A cash sweep is the use of a company's excess cash to pay outstanding debts ahead of the scheduled payment date instead of giving it to their investors or shareholders. This process helps a company to minimize risk and liability as well as pay its debt at a faster rate than what is…
The discount rate is a rate of return that is used in a business valuation to convert a series of future anticipated cash flow from a company to present value under the discounted cash flow approach. The most common method to derive the discount rate is using a weighted average cost of…
Investment criteria are the defined set of parameters used by financial and strategic buyers to assess an acquisition target. Sophisticated buyers will usually have two sets of criteria: The parameters that are disclosed publicly to intermediaries such as investment bankers, so they know…
One purpose of a letter of intent (LOI) is to document a mutual agreement between the buyer and seller on the major points of the purchase and sale of a business. With this in mind, an LOI is often signed much too early in the process. There is an understandable eagerness if you are…
When people ask about the payback period their intended question is "When will I get my money back?" In order to answer this question, the payback period must deal with cash flows — e.g., invest € 100 today, receive € 20 in year 1, € 30 in year 2 and €â€¦
Investment banks offer expertise and know-how that can add significant value to any transaction, but complicated fee structures can be daunting and confusing in picking an investment banker. In negotiating fee structures, a business owner should consider the goal he or she seeks to…
Preparation and planning are key to successful outcomes in any project, and buying out a partner can be a consuming, emotional, complicated process and so this question is really around planning and preparation. Buy-Sell Agreement The best thing that any partnership can do is put in a…
By: Paul Wormley | General Partner, Hadley Capital
When working with an owner on their transaction, how does an M&A advisor ensure that the business is as valuable as possible at the point of transition? What steps…
M&A Advisors work on what is arguably the most significant financial transaction in a person’s life: the sale of their business. As a member of a business…
*Owner and company names have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals and businesses represented in the case study.*When planning to exit your business,…
(Article originally posted here.)In the M&A world, there are few terms as dreaded as the “Re-Trade”. The continued market uncertainty, coupled with…
By: Michael Carter
It’s the dream of just about every private equity fund manager to source a proprietary deal. Why? Because they are often less trafficked by buyers and therefore…
Over the last few months I have talked to three different business owners who, in hopes of selling their businesses, reached out to a single potential buyer they…
By: John Carvalho | President, Divestopedia Inc.
The succession or exit by a business owner is usually the single largest financial transaction in their lifetime with a lot at risk as typically a majority of an…
By: Scott Yoder
Regardless of the current media concentration on the pros and cons of private equity firms and investments, those who work in the business or those considering…
By: Jack Kearney | Managing Director
Business buyers do not often reveal their hands about why they feel a business is an attractive acquisition prospect for fear of driving up the price. They do, however,…
By: Dave Kauppi
That dollar figure, whether written on a napkin over coffee or floated in a conversation, is not a binding offer. Any potential acquirer will need to conduct a due…
By: Paris Aden
One of the most important elements of a great investment is getting the right people involved. The right people bring innovative ideas, create opportunities and help the…
By: Jeffrey Kadlic
In my previous article, Value is in the Eye of the Beholder, I presented the idea that the definition of value can vary depending on the stakeholder. I stated that for…
By: Erick Hamdan
The exit plan is progressing. We have identified the goals under Step 1, determined the financial needs upon exit under Step 2, assessed the current value of the…
If you started your business from scratch, the chances are that you’ve invested a lot of your time and financial resources into growth. You have been through thick…
By: Lyle Solomon | Principal Attorney
I sat down with Tom Hendrickson, the founder and president of Mitre Media, an online financial media company focused on aggregating a sophisticated audience of…
By: Cory Janssen
Subscribe To the Divestopedia Newsletter!
Stay on top of new content from Divestopedia.com. Join one of our email newsletters and get the latest insights about selling your business in your inbox every week.
By: Miracle Semien
By: Erick Hamdan
By: Paul Wormley
By: Hope Malveaux
By: Miracle Semien
Alan Chettiar leads FirePower Capital’s Investment Banking team in all its engagements and sets its strategic direction. He brings over a…
Latest Article
Preconceived Notions Can Be Deal KillersAndrew J. Sherman is a Partner in the Corporate Department of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. Andrew focuses his practice on issues affecting business growth for…
Latest Article
Letter of Intent: Examining 3 Different Drafting StylesBarbara is the co-founder of Allan Taylor, a boutique M&A firm located in Northwest Arkansas. She began her entrepreneurial journey after moving…