5 M&A Myths and How to Deal with Them
Where your money is concerned, myths can do damage. Tammie Miller, Managing Director of TKO Miller, explored five big M&A myths that can get you in trouble in a recent Divestopedia article, Crazy M&A Myths You Need to Stop Believing Now. Miller, who has more than 20 years of investment banking experience, says many of these myths are believed by CEOs despite having zero basis in reality.
Myth 1: Negotiating is Done After You Sign the LOI
The letter of intention is, of course, important. However, this is by no means the end of the negotiations and it is potentially dangerous to think otherwise. The negotiations are not concluded until there is a purchasing agreement in place. As Miller points out, there is a great deal that can go wrong during the due diligence process. For this reason, it is important to not see the LOI as the “end of the road.”
Myth 2: You Must Assume Seller Debt
Yyou don’t have to take a company’s debt as part of the purchase price, Miller says. Miller says her clients only “take seller paper when that debt bridges a big discrepancy in valuation.” She and other business brokers often recommend against seller paper “because it rarely comes with the appropriate protections professional debt holders (like banks) require.”
Myth 3: Everyone Who Makes an Offer Can Afford To
The idea that everyone who makes an offer has the money to follow through is, unfortunately, simply not true. Often people will make offers without securing the money to actually buy the business. Not only does it waste everyone’s time, it can derail your progress in selling your business. If you are not careful, it could actually prevent you from finding a qualified buyer. Check out any offers with an investment banker or trusted advisor.
Myth 4: I Can Sell Without a Deal Team
Somet sellers think they don’t need a deal team in order to sell their business. While it may be possible to sell your business without the assistance of an experienced M&A attorney or business broker, the odds are excellent that doing so will come at a price. Miller says working with an investment banker or business broker can add, on average, 20% more transaction value!
Additionally, there are other dangers in not having a deal team in place. A business broker can handle many of the time-consuming aspects of selling a business, so that you can keep running your business. It is not uncommon for business owners to get stretched too thin while trying to both run and sell a business and this can ultimately harm its value.
Myth 5: You Must Sell Your Entire Business
True, most buyers will want to buy 100% of a business, but a minority ownership position is still an option. There are many reasons to consider selling a minority stake, so don’t assume that selling your business is an “all or nothing” affair.
Ultimately, Miller lays out an exceptional case for the importance of working with business brokers when selling or buying a business. Business brokers can help you avoid myths. In the end, they know the lay of the land. To find a list of Georgia business brokers, visit the GABB directory.
Copyright: Business Brokerage Press, Inc.
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