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Why Your M&A Strategy Needs A Marketing Strategy

Several elements play into a successful merger or acquisition, from finance to sales and from operations to HR. Leading up to a transaction, it’s not uncommon for business owners to focus more on these elements and not the area of marketing as an important part of their M&A strategy.

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Why Should I Sell My Business?

Consider putting your company on the market for several reasons. The reasons can vary based on the stage of your business's lifecycle and what your goals for the future may be. No matter your situation, it is always a good idea to step back and look at the big picture to figure out your options. 

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Silicon Valley Bank: What Happened And What's Next?

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), based in Santa Clara, California, was the U.S.'s 16th largest bank until it failed after a run on its deposits in March of 2023, causing it to be seized by California's Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), which operates under California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency. The DFPI placed the bank into the receivership of the FDIC. It worked in offices in 13 countries and employed almost 9,000 people full-time. The bank was a subsidiary of SVB Financial Group, and then the bank's assets were transferred to Silicon Valley Bridge Bank, N.A., after its failure. It was also the largest bank by deposits in Silicon Valley, a region known for being rich in technology companies. The bank's customers included tech startups, venture capital firms, and wealthy technology players. It was the second-largest bank failure in U.S. history, following Washington Mutual's collapse in 2008. At the time of failure, it has $209 billion in assets.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated a Transaction Between JDI Ventures, Inc. and The Brydon Group

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Florida-based JDI Ventures, Inc (“JDI,” DBA “Peak Performance Solutions”) and The Brydon Group, based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Beanies The Flavour Co. Ltd and Cafetex SA

Benchmark International is pleased to announce that flavoured coffee brand, Beanies, has joined forces with Greek counterparts, Cafetex, in a move it says could lead to significant turnover growth.

The North East-based label, which supplies major supermarkets and retailers, says the Paiania-based firm is similarly focused and the partnership creates synergies across a range of products within both firms' markets. It also brings an undisclosed cash investment, described as "significant" for Beanies, which will be used for sales and marketing activities.

Cafetex produces a number of flavoured coffee products including coffee pods – a market Beanies has just entered with the launch of compostable, Nespresso-compatible pods available in the UK and overseas.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

John Evans, Beanies executive chairman, said: “Flavour coffee has experienced sustained growth on the high street in the 10 years since Beanies was created, notably through internationally known coffee shop specialists and fast food outlets. With this increased consumer interest, Beanies is in pole position to take advantage of this growth in the retail consumer sector."

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Peoplewise Limited and Firebird Capital Ltd

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between peoplewise and Firebird Capital.

peoplewise is a business psychology specialist that combines a range of bespoke technology-led solutions, with a proven understanding of best practice techniques, to develop strategies enabling the long-term sustainable growth of organisations. 

Firebird Capital, founded in 2003, is a family-owned private investment company based in the UK and is focused on partnering with UK headquartered businesses that have ambitious management teams and a desire to grow. Firebird Capital’s client base spans the technology, healthcare, business services and financial services sectors.

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

Going forward, Firebird Capital's investment will be used to embark on a new phase of growth for peoplewise.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between H3 Solutions, Inc. And Auctus Technologies

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Virginia-based H3 Solutions, Inc. ("H3") and Auctus Technologies, based in Ontario, Canada. 
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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Premiere Lawn Service, Inc. And Monarch Landscape Companies

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Premiere Lawn Service, Incorporated, and Monarch Landscape Companies, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity. The transaction creates a strategic expansion into the Washington state market.  

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between CWL Systems Ltd and Atech Support Ltd

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of St. Neots-based CWL by Marlow-based Atech.

Founded in 1992, CWL provides agile business solutions, including IT security and infrastructure to support digital transformation, focusing on the manufacturing, finance, retail, aerospace, and insurance sectors.

Do you have an exit or growth strategy in place?

Atech is a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, delivering complex, multi-platform solutions, cloud services and specialised managed security services to mid-sized enterprises. The acquisition of CWL forms part of Atech’s expansion strategy.

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What Market Conditions Might Impact My Company Valuation?

Company valuations are crucial because they determine how much you can sell your business for, and the higher the valuation, the more money you walk away with. And several internal and external factors can affect your valuation. 

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Refinitiv Q1 League Tables Reveal Benchmark as The #1 Privately Held M&A Advisors Worldwide

Refinitiv, previously known as Thomson Reuters, has released their League Tables for Q1 2023, and Benchmark International was revealed as the #1 privately held M&A Advisor Worldwide and in the United States for the Middle-Market and Small Cap Markets.

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Benchmark International’s Kendall Stafford Wins SHE For SHE Leader Award

Our managing partner, Kendall Stafford, has been awarded the SHE for SHE Leader award by the Global M&A Network's Fifth Annual Top USA Women Dealmakers awards. The awards honor and celebrate brilliant, highly respected, and inspirational women from the United States deal communities, from boutique, middle-market firms to large-cap segments. The SHE for SHE Woman Leader award honors an influential woman from the private equity, venture capital, M&A, and restructuring transactional communities. 

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Benchmark International A Finalist For ACG Houston Deals Of The Year

The Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Houston has announced the finalists for their 2022 Deal of the Year Awards, and Benchmark International is proud to be on the shortlist for two separate transactions.

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2023 Global Fire Protection Industry Report

In 2021, the global fire protection market was valued at $72.72 billion. It is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.7% from 2022 to 2030. The market was negatively impacted by COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and supply chain disruptions that hindered the production of new fire protection systems. However, the market has rebounded and is being boosted by growing urban populations and the need to protect people and property from fire emergencies. 
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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Inspirant Group Inc. And 10pearls LLC.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the completed acquisition of Inspirant Group Inc. by 10Pearls LLC.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated a Transaction Between R.J. Rhodes Engineering, Inc. and LJA Engineering

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Sarasota, Florida-based R.J. Rhodes Engineering, Inc. and LJA Engineering, based in Houston, Texas.

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Benchmark International Named Best Global Middle Market M&A Specialist

Corporate America Today has named Benchmark International the Best Global Middle Market M&A Specialist 2023.

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UK Manufacturing M&A Activity Remains Resilient, with Deals on the Rise

The UK manufacturing industry remained resilient in 2022, with 2023 also off to a promising start.

A challenging economic environment has cast uncertainty on the sector, but in a report by Irwin Mitchell that examined deal information from Experian’s Market IQ database, it revealed that 1,344 UK manufacturing businesses were the target of M&A activity in 2022, in comparison to 1,285 in 2021 and 1,231 in 2020, its highest level since 2016. 

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

The UK manufacturing sector has also seen a continued interest from overseas investors, with 30% of deals coming from abroad. The US was the largest investor, accounting for 8% of deals, followed by Sweden, Germany and France.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Mobil Information Systems Limited and Total Specific Solutions B.V.

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Mobil Information Systems (MIS) by Total Specific Solutions (TSS).

MIS is an Irish company with a 20-year track record delivering in-vehicle telematic solutions to a wide variety of companies in Ireland, as well as partners in South Africa, Mexico and the USA.

The company develops software products that enable clients to better manage their fleet assets across a diverse range of industries. Operating from its headquarters in Swords, Ireland, MIS also has an office in Cardiff, Wales.

Netherlands-based TSS is a global provider of IT business solutions. TSS is active in a wide variety of sectors including healthcare, government, financial and legal services, accountancy, agriculture, automotive, construction, education, geoscience, hospitality, manufacturing, maritime, mobility, publishing, real estate, and retail.

On the acquisition trail, the deal represents TSS’ seventh acquisition in the UK and Ireland, and its second Irish software company.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

TSS is a part of Topicus.com Inc, leading pan-European provider of vertical market software and vertical market platforms. The company is listed on the Canadian TSX Venture Exchange.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Appellation Construction Services And Whiteley Infrastructure Group

Benchmark International Facilitated the Transaction between Appellation Construction Services and Whiteley Infrastructure Group.

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How To Sell In A Buyer’s Market

In recent years there has been a significant degree of volatility in the market, but it is generally agreed that we will likely enter a “buyer’s market” soon. Most hear “buyer’s market” about real estate or consumer goods, where the number of homes on the market exceeds demand for housing, so naturally, prices drop. However, in M&A, this is a bit more complex. 

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Integrity Arts & Technology, Inc. And Swagger Agency

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the Integrity Arts & Technology, Inc. (IDEAS) acquisition by Swagger Agency (20MM LLC).

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Benchmark International Facilitated the Transaction between Ultra Clean Systems Inc. and Getinge AB

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between Florida-based Ultra Clean Systems Inc. (Ultra Clean Systems) and Sweden-based Getinge AB (Getinge).

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Pet Specialties LLC And Feeders Pet Supply

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between North Carolina-based Pet Specialties LLC (“Phydeaux”) and Kentucky-based Feeders Pet Supply.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Movin’ On Movers, Inc. And Piece By Piece Movers, LLC

 

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated a transaction between North Carolina-based Movin’ On Movers and Massachusetts-based Piece by Piece Movers.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Bagel King Wholesale, Inc. And Austin Circle Partners

Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Orlando-Based Bagel King Wholesale Inc. (Bagel King) and Austin Circle Partners.

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What is a Virtual Data Room (VDR)?

In M&A transactions, many sellers often think the hard work is over as soon as they have found the right buyer and gotten the offer of their dreams. Experienced dealmakers recognize this as the start of the hard work in the process rather than the finish line. After an agreed-upon offer, there is a full due diligence process wherein the purchaser will review the entire historical performance, tracking, and operations of the business to be bought, which in and of itself can be a monumental task even before any financial audit or legal proceedings begin. This process is typically managed to utilize a universally accessible location for files, along with a master checklist of which items are where to assist in making the process more fluid.

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Benchmark International's Kendall Stafford And Amy Alonso Named 2023's Top 25 Women In M&A

We proudly announce that Opus Connect has named two of Benchmark International's esteemed team members to 2023's Top 25 Women in M&A. Amy Alonso, Senior Transaction Director, and Kendall Stafford, Managing Partner, have both been awarded the outstanding honor.

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M&A In Higher Education

Higher education institutions have been facing a watershed moment. Flagship universities and brand-name colleges are still drawing enrollees. But the number of colleges that have closed in the last decade (~200) has quadrupled over the previous decade. This is why mergers and acquisitions in higher education are becoming more commonplace than ever. In fact, in the last four years, there have been 95 college mergers—a 21% increase over the 78 that took place in the 18 years prior. Most of these mergers (40%) are being executed within private and nonprofit schools, and most deals involve schools in the same state with student bodies under 5,000. It is the less prestigious schools that are struggling the most. 

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2023 Cross-border M&A Update

Cross-border mergers and acquisitions offer key geographical diversification benefits for buyers and businesses alike. Gaining new exposure in new regions can lower business and operational risks under different economic and regulatory conditions. Buyers often look for cross-border deals when their core markets become saturated, when business slows down, or if they can find regulatory or monetary benefits in another country. Cross-border deals are important because they allow companies to expand their offerings by entering new markets or adding new products, services, intellectual property, or technologies. Cross-border M&A can bolster revenue opportunities and cost synergies while scaling efficiency as company operations expand to a broader market.

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Cash Vs. Accrual & What You Need To Know

In most businesses, books are kept on one of two typical bases: cash or accrual. Some business owners choose one or the other for a specific reason. Others work under the guidance of their CFO, bookkeeper, controller, tax advisor, accountant, or other financial specialists of choice and review the resulting reports to measure operations. However, the two bases of accounting have major differences and can significantly impact the perceived performance of a business. For example, if you've been grappling with the potential sale of a business, most acquirers prefer books on an accrual basis. There are many reasons for this, but the primary reasoning is that accrual basis financial statements follow Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), whereas the cash basis financial statements do not. However, both bases have their merits depending on the type and function of the business.

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Stock Sales Versus Asset Sales

For the sale of a company, the parties involved can choose to structure the deal as an asset sale or a stock sale. An asset sale is when a company sells all of its assets or a portion of them. In this type of deal, the seller remains the legal owner of the business but no longer owns the assets sold. Under a stock sale, the buyer purchases equity from the selling company’s shareholders. There are several different reasons for sellers and buyers to pursue one type of transaction over the other.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Asolva, Inc. And Harris Computer Systems

Benchmark is pleased to announce the transaction between Asolva, Inc, and Harris Computer Systems, a Constellation Software Inc portfolio company. The transaction creates a strategic product expansion for their existing Healthcare companies.

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Why 2023 Is The Time To Sell Your Company

Positive news surrounding middle market M&A continues to swell as well as continue into 2023. A recent survey conducted by Citizens Bank revealed a great deal of optimism for middle-market M&A activity this year. Essentially, businesses have remained resilient even during challenging economic times. In addition, interest in M&A deals continues to be a top priority by both middle-market companies and private equity (PE) firms as both buyer and seller pipelines return to pre-covid levels. To summarize, all indications point to 2023 being a great year to consider selling your business. So if you have been hesitantly holding off, it is time to start the conversation. 

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Key Digital Ltd and Nationwide Franking Sense Ltd

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of managed services provider, Key Digital, by Franking Sense.

Established in 2010, Key Digital is a specialist in digital transformation, document workflow, print technologies, and IT services. The company supplies multi-functional print devices and managed print services, as well SaaS software licences with professional IT support services.

Franking Sense® is a leading UK supplier of managed print, franking, mailroom, and document processing solutions with offices in Manchester, London, Glasgow, and Wrexham.

Both local, family-run organisations that operate throughout the UK, the acquisition is an ideal partnership for facilitating Key Digital’s growth strategy as it continues to operate from its Burnley home.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

Andy Ratcliffe, managing director of Key Digital, said this about working with Benchmark International:

“Selling my business was the most important deal of my life and the one I had been working day and night for 13 years for. When I engaged Benchmark, I did not appreciate what an important role in the process they played. From day one until the completion, they were extremely professional and were always on hand and available for advice and guidance. They worked tirelessly to get me the best deal and at no time did I feel that they were only interested in their fee. I was amazed at the number of quality potential buyers they found which resulted in numerous offers, giving me the luxury of choice. Best decision I made was to choose Benchmark.”

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Payments and Cards Network BV and PSR Group Limited

Benchmark International is delighted to announce the acquisition of Amsterdam-based Payments and Cards Network (t/a PCN) by Stafford-based PSR Group.

PCN is a specialist recruitment group, placing permanent and temporary staff in fintech and data science roles with leading blue-chip clients, fintech scaleups and leading financial service providers.

The company has a worldwide reach, holding trading licences throughout Europe, the US and Singapore.

PSR Group provides specialist recruitment services to the construction, healthcare, technology, and social value sectors via four brands: PSR Solutions; SYK Recruitment; Novello Healthcare; and Build a Career. The group has over 200 employees, 12 global offices and generates revenue in excess of £75m.

Ready to explore your exit and growth options?

The acquisition strengthens the unique blend of businesses already in the group by adding fintech to its portfolio.

On working with Benchmark International, Founder of PCN Jordan Lawrence, commented: “I recently had the pleasure of working with Benchmark International and their fantastic team, specifically Alex Forshaw. Their expertise and advice were invaluable in helping me to successfully sell my company, PCN. Alex went above and beyond, answering calls and messages at all hours until the job was done. His dedication and attention to detail made the whole process seamless and stress-free.

“I cannot recommend Benchmark International enough. Their level of professionalism, expertise, and commitment to their clients is unparalleled. If anyone is considering working with them, I would be more than happy to serve as a reference. Thank you, Benchmark International, and especially Alex Forshaw, for all of your hard work and support!”

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Steck Manufacturing Company and Milton Industries

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the transaction between Steck Manufacturing and Milton Industries. 

George Steck started Steck Manufacturing Company as Steck's Paint & Body Shop in 1946. Steck has continuously manufactured tools and equipment for the collision repair industry in it’s original location in Dayton, Ohio, for over fifty years. 

Milton Industries, Inc. was founded in 1943 as a family business based in Chicago, Illinois. Milton has been the product of choice for accessories for the past 70 years. Their products have various applications and support a range of different industries such as: automotive, fleet maintenance, construction, and manufacturing. Milton remains the industry forerunner in high-quality accessories and fittings. They are still confidently living up to their legacy of superior products and reliability, to this day. 

This acquisition furthers Milton Industries' aggressive growth strategy by complementing each other’s existing product lines. 

 "This is a textbook example in many ways. Both parties were extremely professional, and our client prepared to move quickly. Developing a strong business relationship with this buyer in a past proved to be very efficient to close a second deal back-to-back." – Director Etienne Deslauriers., Benchmark International 

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What To Expect For Middle-market Company Valuations In 2023

2023 holds a positive outlook for middle-market business valuations. Results of the survey, 2023 M&A Outlook from Citizens M&A Advisory show good signs for company performance and high motivation for growth this year. The annual survey polls 400 leaders of US middle-market companies with $50 million to $1 billion in revenue and private equity firms actively buying and selling companies in the same revenue range.

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Benchmark International Has Successfully Facilitated The Transaction Between Remata (PTY) LTD And The Formeset Group Of Companies

Benchmark International is pleased to announce the acquisition of Remata (Pty) Ltd & Remata Communications and Printers Production House (Pty) Ltd (Remata) by the Formeset Group of Companies.

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Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated The Acquisition Of The J.J. Elemer Corporation By Action Bag Company

Benchmark International is happy to announce the completed acquisition of The J. J. Elemer Corporation by Action Bag Company.

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