With the economy gaining steam and valuations rising, the market is turning more favorable every day for business owners who want to sell their companies.
This is especially true in the middle market – companies with sales of $10 million to $100 million – where deal values tracked by GF Data averaged more than six times earnings in its most recent report.
Statistics also show that 51% of private business owners prefer to sell to third parties, while 16% favor a management buyout and 15% opt to sell to family members or employees.
Those who choose to exit have three basic options:
The Auction Process: This is the conventional way to sell 100% of a company and works well for retiring owners who decide to hire an investment banker to run a competitive auction to get the highest price. The banker will spent several weeks gathering business and financial information about the company and developing options for the business owner to consider. If the decision is made to go to market the banker will use company information to create an offering document, or Confidential Information Memorandum. At the same time, he or she will begin surveying the market to create a list of roughly 100 (or more) prospective buyers, both financial and strategic. With the CIM complete and list in hand, the banker will begin talking with likely buyers and responding to their information requests. He will keep the owner informed about indications of interest as the first step in a buyer selection process that will later include management meetings, site visits, negotiations, requests for more information and – after a term sheet is agreed – due diligence. The banker will spend upwards of 300 hours from start to finish in a typical engagement. He or she will be paid a retainer and/or a monthly fee to cover their time and costs with the bulk of their compensation coming from a “success fee” when the deal closes. The owner will spend a significant amount of time working with the banker on this once in a lifetime transaction.
The Negotiated Transaction: This is an alternative to the auction process that appeals to business owners who decide to embrace a financial partner while remaining actively involved in the business. Often the owner is in his or her late 50s and sees an opportunity to take money off the table and reduce personal risk while retaining equity in the business and working a few more years. The investment banker in this case plays a facilitator role – making introductions to qualified buyers one at a time in an effort to find the right fit. The owner knows he or she may not get the highest price but is prepared to sacrifice top dollar to hold onto the role of CEO and own a 20% to 25% stake in the company post-transaction. A negotiated transaction also appeals to owners who like the idea of another payday (“second bite of the apple”) when the company is sold a second time. In many ways the negotiated transaction is easier to manage, with less information required up front by the financial partner adept at deal analysis. In many cases investment banking fees are paid by the buyer – a scenario that works well for business owners who are no seeking active representation.
The ESOP: There are also times when a business owner decides to reward employees by allowing them to buy him or her out through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP.) This can be done in a tax efficient manner when structured properly while ensuring the company remains independent even after the owner departs. It is important for owners considering an ESOP to meet with their investment banker and other advisors to review their options. Planning is key, as is determining if the business is big enough to justify the set up and annual administrative fees. The process can be an especially good option for companies that have steady revenues and strong management teams.
Is one option better than the next? In the end no one size fits all. Careful planning is the most important step an owner can take to achieve a successful business exit.
Posted by Craig Allsopp.
Download the 7 Step Guide to Business Exit Planning