I know that we have often posted advice on how to exit your business, but quite frankly, it is seldom completed without some bumps in the road. We recently assisted one of our clients in his business sale and I have to say that the process was the smoothest we have ever experienced in over 15 years of deal making.
Don't get me wrong, we would love to claim credit for this positive event, but we pretty much did what we always do. The reason this transaction went so well was because of the seller. We knew things were going in the right direction when he made it clear to us that his people were his top priority. He was realistic about his company's value and he was engaging in his dealings with both our firm and the buyer.
Anyway, yesterday I sent him an email asking if we could use him as a reference for a new engagement that we are pursuing. You will love this. I got a text back this morning:
Dave...... I'm currently at the foot of Mt. Kilimanjaro. Back Oct 19.
Enough said. Bravo Gene. Enjoy your next adventure.
Dave Kauppi is a Merger and Acquisition Advisor and President of MidMarket Capital, providing business broker and investment banking services to owners in the sale of lower middle market companies. For more information about exit planning and selling a business, click to subscribe to our free newsletter The Exit Strategist