Benchmark International Logo Blog Mergers and Acquisitions

Archives

Benchmark International's Kendall Stafford Named Among Top 50 M&A Investment Bankers

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.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International's Kayla Sullivan Honored Among America's Rising Star Dealmakers

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

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Ranked in Multiple Global League Tables

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.

Looking for a Corporate Finance Adviser? 

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 8th, 22nd for Europe, and has ranked 40th globally.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Ranked in Factset’s Global League Tables

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that it has ranked in FactSet’s Flashwire Advisor league tables for the number of deals it has conducted in the UK, Europe and globally in Q3.

In the UK, Benchmark has placed 8th, among companies such as BDO, Grant Thornton, KPMG, and PwC.

Meanwhile, for Europe, Benchmark has placed 23rd, and has ranked 40th globally.

Looking for a Corporate Finance Adviser? 

FactSet Mergers covers all deals where the buyer and seller are disclosed and the transaction involves the sale of at least 5% stake in a business, with some exceptions for impactful or high value deals.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Ranked in Mergermarket’s Global League Tables Q1 2022

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that it has been ranked in the top 10 by Mergermarket for the number of deals it has conducted in Ireland.

Bank of America, PwC and JPMorgan are amongst the companies to also rank in the top 10.

An Acuris company, Mergermarket delivers M&A intelligence, data and research. To qualify in its league tables, transactions must be over 5m USD in value and publicly available.

Looking for a Corporate Finance Adviser? 

James Thornton, COO at Benchmark International, commented: “We are delighted to have been ranked in Mergermarket’s Global & Regional League Tables for the first quarter of 2022. To be ranked in these league tables is further acknowledgement of the hard work and effort our teams put into every transaction.

“Having only established an office in Ireland less than five years ago, it is great to see that we are growing our footprint and have established ourselves as a distinguished institution in this location by conducting a number of deals over 5m USD, competing with M&A industry giants.

“Over the course of the last year, Benchmark International has expanded its international reach further, establishing an office in Germany, and I’m looking forward to seeing what our new team will achieve, and seeing Benchmark International on the German league tables as well very soon!”

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Ranked #1 Sell-Side, privately owned M&A Advisors in the World by Pitchbook

PitchBook has released their 2020 Annual Global League Tables, and Benchmark International is ranked the #1 Sell-Side Exclusive, Privately-Owned, M&A Advisors in the world. PitchBook is a leading financial data provider covering M&A, private equity, and venture capital deal activity.

“We are delighted to be recognized by PitchBook as one of the most active firms in the world,” said Greg Jackson, CEO of Benchmark International. “We remain grateful to our clients for their continued confidence in us and proud of our team’s unwavering dedication and success.”

Executive Chairman, Steven Keane added “This important news solidifies Benchmark International’s standing in the world as a true market leader in the mergers and acquisitions community. It is also a “benchmark” for our company, which was founded in 2008 and remains in private ownership, knowing that our talented team can only continue to make strides from here and carry out our mission to accomplish great things for our clients. We add this recognition to our long and growing list of accomplishments.”

PitchBook’s Global League Tables are a comprehensive report on private equity and venture capital activity worldwide for the year. They are compiled using the count of completed deals for the specified deal type, region, and other criteria. The listing only includes publicly disclosed transactions and/or those confirmed by PitchBook’s primary research team.

READ MORE >>

Strong M&A Activity Continues In Nashville For The Healthcare Industry

Since the early 70’s, Nashville has been considered a hub when it comes to the health care industry.  Nashville has developed and changed the landscape of the industry in the past 50 years.  The development of the community began with Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). Largely through hundreds of mergers, acquisitions and well as new companies, we’ve seen industry trends set in Nashville, as well as startups and spinoffs bringing different sectors of the industry to Nashville. 

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

Before the Hospital Corporation of America, most hospitals were non-profit or affiliated to a religion.  In 1969, one year after inception, HCA became a publicly traded company.  This changed the landscape of the industry for good.  Through an abundance of M&A transactions, HCA now owns and operates more than 170 hospitals in 20 states across the country. In 1995, the Nashville Health Care Council was established, understanding the Nashville health care industry was responsible for $3.7bn in revenue at the time, while providing 53,000 jobs.  Today, the council reports $92bn in annual revenue generated, all while providing more than 570,000 people employed around the globe by healthcare companies based in Nashville.  There are over 900 companies that directly provide health care services, or are in some way involved in the industry.  These numbers are massive, and spurred a ripple effect around the country causing more private equity spending to focus into the industry.  This effect has led to eighteen publicly traded healthcare companies calling Nashville their home, while enticing more than $1bn in venture capital investments over the past decade.  The leaps and bounds made during the past 50 years are obvious, as the entire landscape of the industry has complete changed.  During 2006, Bain Capital, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Merrill Lynch completed a $33bn leveraged buy-out of HCA.  This was the largest leveraged buy-out to date and spurred an unprecedented amount of investment in the industry.  In 2011, HCA returned to the public market in the largest US private equity-backed IPO to date ($3.79bn raised).  HCA’s chain system business model was emulated by hundreds of not-for-profit hospitals throughout the country, and they are considered to be the trailblazer of the industry. 

The M&A landscape continues to change the healthcare industry to this day.  Through the first half of 2018, the healthcare sector saw deal value increase to $315bn, up from $154bn in the same period the previous year. The healthcare sector ranks third in terms of total deal value.  From a valuation perspective, healthcare M&A transactions were at an all time high in 2017.  A large driver within the space was within the senior housing and care marketplace. The number of announced transactions is on pace to set a new record, but the dollar amount of these deals will not exceed the record.  While this shows the hyperactive nature of the marketplace, these deals are occurring as smaller transactions rather than the mega-deals we’ve seen in the past.  This is a very attractive marketplace for sellers all things considered.  Private equity groups accounted for a large uptick in spending during Q4 of 2018. Financial buyers are notably optimistic about the healthcare market, with 120 total deals announced in the final quarter of 2018.  This bodes well for 2019 with 2018 in the rearview, healthcare continues to expand due to high valuations, a very large number of transactions, and an increasingly attractive marketplace. 

For the third year in a row, the number of small business transactions reached record numbers, as reported by BizBuySell.  Financial performances of the small businesses are increased year over year, as well. 49% of sellers said their businesses performed better in 2018 compared to 2017, and another 36% had similar figures comparably.  With financial performance increasing, the value of the transactions inevitably grew.  The medium asking price for small businesses in the US grew 10% from 2017, a clear indication that buyers are willing to pay more for businesses with a proven financial track record and promising futures. 

Author
Sean Ryan 
Analyst
Benchmark International
Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

T: +1 615 924 8522
E: Ryan@benchmarkcorporate.com 

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International  Successfully Facilitated The Acquisition Of T3 Technologies, LLC (d/b/a T3 TigerTech) To Bluestone Government Solutions.

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the acquisition of T3 Technologies, LLC (d/b/a T3 TigerTech) to Bluestone Government Solutions, LLC.  Benchmark International worked diligently to find a buyer that was an ideal candidate to ensure the goals of the sellers were met, from both a financial and corporate-fit perspective.

T3 Technologies, LLC  (d/b/a T3 TigerTech) is a diversified government contractor specializing in project management, predictive and big data analytics, program data management, and supply chain management for multiple government agencies. 

Don Zacherl, CEO of T3 said, “The Benchmark International team was very professional, responsive, and provided great guidance during our transaction process.  Having Benchmark on our side, and focusing on the details of the transaction process, allowed our management team to continue to concentrate on the day-to-day running of our business.”

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

Bluestone Government Solutions, LLC provides information technology, agile development, big data analytics and geospatial intelligence services to public entities.  It supports the federal  agencies within the intelligence community and the greater DoD, along with
civilian agencies. 
 

AudraFrizzell, CEO of Bluestone Government Solutions said “We are very excited about the acquisition of T3.  The company comes with an experienced management team that has been at the core of its success.”

Benchmark International was able to procure a buyer for T3 Technologies, LLC that met its financial goals, was an ideal cultural fit, and also provided the buyer the additional resources it had been searching for. Benchmark International corresponded with numerous potential investors, and the owner of T3 Technologies had several
in-person meetings prior to being introduced to the representatives from Bluestone Government Solutions, LLC.  

READ MORE >>

I want to buy a business, where do I start?

Many individuals or companies feel that the best way to either enter an industry or expand within an industry is through buying a business. While this is often true, it is hard to know where to begin the process of buying a business.

Define your search criteria?

The first step to buying a business is comprise a list of features that you are seeking in a business. Similar to the car buying process. Do you want leather seats, a certain brand, navigation, power windows, etc? Narrowing your search criteria will help save you time, resources, and frustration.

Here’s a few questions you will want to be able to answer as you begin your search:

  • What size business are you seeking? This question relates to both revenue and profitability.
  • Do you want the owner to remain apart of the business post-closing? If so, for how long?
  • What geographical areas do you prefer?
  • What industry and sectors are of interest to you? Be as specific as possible. If you are looking to buy a marketing firm, what type of end customers do you prefer? Do you want the business to cater to government customers, healthcare companies, etc?
  • What is your budget?

Begin your search

There are many ways to uncover businesses for sale. You can search various websites, reach out to a Mergers and Acquisitions’ (M&A) specialist, or network to try and find deals that have not hit the market yet. Some buyers will approach business owners directly to see if they are interested in selling their business directly to the buyer.

Websites featuring businesses for sale often can be overwhelming. If you search several websites, you may see the same listing on multiple websites.

There are M&A specialists that work with buyers to find businesses for sale and others that work with sellers to find buyers. Some M&A specialists represent both buyers and sellers. If you are working with a specialist that represents both parties in a transaction, you will want to understand the intermediary’s incentives. It is hard to keep interests aligned if there are conflicts between the parties. If you are working with a sell-side M&A specialist, often times they will have exclusive listings meaning that you can only have access to that specific deal through that specialist. Also, a sell-side M&A specialist may take a commitment fee. This will show the seller’s commitment to the sale process.

Some potential buyers build a network to look for opportunities to purchase businesses or build their own database of potential businesses they would like to purchase and begin reaching out to those business owners. While this sounds like an easy process, do not be fooled by the amount of time and resources you will use trying to speak with the business owners and convincing them to complete a deal with you. Typically, business owners that are open to exploring the idea of selling will entertain a conversation but they eventually want to go to market to test the valuation. Often times buyers will get close to the end of a transaction but then the seller will decide not to sale. If you are willing to pay an amount that is acceptable to the seller then they often wonder if there is someone that is willing to pay more and if they have undervalued their business.

Begin to review businesses

Sellers will want a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) in place prior to releasing confidential information. This practice is very typical in the lower mid-market. As a buyer, you will want to have the opportunity to speak directly with the business owner. They will know their business better than anyone, and you will have specific questions that only the business owner will be able to answer. You will also want to visit the business' facility. This visit will tell you a lot about the company, its culture, and what type of liabilities you may want to explore further during the due diligence process. Once you find the perfect business, you will want to move swiftly to the next stage of the purchasing process as there are probably other buyers looking at the same opportunity and you do not want to miss out.

I found the perfect business, now what?

After you find the perfect business, you will need to comprise a valuation for the business. The valuation will be covered in a Letter of Intent (LOI) as well as the structure (how is the valuation going to be paid to the seller) of the offer and other high-level details. In the LOI, you will want to include the seller’s involvement post close, an exclusivity clause allowing you the exclusive right to review the opportunity, the requirements of due diligence along with a timeline, if possible, and the anticipated closing date. A LOI tends to include many more details but above highlights some of the details a seller will want to understand prior to agreeing to move forward.

The LOI is executed. Where do we go from here?

After a LOI is executed, due diligence begins. As the buyer, you want to confirm that what you think you are buying is what you are actually buying. You will want to understand the risk associated with the purchase of the business. You will also want to engage your advisors to provide legal advice for the purchase agreement and tax advice for the structure of the transaction. 

While purchasing a business sounds like a quick and easy process, it can take months, if not a year or two, to make the purchase. There are a lot of factors that you will encounter and unforeseen obstacles that stand in your way. An M&A specialist can help you navigate these obstacles and help you purchase a business within your desired timeframe. Whether you choose to seek to purchase a business on your own or bring in a M&A specialist, we wish you the best of luck with your journey. 

Author:
Kendall Stafford
Managing Partner
Benchmark International

T:  +1 (512) 347 2000 
E: stafford@benchmarkcorporate.com

READ MORE >>

Take some chips off the Table with an Elevator Deal

Many business owners come to a point where they are ready to “take some chips off the table,” and continue to run their business on a day to day basis while cashing in on some of their hard-earned growth.  In these deals a business owner sells equity in the company while staying on and maintaining a salary.  These deals are known as elevator deals.  An elevator deal consists of a buyer taking a stake in the business for an agreed amount of cash while leaving day to day management to the current owner.

Perhaps your children have reached college age and you now have tuition bills coming in twice a year. Perhaps you’re not quite ready to retire, but would like to cash-in on some of your business’ current market value, and invest that money in your retirement fund.  Or, perhaps you’re simply ready to take some chips off the table while continuing to earn a salary.  In these cases, an elevator deal would be the right fit for you.

Elevator Deals include the owner selling part of their business in exchange for partial ownership. In this manner of exchange, the business owner(s) will maintain a minority equity stake in their company, while new ownership takes on the majority position.  These deals often include prior owners staying on, working on their business in a day-to-day capacity, while earning a salary, with a percentage of the business’ bottom line passing through to new ownership.  In some cases, owners are able to step outside of their prior managerial roles while maintaining a stake in the company and its profits. 

The goal for new investors is to grow the business and the value of their stake in the company. These owners may have the goal of a resale several years down the road, and growing your business and its place in your community, be it regional or national, just as you have done is their goal. In maintaining the high standard you have set for the quality of your products or services, equity investors are growing the value of their investment.

Many business owners worry about selling part or most of their company.  They worry that the buyer’s intent is to take as much cash out of the business as possible and leave prior owners, those people who built the business from scratch, with a company they love left in tatters.  Benchmark International will secure equity investors in your business are the right fit.  Ensuring that they intend to increase the value of your company while maintaining its true identity.

In engaging Benchmark International, our team will diligently craft marketing materials to accurately reflect your business to the market.  Once you approve of those marketing materials, our transaction team will take over and begin marketing your company to potential investors.  At this point, many business owners begin to feel as though they are pressured to sell to individuals who don’t understand the heart and values of their company.  Benchmark International will work tirelessly to ensure you never feel those emotions.  We will work for you until we find the right fit, in order to ensure that as you continue to manage your company you’re not hand-tied to investors who are simply concerned with how much they can take out of your business’ profits each year.

If you are interested in selling a portion of your business to help grow your company while maintaining a portion of your business, please reach out to us and let us help you take the
next step.

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Facilitated the Transaction of T.J. Baehr, Inc., D.B.A. Ground Hog Foundation Drilling to a Private Investor

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the sale of T.J. Baehr, Inc., D.B.A. Ground Hog Foundation Drilling, to a private investor in Houston, Texas.

Since 1989, Ground Hog Foundation Drilling has been a specialty contractor that delivers foundation drilling and excavation services for commercial and industrial construction projects in the Houston market. The buyer, Guillermo G. is a private investor living in Houston, Texas with years of experience as a project manger for the energy sector. The buyer’s strong relationship with the seller, engineering background, and interest in specialized services and project management were factors that motivated the buyer to purchase his first business, Ground Hog Foundation Drilling.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

In reference to the transaction, Tom Baehr, President of Ground Hog Foundation Drilling, explained his experience with Benchmark International, “I was previously engaged with another brokerage firm and later decided to engage Benchmark International for their extensive market reach and successful track record. I found that Benchmark International immediately understood the excavation drilling market and was able to introduce numerous buyers into the mix. Not only did the Benchmark International team bring forth and negotiate an offer that satisfied my expectations but also a buyer that I know will facilitate the continued growth of Ground Hog Foundation Drilling for many years to come. I highly recommend using Benchmark International for your M&A needs.”

Guillermo G., acquiror of Ground Hog Foundation Drilling, described his experience with Benchmark International, “ I enjoyed working with Benchmark International. I felt that they truly cared about the deal and their constant communication allowed us to work through negotiations and ultimately helped me achieve my objective of business ownership”.

William Van Buren, Senior Associate at Benchmark International’s Austin office added, “Benchmark International’s Austin team very much enjoyed working with our client Tom Baehr, President of Ground Hog Foundation Drilling. The team found Tom to be very collaborative throughout the entire sales process and we were thrilled that he found the right buyer that will continue the business’ trajectory for long-term success. The team truly showcased its knowledge in the marketing of asset heavy businesses such as Ground Hog Foundation Drilling to broad marketplace and facilitated the flow of communications across several parties. Having both a client and a buyer such as Tom and Guillermo that are open to collaborating and communicating paved the way for the deal to come to fruition even when faced with uncontrollable challenges such as inclement weather that caused projects to be delayed. Ultimately, the teams on both the seller and buyer side did an incredible job at facilitating a successful business transaction.”

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Sale of Certain Assets of South Texas Precision, Inc. To Harris Machine Tools, Inc.

Benchmark International has facilitated the sale of certain assets of South Texas Precision Inc. to Harris Machine Tools.  South Texas Precision Inc.,  is a Texas-based custom machine shop that manufactures and provides turnkey oilfield equipment for OEMs in the Houston market.

The company is a qualified vendor of choice for many of its products. Harris Machine Tools is a Houston-based sales and machinery company that distributes a full line of quality CNC machine tools, such as mills, drills, lathes, presses and saws. The company has been an international leader in the metal working market place since 1979.

Benchmark International’s extensive network and ability to reach a wide market of buyers allowed us to find an acquirer interested in purchasing the manufacturing division of South Texas Precision. Benchmark provided a variety of options to the client to allow them to make the best selection for the future of their business.

 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

 

In reference to the transaction, Walter Schouten, President of South Texas Precision, 
explained his experience with Benchmark International, “We enjoyed working with Benchmark International. From the beginning, they understood the Oil & Gas Manufacturing market and were able to uncover various competent buyers for the machine shop portion of the business.  The team continuously worked with us and adapted their strategy to match the ever changing market conditions. Benchmark International presented several options to us, which allowed us to choose the best option for South Texas Precision. We choose to carve out the manufacturing division of our business while continuing to operate the retail and distribution division of the business.”

Senior Associate, William Van Buren, mentioned “The Austin, Texas team truly enjoyed working with the South Texas Precision team. We understand what business owners go through on a daily basis to keep their businesses successful. The Austin team focused on presenting our clients, Walt and Jeff, options for them to continue the longevity and success of their business. Walt and Jeff were responsive to our inquiries and were the ideal partners to work with for our team.”

READ MORE >>

Benchmark International's Team to Blanket ACG Capital Connection

On November 12th, 2018, capital providers from across the country will be attending the Association for Corporate Growth Capital Connection in St. Petersburg, Florida. In addition to manning its exhibit table, the Benchmark International team in attendance will be holding one-on-one meetings with over sixty different strategic and financial acquirers.

“Our energetic participation in these conferences benefits our clients not only because of the occasional new acquirer that we meet but also, and probably more importantly, because it keeps our clients in the front of these active buyers’ minds. It’s one of the main reasons they come to Benchmark International first when they have a new investment plan. It’s also one of the ways we ensure these busy professionals will take our calls every time we have a new opportunity to put in front of them,” mused Benchmark’ Managing Director Clinton Johnston

The St. Petersburg Conference will be Benchmark International's fifth US Capital Connection exhibition of the year. If you’ve been unable to schedule a one-on-one with our team, Benchmark International’s booth will be in the exhibitors hall and manned from three hours before the conference starts until three hours after it ends. You can also call +1 813 898 2350 to schedule an appointment.

With 2018 soon drawing to a close, you may have begun considering your exit or growth plans for your business for the year ahead. Would you like to be showcased to leading dealmakers with strong, acquisitive appetites? 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.

Schedule a call to speak to an Analyst

READ MORE >>
1

    Subscribe to Email Updates

    Recent Posts

    Follow Us on Twitter

    Archive

    see all