-market company? M&A expert Jim Stevenson shares tips and strategies for preparing a company for acquisition. He discusses common mistakes such as not planning for an exit or not presenting a company in the best possible light, the importance of cultural fit, the need for...

A major consolidation in the Bitcoin mining industry occurred in November 2023 with the merger of Hut 8 and US Bitcoin. Learn what went on inside this deal from Asher Genoot, CEO of the newly formed Hut 8 Corp. He discusses what led to the decision to raise capital by merging a public Canadian company with a private US company, the mechanics of merging, the challenges of integration, the operation...

View the complete show notes for this episode. In an M&A world dominated by PE firms and family offices, there are a few private investors who march to their own beat when it comes to looking for companies to buy. Rami Cassis is one such investor, and he shares his insights into what he looks for when acquiring a company and offers tips on common mistakes that sellers make. This candid conversatio...

Get an insider's perspective on what buyers look for in M&A transactions with multi-million and billion-dollar corporations. What do companies this size look for when making an acquisition? How do they make the decision to build, buy, or partner with a company? How do middle-market companies fit into the acquisition picture? Nadia Gil shares her passion for the M&A industry and stories from corpor...

Private equity (PE) firms are the most active buyers in the market, so sellers need to understand how they operate. Matt Coyne offers expert advice on how to make selling your middle-market company to a PE firm the best option. He discusses what PE firms look for in a company, the benefits and concerns when considering selling to a PE firm, tips on how to work with them, how the finances are typic...

M&A integration expert Ben de Haldevang shares insights into what can make post-acquisition integration smooth and successful. The integration structure evolves through the diligence process and can help defy false optimism and outlooks that are not based on reality.  View the complete show notes for this episode. Want More? Related Resources:  M&A Post-Closing Technical Aspects - Morgan & Westfie...

M&A disputes post-closing are more common than people realize. Disputes arise from different sources for different reasons and can result in hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation costs. Bill Wiersema returns to M&A Talk to offer expert advice on how to best prepare during the sales process to avoid potential disputes after the closing. He discusses the three most common areas of dispute a...

Don't underestimate the role and impact of human nature in M&A transactions and the power of collaboration. Julienne Baron discusses connecting the dots in M&A, including communication, the importance of advisors understanding the details in a deal, and knowing the right questions to ask to make it all a success. She shares tips on successfully navigating risk, how cultural differences impact comm...

M&A is part art and part science, and sellers and buyers can benefit from considering the view from the other side of the negotiating table. Andrew Morbitzer goes into detail about where the art and science lie in M&A transactions. He discusses the concept of proactive vs. reactive M&A strategies, what to learn from past failed acquisitions, the lifecycle of an acquisition – from strategy to align...

The world of alternative investments is complex but compelling for middle-market business owners and entrepreneurs to understand. Kimberly Flynn discusses how M&A fits into the world of asset management. She defines alternative investments, explains how they fit into investment portfolios, discusses institutional money management, looks at how private equity and VC firms utilize M&A, considers opt...