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What Are M&A Sources of Capital?

When raising money to fund mergers and acquisitions, there are several ways that capital can be sourced. First, the financing needs to be raised with consideration of the company's operating cash flows. For example, if the business uses debt financing, it should have sufficient funds to cover the interest and repay the debt.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of An IPO?

An IPO is an initial public offering (IPO), which is the first limited public stock sale by a private company. IPOs are a strategy often used by smaller businesses to raise capital from public investors in order to facilitate expansion and growth. Once public, the company can be traded on the open market. There are both upsides and downsides to taking a company public. 

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Top Reasons Business Owners Seek An M&A Strategy

What is an M&A Strategy?
A strategy for a merger or acquisition is the rationale behind the transaction. Your objective should determine the type of deal that is right for your company. Maybe there is even more than one objective. Commonly, these goals are focused on boosting financial performance and mitigating risk.

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The M&A Process From A Buyer’s Perspective

When it comes to mergers and acquisitions, it is common for a seller to struggle to see the transaction from a buyer’s point of view. This is quite understandable because a business owner spends years, and even decades, building their company into a successful venture. It makes it more difficult to see the transaction from a potential buyer’s perspective. Many M&A transactions fall through because the seller and buyer simply cannot get on the same page. As a seller, you can work with an experienced M&A advisor to help you manage your expectations for the value of your company so that you can not only get the most out of your deal but also make sure the deal goes through. If you’re selling a business, you should understand how the valuation of a company works, what it is based on, and what is important to a buyer.

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What Is A Sustainable Growth Rate?

As a business owner, it is important to have a solid understanding of what a sustainable growth rate (SGR) is, and why it matters to the valuation of your company. 

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How Can M&A Help My Business Recover From Covid?

The COVID-19 pandemic taught us quite a few lessons for keeping a business surviving and thriving in unchartered territories. Now is the time to be forward-thinking. There are ways that you, as a business owner, can utilize mergers and acquisitions (M&A) as an effective strategy to accelerate your company’s recovery from the lingering impacts of the pandemic from both a defensive and offensive perspective.

OFFENSE:


Accelerate Your Business Model

Inorganic Growth
Emerging from a pandemic is not the time for organic growth strategies for most businesses. This is especially true for sectors that have experienced irreparable impacts, such as retail, hospitality, tourism, and live entertainment. However, M&A can accelerate growth within a business model is otherwise not feasible or accessible ways. Whether it’s accessing new supply chains or acquiring a competitor’s talent, M&A is an effective tool that can open up several possibilities for growth and success.

Disruptive M&A
Technology and innovation have become more imperative than ever because of the need for rapid digitalization during the pandemic. When remote working and online conferencing became the norm, disruptive tech was put on an epic fast track. Everyone wants what is hot, and they want it ASAP. Otherwise, they risk falling behind the competition. As a result, these technologies offer significant M&A opportunities for companies in many sectors, such as cloud computing and artificial intelligence.

Boosting Supply Chains
Supply chains have taken a significant hit due to the pandemic, with some sectors experiencing worse disruptions than others (such as automotive, energy, and manufacturing). As a result, these sectors are being forced to reboot and find ways to alter their supply chains to get what they need. This is where M&A can be a real game-changer, helping companies gain access to alternative supply chains and keeping operations on track.

Alliances and Joint Ventures
Because of the pandemic, consumer behaviors and spending patterns have changed. Welcome to the new normal. This means that businesses will need to look to new strategic alliances to be more agile in catering to new customer habits, and M&A can help make these joint ventures a reality.

DEFENSE:


Protect Your Future

Integration and Value Creation
Now more than ever, many companies need to cut costs, free up working capital, and do it quickly. M&A is one of the more timely ways to make this happen. Also, planning on ways to create value today can protect your business in the future. By turning to M&A, you can both integrate and develop.

Divestitures and Separations
As economic pressures persist, many businesses need to divest non-essential assets. At the same time, they may also need to unload any highly sought-after assets for financial reasons. There are also opportunities due to sustainable investing becoming much more popular. In addition, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives lead to rebalancing portfolios, which could mean actionable assets for divestiture. In any case, sellers should enlist professional M&A advisement to ensure that they avoid getting into asset fire sales. Learn more about the value of hiring an M&A advisor here.

End-to-End Distressed M&A
2021 was a record year for M&A, and a great deal of opportunity still exists. Many types of investors, including private equity, activist, and corporate investors, have strong balance sheets. They are sitting on plenty of cash and are in the position to move quickly on acquisitions of distressed businesses.

Let’s Get Started
If you think M&A strategies could benefit your company, our experts at Benchmark International would love to hear from you so that we can discuss your options and help you make the most of your success.

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Eight Truths about The Current Market for Selling Your Business

For more than ten years, business owners have enjoyed a sellers’ market in the lower and middle markets. But the tide is turning. Here’s the headline: Multiples are not trending downward, buyers are slower, more cautious, and cockier, and deals are taking longer. 

 

The best analogy is that we have been on a roller coaster, and we no longer hear the clicking sound as we go up, but we’ve also not started to feel anything in our stomachs. It’s almost as if we are paused, and we feel certain that we know what is coming next. Buyers feel as if they’ve been bullied for the last decade by aspirational sellers and their agents. They have pent-up resentment. Some of it is starting to show. 

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What Is The Difference Between An M&A Advisor And A Business Broker?

When you are about to sell a business, you have a few options regarding how to do it, and whose expertise to enlist. Many people confuse M&A advisors with business brokers. While there are some similarities, they are not one and the same. There is actually more than one significant difference between an M&A advisor and a business broker. It is important for any business owner to understand these differences, so that it can be determined which is the best way to go about the sale of a company.

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Benchmark International’s Gregory Jackson Named International Ceo Of The Year (Corporate Finance)

Gregory Jackson, Benchmark International’s CEO, was named International CEO of the Year (Corporate Finance) by the Gamechangers™ 2022 Global Awards, adding to his growing and impressive list of accolades.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between American Project & Repair to the Orion Group

The seller, American Project and Repair, is a leader in the facility maintenance space, with over 20 years of experience across the United States and Puerto Rico. Utilizing a vendor base of over 10,000 local licensed technicians and contractors, they have become the go-to source for facility maintenance for many Fortune 500 clients.

Ted Mastrucci, owner of AP&R, had this to say about the transaction: “When you are a small business owner, and you only get to do this one time in your life, you want to know that you have the best in your corner with you. I felt that way every day with Benchmark International. From our initial conversations until the deal was closed, Benchmark International was with me every step of the way. I worked with several people on the Benchmark International team along the way. Each one had a specific role, and then each one passed the ball on to the next person flawlessly. As a matter of fact, so well that I cannot remember a time where I had to repeat details or parts of the deal to them.”

The buyer, the Orion Group, is a field services company seeking to partner with leading family-owned service providers. Orion is building national platforms in the HVAC & plumbing, electrical, landscaping, and facilities maintenance sectors by investing in businesses with strong teams and cultures and creating unmatched growth opportunities for them. “Ted has created a unique interior service offering that prioritizes long-term relationships with service partners and advocating for customers. His industry expertise and commitment to excellence is inspiring and I am thrilled to welcome AP&R to the Orion FM platform,” said Isaiah Brown, co-CEO of Orion.

“It was a pleasure to work with Ted from AP&R. He was a quick study in the M&A process, and we are very thankful that he placed his trust with Benchmark International for the sale of his company. The Orion Group ran one of the most efficient due diligence processes and were true professionals throughout the transaction.” – Matthew Kekelis, Director, Benchmark International.

 

Schedule A Call

 

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 /Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Lawrie@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 


ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International’s global offices provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. To date, Benchmark International has handled engagements in excess of $8.25B across various industries worldwide. With decades of global M&A experience, Benchmark International’s deal teams, working from 14 offices across the world, have assisted hundreds of owners with achieving their personal objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

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M&A Trends In The Lower And Middle Markets

In the first quarter of 2022, global middle-market M&A activity maintained the momentum that we saw in 2021. Last year, lower and middle-market companies played major roles in deal-making activity. Companies of all sizes enjoyed significant buyer interest in sectors ranging from tech, transportation, healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics.

 A notable imbalance in supply and demand in the lower and middle markets has been driving up the valuations of healthy companies in hot sectors. This trend is expected to continue through 2022 for strong companies in the lower and middle markets, especially in sectors such as healthcare, cybersecurity, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and niche manufacturing.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Notus Heavy Lift Solutions Limited and British Engineering Services Limited

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the acquisition of Liverpool-based Notus by Warrington-based British Engineering Services.

Notus is an engineering consultancy specialising in the delivery of heavy lift and transport consultancy services, lifting assurance, and the planning and execution of lifting operations. Services are delivered across the energy, rail, defence, and construction sectors throughout the UK and Europe.

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

For over 160 years British Engineering Services has been engaged in the testing, inspection, and certification of industrial machinery via its highly skilled engineer surveyors and engineering consultants. The British Engineering Services Group team has grown considerably due to ongoing recruitment activity and acquisitions and now consists of almost 1,000 people.

The acquisition is British Engineering Services' seventh since 2019 and the second conducted via Benchmark International in the last two months.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction of Access Plus (Scotland) Ltd and TrainingPlus.com Ltd TO Briggs Equipment UK Limited

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of both Access Plus and TrainingPlus to Briggs Equipment.

Operating from three sites in Scotland – Glasgow, Edinburgh and Irvine – Access Plus has delivered high quality powered access solutions to customers throughout the UK since 1998. The company manages approximately 700 powered access assets, which will help bolster Briggs Equipment’s comprehensive fleet of access equipment and increase coverage in Scotland.

Briggs Equipment is the exclusive national distributor in the UK for the Hyster and Yale ranges of forklift trucks and other materials handling equipment.

According to Pete Jones, Briggs Equipment’s managing director, the group has significantly increased its access equipment capability across the UK and Ireland with the acquisition, enabling the company to accelerate its powered access strategy and deliver a broader proposition to its customers. With the addition of TrainingPlus, the company has the opportunity to expand its existing training services.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

George Marriott, Access Plus and TrainingPlus managing director, commented: “We are extremely pleased to be a part of the Briggs Equipment Group following confirmation of the acquisition. Our team can’t wait to get started and continue the ongoing development of our businesses in a strategic and progressive manner. The culture and values of Briggs aligns perfectly with us and we could not have picked a better parent company.

“Throughout the acquisition process the team at Briggs have conducted themselves in an exemplary manner and we are looking forward to working closely as part of the group moving forward. We are determined to maximise the potential of our business, whilst still delivering a great service to our customers and this acquisition will help us deliver on that ambition.”

Commenting on working with Benchmark International, Mr Marriot added: “I was guided to a successful conclusion with a world class expert, James Robinson, at Benchmark. My frustration with due diligence he took ownership of, his attention to detail was faultless and my experience was certainly exceptional. This was my first sale and "my baby" was comfortably delivered into caring hands. James managed the purchaser, my legal team, the accountants, my team and myself with a caring and surety - allowing me to understand the complexities of the deal, which helped me make better decisions along the journey.”

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Seller Handover In A Business Sale

Handover Process

After completing the sale of your business, there is typically a handover process between the seller and the buyer. One of a buyer’s most significant concerns when taking over a business is that the company’s performance continues as it was before the sale. When a seller is willing to stay on for a handover process post-closing, the buyer has increased trust in the business, resulting in the business selling more quickly and at a higher valuation. Therefore, it will be beneficial to both parties to plan this part of the process well and in advance of the time that the handover will take place. The length, compensation, etc., of the Handover period will be worked through during the Purchase Agreement negotiations. If there is a failure to recognize and offer an acceptable handover period for the business, it could cause a deal to fall apart while it is in due diligence.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

Stages Of A Business Handover

The typical stages of a business handover are the Training Stage, Handover Stage, and Assistance Stage. Immediately following the sale, the seller will usually continue to run 100% of the business. During this time, the new owner will take some time to familiarize themselves with the business. Then, as the Training stage begins, the seller will slowly reduce their involvement while the buyer continues to increase theirs. In the Training stage, the seller must create a checklist of items that he can run through with the new owner. Mark each item as complete once it’s finished, and keep this for your records if you run into any issues down the road. It is a good idea to observe how a day in the life of your business typically goes. Take note of every payroll task you complete, every person you communicate with, any supplier or contractor documentation, provide copies of all budgets, information about cash flow, etc. Continue with this process until you feel that you have been able to document all of the particulars that the new owner will need to know in order to keep the business operating smoothly. As the seller trains the new owner, the seller will slowly start to reduce their involvement while the buyer continues to increase theirs. This sequence will continue until the complete handover is achieved.

During the Handover stage, the new owner runs 75%-100% of the business with the seller still on hand to help answer questions and ensure that processes are running smoothly. If you have had a successful Training stage, the new owner will have increased confidence in successfully running the business. This may matter to the seller as well, particularly if there are any deferred payments or earnouts that have been agreed to in the structure of the sale. It is imperative to train the buyer and put them in a position to be successful, as both parties benefit from doing so. The new owner will now be in charge of making crucial decisions and bringing innovative ideas and future plans for the business to the table. Customer and employee relationships with the new owner should be solidly in place at this point, and the seller should have very limited involvement in the day-to-day activities of the business.

Once the new owner is running 100% of the business, it is common to enter the Assistance stage, where both parties have made an agreement to remain in contact for a set period of time in case there are any questions that come up. While the seller is no longer directly engaged with the daily runnings of the company, it is best for them to make themselves available to answer any questions that the new owner might have. Many times the majority of this communication can be handled through email and phone conversations. An essential item to have established for this stage is the amount of time the new owner can expect to receive help from the seller, paying particular care to have the expectations and limitations outlined.

A properly planned Handover period can help the seller and the new owner is mentally prepared for the seller’s exit and help prepare the business, customers, and employees for the handover. Once the handover is complete and the seller exits fully, they can know that the business is in good hands. It is time for them to recover from and reflect on the ownership handover period and identify their next goal to get excited about.

 

  Author
  Amy Alonso
  Transaction Director
  Benchmark International

  T: 512 861 3301
  E: Alonso@benchmarkintl.com 

 

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What Is A 338(H)(10) Election And Why It Is Important To Me?

Knowing the structure of a transaction you are involved in is key to optimizing the composition of a deal. If you enter a proposed transaction thinking you understand the offer, you may be blindsided by various structures that may affect your net cash position. A critical aspect of a transaction is understanding the structure and what it means for you as a buyer or seller. Clients often believe that they agree to accept a stock transaction only to find out that the transaction will include an election that may affect their tax bill. A 338(H)(10) election is one of the more popular tax elections, but there are others.

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2022 Food & Beverage Industry Report

The global food & beverage services market is forecast to grow from $3,232.94 billion in 2021 to $3,678.61 billion in 2022. That represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.8%. Growth is primarily due to companies rearranging operations amid recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that resulted in so many challenges for the industry. By 2026, the market is expected to surge to $5,235.52 billion at a CAGR of 9.2%.

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Will Individual Investors Replace Institutional Investors’ Pending Retreat from Private Equity?

Dry powder, the amount of money private equity has at its disposal to make future investments, has gone up and up over the last ten years. The most obvious reason was the desire for institutions, which most famously include insurance companies, pension funds, and university endowments, to find yield on their troves of cash during a time when their traditional vehicle, bonds, were providing essentially zero yields.

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2022 Fintech Industry Report

The global fintech market was valued at $6.5 trillion in 2021 and is estimated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.9% between 2022 and 2028 to reach $16.65 trillion.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Edge Electric and Sundog Capital

Benchmark International’s client Edge Electric, one of Austin, Texas’ largest and premier commercial and residential electrical services provider, has successfully sold to Sundog Capital of Atlanta, Georgia.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

Edge Electric, founded in 2009, is a full-service licensed electrical subcontractor serving both the residential and commercial markets with an emphasis in the commercial market. The company has been successful at providing electrical services on a diverse group of projects, including new construction, remodel, tenant improvement, and service.

Sundog Capital is a private equity firm founded in 2021 with a team of investors and operators focused on acquiring and growing businesses in the lower middle market. Sundog take a generalist investing approach, with a particular interest in specialty contracting services, manufacturing, distribution and consumer products. Sundog has completed its first investment in a combined platform that creates a business of considerable scale, spanning multiple high-growth geographies with excellent diversification across end markets.

Benchmark International proved value in finding a buyer with experience in the industry through its proprietary multi-medium marketing strategies. In addition, Benchmark International incorporated several campaigns with local, regional, and national associations. Benchmark International understood that our client wanted a partner to help them grow their business to its full potential and found a buyer that was excited to partner with the business and build on their impressive history and legacy.

Sandra Johnson, President of Edge Electric, commented, “I have been very satisfied with Benchmark’s excellent service throughout this sales process, and I appreciate the hard work and professionalism offered by the Benchmark team.”

Transaction Director, Amy Alonso, commented, “We are thrilled that our client has found the perfect partner in Sundog to support them with additional resources to move ahead with an ambitious growth strategy. It was a pleasure working with both parties and we are excited to watch the future success of the business as it continues to expand in the Texas market.”

 

Schedule A Call

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Enquiries@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International’s global offices provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. To date, Benchmark International has handled engagements in excess of $8.25B across various industries worldwide. With decades of global M&A experience, Benchmark International’s deal teams, working from 14 offices across the world, have assisted thousands of owners with achieving their personal objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

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Applying EBITDA Multiples To Your Company Valuation

If you are considering selling your business, you undoubtedly need to understand its value. Unfortunately, arriving at that answer can entail many different methodologies, and it often involves the familiar valuation formula of applying a multiple of Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBTIDA).

For example, if a company boasts EBITDA of $1 million, and a five times EBITDA multiple is applied, the company’s estimated value is $5 million. But how do we know what multiple applies to your business? And how do we know if the EBITDA number is even accurate? After all, EBITDA will not be the same for every business.

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How Can A Buyer Claw Back Purchase Price?

Sellers often focus on the purchase price when considering a sale. Most sellers aim to maximize the proceeds realized through the sale of their business. This mindset makes total sense. They are monetizing their life’s work. Many have lived frugally, diverting money into rather than out of business. As such, the sale of the company truly is the time to monetize a lifetime of effort.

Feeling unfulfilled? Explore your options...

Buyers who have been stretched to a valuation beyond their comfort level may be motivated to recapture some of that “excess purchase price” during the deal. Their approach to minimizing their outlay can take on several forms. In this article, I will cover a few of the most common methods used by buyers to “normalize” their outlay.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Complete Marketing Resources, Inc. and VIV

The seller, Complete Marketing Resources, is a leader in the web design, search engine optimization and online marketing space, specializing in the automotive industry. Established in 2008, CMR boosts an impressive portfolio of over 600 auto shops that benefit from their wide range of services.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

The buyer, VIV, offers their clients a suite of digital marketing solutions across the U.S. VIV’s mission is to help businesses grow their sales. “As VIV strives to offer companies best-in-class marketing solutions that support all stages of the selling process, CMR, Inc brings a talented team and cutting-edge programming that bolsters our offering and expands our geographical reach across the U.S. CMR, Inc will continue to have the same great service and more by joining VIV,” said Allan Noe, Managing Partner, of VIV.

“The team at Complete Marketing Resources carved out an impressive niche in the automotive digital marketing vertical. Their hard work and dedication to their clients established them as a leader that did not go unrecognized. VIV sees the value of adding them to their already robust suite of services. A great result for both parties”.

– Matthew Kekelis, Director, Benchmark International

Schedule A Call

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Enquiries@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International’s global offices provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. To date, Benchmark International has handled engagements in excess of $8.25B across various industries worldwide. With decades of global M&A experience, Benchmark International’s deal teams, working from 14 offices across the world, have assisted thousands of owners with achieving their personal objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

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2022 Digital Healthcare Industry Report

The global overall healthcare industry value is projected to reach $665.37 billion by 2028. Focusing on the global digital healthcare segment of the market, it was valued at $145.57 billion in 2021, and it is expected to reach $430.52 billion by 2028, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.9%.
 
The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant shifts in the healthcare sector, as there was an urgent need to adapt and embrace new ways of operating. Many of these changes ushered in the latest in digital healthcare technology and are here to stay. The digital health segment applies software, hardware, and other tech services to the healthcare sector. The space is comprised of categories such as: 
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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between LaddersFree Ltd and REACT Group PLC

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between Topsham-based LaddersFree and AIM listed REACT, in a deal worth up to £8.5m.

Established for 20 years, LaddersFree is a commercial window cleaning business serving independent, regional, and national customers across the UK. With an established network of over 300 approved service partners, LaddersFree utilises local window cleaning companies to offer its services to all areas of mainland UK.

Since its inception, LaddersFree has grown organically. Unaudited financials for the year to 30 November 2021 show that it generated revenue of c£3m and a pre-tax profit of c£1.4m.

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

REACT is an industry leader in the provision of specialist cleaning, working in challenging environments such as hotels, prisons, crime scenes, and cruise ships.

This is REACT Group’s second acquisition and represents a further step in the company’s ambition to achieve its stated growth strategy. The transaction provides REACT with the opportunity to diversify its service offering through expansion into complementary markets, and to leverage existing resources to accelerate growth.

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You Haven’t Missed Out On The Ideal Seller’s Market

2021 was a strong market for business owners looking to sell their companies. The market remains ideal and will do so as we move into the first quarter of 2022. As we are in the middle of this year, there is no better time to consider putting your business on the market.

2021 Recap
M&A activity was moving at a record pace in 2021, thanks to economic recovery, a strong stock market, low-interest rates, rapid digitalization, more SPACs, confident boardrooms, and available debt. The U.S. had reported more than $2 trillion in M&A activity in 2021, with the year on pace to be the most active in history. Not to mention that the second quarter of 2021 was the third straight, with total global M&A value surpassing $1 trillion. That is the first time this has ever happened in three consecutive quarters. So even in the middle of the year, when things typically slow down, we are still seeing a great deal of investment, and the market is still flooded with capital.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Strategic Partnership Between HSQ Group, Inc. and The HFW Companies

The HFW Companies, a leading professional services and growth partner to architecture and engineering firms throughout the country, is pleased to announce its strategic partnership with HSQ Group, LLC, one of the most prominent civil engineering companies in South Florida.

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2022 Marketing Consulting, Branding & PR Industry Report

The Global Marketing Consulting Market

The global marketing consulting market is expected to grow by $3.83 billion between 2022 and 2026, increasing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.75%.

Market growth is being driven by various factors, including continued education, the rising need for improved customer digital experiences, and the providing of custom-made solutions.

Because the global marketing consulting market is rather fragmented, we are seeing vendors trying to remain competitive by deploying growth strategies such as forming strategic partnerships. Over the next four years, 35% of the global market’s growth will originate from North America. 

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Air Projects Limited and EA-RS Fire Group

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the sale of Leicester-based Air Projects to Witham-based EA-RS.

Air Projects is a specialist ventilation engineer working on healthcare and commercial projects from basic extraction systems to hospital theatres and laboratories. Air Projects also provides expert advice on an array of services in ventilation, fume extraction, fire damper testing and healthcare compliance.

EA-RS is a provider of intelligent, sustainable, and compliant fire and security systems in the UK. The company installs and maintains a broad range of systems covering critical infrastructures such as data centres and healthcare facilities and serves several other markets such as commercial property, education and social housing.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

EA-RS has been backed by Rockpool Investments since 2021, and Air Projects is the seventh company EA-RS Group have acquired since last year.

This acquisition supports the group’s strategy to further broaden its geographic reach and to present new opportunities throughout the UK. Additionally, the transaction will expand both organisations range of services to their respective client bases, including fire damper testing for EA-RS' clients, facilitating growth and enabling synergies between all businesses within the group.

Shaun Sutton, managing director of Air Projects, said this about working with Benchmark International: “Many thanks to James, Charlotte and Roger for their expert advice and professional approach to the whole acquisition process for us. From initial marketing through the negotiations and final due diligence stages, James and Roger have remained flexible, knowledgeable and most of all calm and collected in their manner, which has made the whole process less stressful than it could have been.”

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Benchmark International Named Best Middle Market M&a Specialists

Benchmark International has been named the Best Middle Market M&A Specialists by Corporate Vision’s Corporate Excellence Awards.

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What Are SPACs?

A SPAC  (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) is a company with no business operations that is formed solely to raise capital through an IPO to purchase another existing company. It does not produce any product or service, and it does not sell anything. Although SPACs have exploded in popularity in the past few years, they have been around since the early 1990s. Formerly, they were often seen as a last resort for businesses that couldn’t raise money on open markets. 
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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Newgroup (PTY) LTD and Sunpac (PTY) LTD for the Product Brands: Sela, My Natural and Muthi Medicine

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between NewGroup and Sunpac (Pty) Ltd, with Sunpac acquiring NewGroup’s Sela, My Natural and Muthi Medicine brands.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

NewGroup (Pty) Ltd is a private company owning several brands in the complementary medicines and natural beauty sectors, including Herbex. The brands acquired include a range of specialty teas, hair care solutions, and natural herbal remedies, all traded extensively throughout South Africa and internationally.

Eddie Bisset, Chief Executive Officer for NewGroup, commented on the transaction, saying, “I would like to thank the full Benchmark team for the smooth facilitation of the sale of our three brands. The level of professionalism displayed by everyone from start to finish is unparalleled. As a seller, we were guided every step of the way, with no pressure or unanswered questions. Every concern, query or change of strategy was met with prompt and courteous responses.”

Shaun Laffer, Chief Executive Officer for Sunpac, remarked, “The process of acquiring the brands from NewGroup was well managed by the Benchmark team and was executed in line with the tight timelines set out by the parties. NewGroup effectively managed all the interactions between the parties in a professional and obliging way, and we found the team a pleasure to work with.”

John Loubser, Transaction Leader at Benchmark International added, “Throughout the entire process, all parties involved were communicative and collaborative, allowing the Benchmark International team to facilitate a swift conclusion. It was a pleasure to represent NewGroup and we are delighted to have found a good home for the Sela, My Natural and Muthi Medicine brands. On behalf of everyone at Benchmark International, we would like to wish all parties every success for the future.”

Schedule A Call

 

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Enquiries@BenchmarkIntl.com

 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International’s global offices provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. To date, Benchmark International has handled engagements in excess of $7B across various industries worldwide. With decades of global M&A experience, Benchmark International’s deal teams, working from 14 offices across the world, have assisted hundreds of owners with achieving their personal objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

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Benchmark International Named International Mid-market Advisory Of The Year (Corporate Finance)

Benchmark International has been named the International Mid-market (Corporate Finance) Advisory of the Year by the Gamechangers™ 2022 Global Awards. 

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Benchmark International is Pleased to Announce it is Sponsoring DEALSOURCING 2022

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that it will be sponsoring DEALSOURCING 2022 on 13th September at the Dorint Hotel Frankfurt/Oberursel.

Dealsourcing is a key event in Germany for M&A professionals, hosting hundreds of participants including private equity firms, funding platforms, restructuring advisors, M&A advisors, and due diligence professionals, to name a few.

As the most efficient networking event of the German corporate banking and finance community, DEALSOURCING provides Benchmark International with the prime opportunity to meet the right contacts for its sell-side mandates, providing us with a unique opportunity to showcase the opportunities we represent.

Interested in your company being featured? 

As well as networking opportunities, the event also include 30 innovative workshops to enhance our opportunities to connect with the best buyers for our clients.

Do you want to be featured and showcased in front of leading dealmakers? Naturally, we present only a select number of companies for each event, so we would encourage you to contact us now to ensure your business is included.

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2022 Professional Services & Management Consulting Industry Report

The Professional Services Market
In 2022, the global professional services market is forecast to grow to $6697.56 billion, up from $6040.91 billion in 2021. That is at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.9%. This growth is mainly due to companies’ urgent need to reorganize operations while recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to operational challenges because of lockdowns and restrictions. As a result, the global professional services market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% to reach $9651.77 billion in 2026. 
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I missed the market!

We have been in an unprecedented bull market. I use the phrase here broadly as the public markets have been flying for over a decade, and the M&A market has seen similar levels of growth. Spurred on by aggressive monetary and fiscal policies and a relaxed regulatory environment, the S&P 500 has grown 15.47% as of the time of this writing from the bottom on March 9, 2009. Similarly, the DJIA (The Dow 30) has grown at an annual clip of 13.64% over the course of this thirteen-year bull market. Remember what the rule of 72 demonstrates- that money doubles every 6 years at 12% and in less than five years at 15%. This is a remarkable rate of growth when you consider this market has spanned nearly 1/7th of a century.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

But bull markets must end. Markets do work in cycles. Much like our natural habitats require destructive fires to seed future growth and a healthy ecosystem, so too does the market. I’m not referencing the concrete jungles we find ourselves in today, but rather our natural environments. Bear markets reintroduce a rational approach to investing that had long been sidelined in favor of momentum and emotion-based investment “theses."

 

Further, bear markets tend to focus investments toward the highest quality of companies, known as a flight to quality. This clearing of the playing field, separating the wheat from the chaff, will often spur innovation and future growth. So a bear market is as natural to the market dynamic as is a bull market. These countervailing forces are required for regeneration.

 

The bull market created trillions of dollars of dry powder for buyers to deploy in the coming years. The balance sheets of corporations, large and small, are replete with cash there to deploy in pursuit of their stated strategic goals. The best of markets tends to flood the M&A market with excess buyers, many of which lack the track record, experience, credibility, and true access to funding required to transact successfully. Bear markets tend to weed away many of these less credible buyers creating a similar flight to quality detailed in the above discussion about the public markets. And while the cost of debt will tick up and valuations may similarly tick down, the likelihood of actually consummating a transaction increase as there is a much better chance that the buyer selected can get a deal done.

 

I tend to view my decisions in life through a very specific lens- my expected value lens. If one were to look at an M&A transaction through that lens, we would likely find the expected value of the proceeds from a transaction as being higher, even if valuations tick down, because the likelihood of closing is greatly increased.   And frankly, while the cost of capital on senior debt will rise over the course of the year, given the aforementioned stores of cash in their coffers, buyers will have the ability to utilize more equity to bridge any gaps in the capital stack. Private Equity funds have more than $2 Trillion of dry power. They also have a mandate to put capital to work regardless of the cost of debt lest they face aggressive headwinds during their next fund raise. Their Limited Partners, known as LPs, require that they put the money to work. Deals will continue to happen and we may in fact see more deals in the next eighteen months or more as buyers finally draw down on the excess stores of cash build-up that resulted from inflated valuations and bidding wars with less credible buyers.

 

Sellers must consider several factors when considering a sale. Of course, valuation and a healthy economic environment are among those factors but they don't have to be the determining one. We are often faced with life changes of which we have no control. Some of us simply reach a stage where we no longer wish to carry the burden that invariably comes with owning and running a business. Or, God forbid, we encounter health challenges personally or in our family that requires that we focus our attention elsewhere. Perhaps we come to the realization that we are no longer the right caretaker for the business? That the business has reached a level where our skills no longer map to what is required to successfully steer. Whatever the reason to sell your company, we can only control the controllables.

 

Just like in the public markets, if we try to time it perfectly, we will invariably fail because the objective was unattainable. Selling one's business is a life-altering decision. Selling a business can be both liberating and gutting. Sellers are at once monetizing their life's work and entrusting someone else with its care. The stakes are high. When making that determination, it is critical that sellers consider all of the critical variables. While valuation, market conditions and timing are among the variables worthy of consideration, they are merely inputs to a multivariate equation. Often, upon careful consideration, sellers determine that the qualitative elements are more important than are the quantitative ones.

 

  Author
  Dara Shareef
  Managing Partner
  Benchmark International

  T: 813 898 2350
  E: Shareef@benchmarkintl.com 

 

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10 Inspirational Graphics About Retirement

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Benchmark International's Brittney Zoeller Named To 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders Of 2022

Brittney Zoeller, Benchmark International’s director of marketing, has been named one of the 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders of 2022 by Industry Era for Women.

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What’s The Difference Between Recurring And Repeat Revenue?

If you are considering selling your business, you will need to have a clear understanding of its type of customer revenue because it can significantly impact the value of your business. Sometimes people confuse recurring revenue with repeat revenue, but it is essential to understand how they are not the same thing.

Recurring Revenue
Recurring revenue stems from a contractually bound legal agreement for a solution delivered over time. It is usually contractual over one or multiple years, and because it may carry penalties or fees if the customer leaves, it can be counted on into the future. This makes it highly valued by prospective acquirers because of its predictability and lower risk.

However, recurring revenue does not have to be contractual to be valuable. Depending on the business and the services offered, it can be too costly or too much of a hassle for a customer to leave or switch providers. An excellent example of this is customer relationship marketing companies that collect large amounts of valued data over time, making it more beneficial for clients to stick with their services. Below is a list of the different types of recurring revenue.

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Benchmark International Unveils its New Düsseldorf Office

Benchmark International is delighted to announce it has officially opened its new offices in Germany.

Taking residence on the eighth floor of the Sky Office in Düsseldorf, the large and modern offices opened in 2009. With an aesthetically pleasing design both inside and out, the building creates an inspiring working environment in a first-class location.

In close proximity to Düsseldorf International Airport and near the city centre of Düsseldorf, the building is very well positioned from a logistical standpoint.

A perfect fit for Benchmark International, the Sky Office will be a great representation of the Benchmark brand in Germany.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between ARC Abatement Holding Inc and West Fork IP, LLC

Posted on April 21, 2022 By in Deal completions

Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction of a collection of four Texas-based companies that provide a range of services, including hazardous material abatement, environmental consulting, and training for private and public clients across the United States.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

The four operational entities include ARC Abatement, Inc. and ARC Abatement I, Ltd, ARC Industrial Services, LLC, and Asbestos Consulting Services, Inc. The four non-operational entities include ARC O&G Services, LLC, C&C Coating, Inc., ARC Roofing, LLC, and ARC Allied Ventures, LLC.

Fernandez Holdings, acting for West Fork IP, LLC, is an investment firm with a diverse portfolio of businesses operating in multiple industries throughout the United States.

“This was a deal that got a lot of attention, and we engaged with several interested buyers, which required the facilitation of productive conversation between buyers and seller. It was an honor to work with them toward our collective goal of finding a cultural fit and completing the deal. We wish both parties the best with the handover,” said Brenda Spencer, Transaction Director.

Schedule A Call

 

Americas: Sam Smoot at +1 (813) 898 2350 / Smoot@BenchmarkIntl.com

Europe: Michael Lawrie at +44 (0) 161 359 4400 / Enquiries@BenchmarkIntl.com

Africa: Anthony McCardle at +27 21 300 2055 / McCardle@BenchmarkIntl.com 

ABOUT BENCHMARK INTERNATIONAL

Benchmark International’s global offices provide business owners in the middle market and lower middle market with creative, value-maximizing solutions for growing and exiting their businesses. To date, Benchmark International has handled engagements in excess of $8.25B across various industries worldwide. With decades of global M&A experience, Benchmark International’s deal teams, working from 14 offices across the world, have assisted thousands of owners with achieving their personal objectives and ensuring the continued growth of their businesses.

Website: http://www.benchmarkintl.com
Blog: http://blog.benchmarkcorporate.com

READ MORE >>

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