A middle market business owner who chooses to represent himself in the sale of his own business will never know the value of the offer never received, or the deal terms that never were negotiated or the financial sum he left on the table. Why do owners shun M&A Advisor or engage inadequate inexperienced professional […]
What is My Business Worth?
Are you preparing for a business sale? A key question you may ask is “what is my business worth“? The answer, which you probably don’t want to hear is “it depends”! Several factors influence the price of a business. “Environmental” Influences “Environmental” influences impacting business values are of both an internal and external nature. External environment includes the type of buyer, […]
Preparing for a Business Sale – Key Elements
Are you preparing for a business sale? Strategic buyers are sitting with a record amount of cash on their balance sheets. As organic growth has been difficult to achieve, strategic buyers have been very active in the acquisition market. Private equity buyers who have raised many millions of dollars are seeking acquisitions. They are the major players […]
Normalised EBITDA to Increase Business Sale Value
Preparing Normalised EBITDA financials is a process undertaken in preparation of a business sale to gain a better understanding of post sale cash flows. This is done by excluding abnormal, non-recurring and one-off events and adding back costs which would be incurred in a “business as usual”. Items to be “normalised” or “adjusted” can often be contentious and a conservative approach […]
Comparing EBITDA Multiples and PE Ratios
Clients may directly compare the PE ratio (price/earnings ratio) of listed companies to an EBITDA multiple (multiple of earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortisation) of a private company to establish an enterprise value. This is done to understand relative values due to the known market value of a similar listed business. This is often done without understanding that comparing […]
EBITDA Multiples Mislead
EBITDA Multiples mislead in valuing a business! Although it is a quick and easy way to view and understand the value of a business, caution must be exercised. When determining the value of a company, close consideration should be taken when using either EBIT or EBITDA (earnings before interest and tax, depreciation and amortisation) multiples and the type of […]
EBIT Multiples and Growth
EBIT Multiples and growth are an ongoing question for many owners looking to sell or buyers looking to buy a company. What EBIT multiple is applicable to my company, what is my company worth, my company is growing or is about to grow; how is the price affected? If the company has been growing, up to what point in the growth […]
Reasons Why Businesses Do Not Sell
According to a recent Deloitte survey of executives who had businesses on the market which did not sell, the following main 8 reasons why businesses do not sell were determined to be the key issues. Source: Deloitte Divestiture Survey Report 2013, Reasons for not completing divestitures Circumstances within your Control The most common reason for not completing […]
How a Higher Price can be Achieved when Selling Your Business
Multiple Bidders In a recent Deloitte survey of executives the most common reasons selected as to how a higher price can be achieved when selling your business was to have multiple competing bidders (44%). Other factors include strength of the management team, their preparation and ability to convey the company goals and objectives (40%). No surprises […]
Earnouts Maximise Value in Business Sales
What are earnouts, why are they used? Earnouts maximise value for the seller of a business and de-risk the transaction for a buyer. Businesses are valued and priced by a buyer largely on past performance (although internally a buyer will have a value based on future performance) whereas a seller who understands the prospects and opportunities […]