Mergers and Acquisitions

The first question which comes to mind for many people is "What distinguishes a Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) practitioner from a general business broker?" The answer, for the most part, may be attributed to the individual's accumulation level of education, training, and experience. If your business has over $3 million in revenue, our M & A experts can help you sell your company or acquire a company for strategic growth initiatives. Generally, when one speaks in terms of engaging an M&A specialist, one often is considering the acquisition or sale of a company possessing at least some of the following characteristics:

• Gross revenue from $3 million to $50 million
• Earnings before interest & taxes (EBIT) in excess of $500,000
• Historical track-record of significant revenues and earnings which can stand up to the rigours of financial "due diligence."

An M&A specialist is trained to understand the more complex issues of deal making, including:

• The application of appropriate capitalization rates (multiples of earnings) to determine Fair Market Value of an ongoing business.
• The benefit/harm of the "allocation" of the purchase price between the various assets of the business.
• The risk/benefits of "asset" structured sales as opposed to stock sales.
• The consequences of the representations and warranties made by the parties which survive the transaction.

Additionally, an M&A specialist understands the "ebb and flow" of the deal. He or she can guide a buyer or seller through the tangle of documentation, due diligence, and negotiations which usually accompany the sale or acquisition of a substantial business. The EastWind Mergers and Acquisitions division has brokers who possess the necessary criteria mentioned above to skilfully handle a much larger or more complex transaction.

Our goal at EastWind is to continually refine and add to the skill set of our business brokers to ensure that they best represent their clients, regardless of the size of the transaction. If you have the need for professional M&A assistance, don't hesitate to contact us.

M & A services include:

• Exit planning and business valuation services.
• Expert market intelligence.
• Confidential and comprehensive marketing programme - the widest reach in the business.
• Business Profiles and Growth Plans to highlight the unique value of your company.
• Strategic relationships with private equity groups, lenders, mezzanine financing firms, M & A tax professionals and M & A attorneys who are experts in M & A transactions.
• Expert M & A negotiators.
• Due diligence services including online data rooms to protect your valuable company information.
• Closing coordination.

Buyer Representation – Buyers may elect to retain EastWind as their Buyer Representative. This service is intended for the company or individual seeking a strategic acquisition. Learn more about Buyer Representation services. Contact Us