This past May, we introduced more business owners to our buy-side clients than in any other month in our firm’s history. We attribute this milestone to three factors:

  • The highly targeted and personalized nature of our origination and sourcing process
  • The changing economic landscape and owners’ curiosity to explore their options
  • The strength and reputation of our clients and their thesis-driven investment strategies

Every day, we speak with business owners who tell us they receive emails, calls, and letters almost daily from private equity firms, strategic acquirors, competitors, and sell-side advisors. While most owners are not actively in the market pursuing a transaction, they are often interested in learning more about the M&A landscape and their options for when the timing is right. Some questions we often hear are:

  1. What will happen to my brand and my employees after a transaction?
  2. Will a buyer want me to remain involved after a transaction? Do most other owners retire or stay on?
  3. Would my business be viewed as a new platform or would I be combined with a larger operation?
  4. How will my business be valued?
  5. Will a buyer expect me to retain equity?

Most owners aren’t ready to commit to hiring an advisor to better understand these topics, especially when they are many months or years away from seriously pursuing a transaction. At Normandy Advisors, we are in tune the the interests of hundreds of active, reputable buyers and are always happy to answer questions or introduce owners to potential buyers, regardless of where they are with their exit planning strategy.

If you – or a business owner in your network – are interested in taking a discreet approach to learning about M&A trends in your industry, we are always happy to talk.