{M&A Process/1} Understanding our clients’ goals

In this 12-part mini series on the sell-side M&A process, we'll go over the general process you can expect working with with an M&A advisor, from pre-engagement to post-closing. Let's get started

▶ The first step in any sell-side M&A engagement is clearly understanding our client’s goals.

▶ What type of transaction is the seller seeking? For example, a sale of the entire business to an unaffiliated third-party, a recapitalization, an intrafamily transfer, or something else?

▶ Does the seller or its management team intend to stay in place post-closing? That can dramatically impact what buyers would be good candidates for the business based on their preferences.

▶ What are the seller’s valuation expectations? How does the seller weigh purchase price, terms, and other factors like a transactions impact on employees, legacy, and family members?

Drilling down and establishing the client’s ideal destination is an obvious precondition to developing a roadmap to take them there.