John D. Wagner
John Wagner is a managing director at 1st West Mergers and Acquisitions, which offers a specialty practice in the LBM sector. To learn more, contact John at: j.wagner@1stWestMA.com, or visit www.1stwestma.com.
Losing control during an earnout period
When there is a disagreement between an acquirer and a seller about the value of a company, yet determination to get the deal done, an earnout is often put in place.
Always shop the deal (almost always)
You never know who your buyer will be, and it’s imperative that—short of accepting a market-clearing price—you take the offering of your company as far and wide as possible.
Why companies sell for less, or don’t sell at all
Why don't companies sell getting top dollar, or sometimes not selling at all? Here are a few reasons.
Taming unrealistic valuation expectations
When selling at a time of strong growth, some owners want the valuation of their businesses pegged not where they are now with financial performance.
Why strategic investors pay more
What are the value implications of a strategic acquirer versus a non-strategic acquirer? It’s simple math.
Acquiring new leadership can ding your valuation
An acquisition is a natural time for leaders to cash out, but you should avoid acquiring new leadership in advance of a sale.
Are you trying to sell too soon?
Every day, investment bankers like us get two or three email requests from funds and strategic investors looking to acquire successful companies. Ironically, with...
Selecting an operative timeframe for valuation
Traditional performance indicators such as EBITDA, OPEX, and COGs are all used in valuing lumber and building material businesses, whether they are lumberyards, retail...
Don’t discount (too much) at the top
In a past column, we covered customer concentration, and we pointed out how crucial it is that you inform potential acquirers what percentage of...
How earnouts change valuation multiples
When a company owner decides to go to market and seek an acquirer, he or she typically searches around for an investment banker (a.k.a....