Several important factors play into the deal-making process if you are a business owner considering a merger and acquisition for your lower- to middle-market company. Timing is often one of these factors.

Intellectual property (IP) is a non-physical creation of the mind or the product of a company's work or reputation. It is essentially ideas that are executed to become successful business assets and are often copyrighted, under patent, trademarked, or considered trade secrets, to protect from unauthorized use. Technology is a key IP type in our largely digital world and is a major driver of change and progress in nearly every industry. As a result, IP is a very important aspect of the valuation of a company. In our modern global economy, some countries recognize more IP types than others, as circumstances vary.

The global freight & logistics market is forecast to grow to $18.69 billion by 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.4%. When looking solely at logistics, the global logistics market is expected to reach $6.55 trillion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.7% between 2022 and 2027.

The flagship of The Small Business Administration's programs to support small businesses is the SBA 7(a) loan guaranty program. The program was designed to encourage lenders to provide loans to borrowers that might not otherwise obtain financing on reasonable terms and conditions. Under this program, the SBA will guarantee 75% for loans greater than $150,000 with a maximum loan amount of $5 million with reasonable interest rates. This is a viable option for the average person looking to acquire their first business or an existing business looking to grow through acquisition. This loan is so popular that in 2021, the SBA approved 51,856 7(a) loans totaling $36.5 billion.

Back in 2021, the M&A market enjoyed record-level activity. But 2021 was an anomaly because it followed 2020 when so many deals were put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2022 seemed like a slower year, but it was actually a return to normalcy. 2023 is expected to be strong for the middle market, as buyer focus shifts from public markets to private markets. While interest rates have been going up, both strategic and financial buyers are still sitting on record levels of cash. 2023 could actually signify a return to normal for the market and be a great year for business owners looking to sell their companies. 

Benchmark International has been awarded Best Global Middle Market M&A Specialists 2023 by the prestigious M&A Today Global Awards, which recognize excellence in business on a global scale.This honor is a testament to our achievements and places us among the best in the industry.

Benchmark International’s very own Kendall Stafford has been named to the Top 50 M&A Investment Bankers (Americas Dealmakers) by the Global M&A Network’sM&A Atlas Awards. Kendall is the managing partner of our Austin, Texas, office. You can learn more about her impressive background here.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction of Nationwide Express to Jones Logistics.

Benchmark International’s Kayla Sullivan has been named one of America’s Rising Star Dealmakers by the Global M&A Network. Their 5^th Annual Networking Recognition Ceremony was held in New York City at a luncheon on January 19, 2023.

If you have ever taken a family road trip, you understand the necessity of planning in advance. Navigation systems and GPS have made it easier, but advanced planning will make the journey more enjoyable. The most important decision is what is the intended destination. Once that is determined, there are a whole series of decisions that must be made, either in advance or along the way, to reach that ultimate vacation spot. The questions include which car we should drive, what roads we should take, how fast we can drive, whether we should pack a cooler or eat at restaurants along the way, what our budget is, and where we will stay.

Benchmark International has been named Best Global Middle-Market M&A Specialists by the Global 100 for 2023. We are proud to say that we also won this award in 2022.

Benchmark International has been named International Mid-Market Corporate Finance Advisory of the Yearby the Gamechangers™ Global Awards 2023. This year’s awards are especially significant because it is the 20^th anniversary of the Gamechangers Global Awards.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Boiler and Industrial Plant (Pty) Ltd by Entruevest Holdings (Pty) Ltd - A Diversified Investment Holding Company.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of E-vergent.com by Tahoe Network Infrastructure.

Benchmark International was awarded Logistics Deal of the Year for the sale of X Caliber Container, LLC, to LongWater Opportunities at this year’s M&A Atlas Awards from the Global M&A Network.

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Lookthinkmake, LLC, and Post House Creative. The target reason for the acquisition was the exponential growth that could come from combining the two companies.

Benchmark International successfully guided the acquisition of Recruiters Websites by Haley Marketing.

Benchmark International was recognized by the Global M&A Network for its role in arranging and brokering the sale of KGM, an Oklahoma-based natural gas infrastructure distributor, to St. Louis-based private equity firm Compass Group Equity Partners. The coveted "Private Equity Deal of the Year for the Americas" was awarded at this month's 14th Annual M&A Americas Atlas Awards at Manhattan's Metropolitan Club.  

Benchmark International has been honored with an M&A Atlas Award from the Global M&A Network for Small Mid-Market Investment Bank of the Year (Americas).

Benchmark International was honored with several M&A Atlas Awards by the Global M&A Network, including:

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between Gem Drugs, Inc. and Vital Care Infusion Services. The reason for targeting was strategic expansion.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the successful facilitation of the strategic growth partnership between INVISION Architecture Ltd and The HFW Companies.

Deal Makers from around the Americas got together at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan to discuss the degree to which M&A markets have changed and are likely to change, given the recent and primarily negative changes in external economic factors. A few key takeaways included: 

Benchmark International is delighted to announce that it has been ranked in several league tables for the number of deals it has conducted throughout 2022.

Mergermarket’s M&A League Tables for 2022 has ranked Benchmark International number 10 for the number of deals it has conducted in Ireland, up from position 27 in 2021. Other companies in the top 10 include Deloitte, KPMG and PwC.

FactSet’s Flashwire Advisor league tables has also ranked Benchmark International in its quarterly league for the number of deals it has conducted in the UK, Europe and globally in Q4.

In the UK, Benchmark has placed 8^th, 22^nd for Europe, and has ranked 40^th globally.

The majority of sellers within the lower middle market only go through the sale process once in their lifetimes. Sellers often hire an M&A expert to help guide them through the sale process and advocate on their behalf. While M&A experts have a wealth of experience, they do not have a crystal ball.

Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction between Flowstate Branding and Decision Sciences Research Associates.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Bradford-based Prima Yorkshire to Scarborough-based Duraweld.

Prima Yorkshire is a manufacturer of bespoke packaging solutions for retail products, storage, and stationery, providing a complete design and manufacture service using materials including PVC, corrugates, boards, and papers.

Established over 60 years ago, Duraweld employs around 50 staff and designs and manufactures a wide range of packaging and stationery products for customers, working across sectors such as healthcare and retail.

The acquisition of Prima Yorkshire by Duraweld is an excellent strategic fit and will help the buyer expand its customer base. Duraweld is also set to benefit from the additional capability to auto die-cut and fold as well as glue cartons by way of Prima’s manufacturing capabilities.

Prima’s former owners are being retained as consultants to the business, and the company’s branding will be retained.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Canterbury-based Herrington Consulting to Cambridge-based Environmental Protection Services (EPS).

Established in 2005, Herrington Consulting offers a comprehensive service offering with expertise across four areas: flood risk management, surface water and drainage management, daylight and sunlight impact assessments, and coastal engineering and risk management. Employing state-of-the-art computer modelling to unlock some of the most technically challenging sites the company has the ability to serve a range of clients including architects, local authorities, and housing developers.

Established 20 years ago, EPS has extensive experience through a diverse range of geotechnical and environmental consultancy projects for a diverse range of clients in the residential, retail, industrial and petrochemical sectors. The company offers a UK wide geographical coverage from its offices in Cambridge, Leeds, Bristol, and Glasgow.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Illinois-based W. A. Imports and New York City-based Forever Cheese.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of KES Excavating, a Wisconsin company by Bug Tussel Wireless (Hilbert Communication), also a Wisconsin company.

Before completing a deal, buyers may conduct a variety of different research on a seller’s business to better understand its complexities of it prior to due diligence. This research is an important step to ensuring that due diligence is carried out. Business research occurs in a variety of different ways.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between New York City-based Cookie DO, Inc. and NeilEats.com, also based in New York City. Cookie DO is an innovator in the confectionery industry with a variety of unique, handmade flavors of edible and ready-to-bake cookie doughs. The company features an ever-growing product selection that includes its famous edible cookie dough, baked goods, baking classes, a proprietary cookbook, merchandise, cookie cakes, and baking mixes and flours.

In 2021 and early 2022, we saw record-breaking levels of M&A activity in the United States and around the world, and many business owners are wondering how long this cycle
will last.

The global artificial intelligence (AI) market was valued at $93.5 billion last year and is forecast to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 38.1% between 2022 and 2030. AI is proving to be a transformative factor in today’s digital era and is being applied in every area possible, from self-driving cars to life-saving medical equipment. The big tech giants continue to invest in research and innovation that is driving the adoption of advanced AI technologies in industry verticals, including healthcare, finance, automotive, retail, and manufacturing. AI offers better efficiency, and many companies are also adopting AI technology to offer better customer experiences.

In 2021, the global heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) market was valued at $156.44 billion. The market is expected to be valued at $231.11 billion by 2027, expanding at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.72% between 2022 and 2027.

Benchmark International's client, B. Carlson Heating & Air Conditioning, a provider of HVAC and Plumbing Services, has been acquired by Radiant Plumbing and Air Conditioning, a Texas-based portfolio company of The Riverside Company.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Hialeah, Florida-based D.T. Woodcrafters Corp (“Woodcrafters”) and Hollywood Woodwork, Inc. (“Hollywood”), headquartered in Hollywood, Florida. Woodcrafters creates custom woodwork for a high-end customer base that includes banks, offices, restaurants, hotels, and homes. For over 25 years, the team’s craftsmanship has allowed it to distinguish itself in South Florida. Hollywood is one of the nation’s premier millwork and casework companies, with over 150 employees and a leading position in the Florida market.

One of our Managing Partners at Benchmark International drafted an exclusive publication detailing many of the attributes that are unique to strategic buyers and how those attributes can impact   business owners in the sale of their business. 

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Huco Consulting, Inc and Montrose Environmental Group, Inc. The reasons for targeting were strategic expansion and the added value that Huco would bring to the table.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of 6 Denver metro Jimmy John’s franchise restaurants, known as Rupp Enterprises, to a private investor.