- Be the decision maker. There is nothing wrong with getting advise from advisors when trying to close a deal and arrange business acquisition financing. Just don't turn all the decision making authority over to the advisors. Take all the counsel as input and then decide for yourself what issues to bend on and which issues are sacred cows.
- Select Deal Makers. Make sure that advisors you chose to work with (lawyers, accountants, business consultants) are deal makers not deal breakers. A working definition of a deal maker is simply someone who has a lengthy track record for closing the type of deal you are trying to consummate. These individuals have a combination of the right technical ability, relevant experience, and ego control necessary to truly add value for the money you're going to have to pay them if the deal closes or not.
- Pre-Qualify the business acquisition financing requirements. Make sure that the buyer has the means to acquire financing. The buyer typically needs to have 1/3 to 1/2 the purchase price as a down payment, depending on the industry and the hard assets being acquired. Good credit and a solid net worth can also be requirements for suitable financing.
- Consult with a financing consultant. Whether you're the buyer or the seller, there is great value to talking the potential deal over with a financing consultant before your accountant and lawyer start running up their tab respective tabs.
From the seller's point of view, a financing consultant can be invaluable in providing insight as to how to get the business in a financial position. From the buyer's point of view, a financing consultant can provide guidelines as to lender requirements. In either case, there is no sense going through all the potential aggravation of closing a deal if its unlikely to attract the necessary business acquisition financing capital.
- Become blood brothers (or sisters) with the other side. A close working relationship between the buyer and the seller can stop the deal from going down bunny trails and sitting unnecessarily on an advisor's desk. Always listen to your chosen advisors, but remember that as buyer and seller, its your collective deal, and you're the one's who will make or break it when the issues are cloudy and the timelines are dragging on.
- Set a realistic time frame. Negotiating the deal, going through due diligence, getting advisor input, writing up the deal, and getting financing in place normally takes more time than first estimated.
If the change of control is time dependant due to the business sales cycle, year end, etc., then make sure you have sufficient time to get the deal done before you start, otherwise the only people that will be making any money will be the advisors when the deal can't get closed on time.
1 comments:
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