The Business Magazine - South East’s Post

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁-𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 💡 Whether you’re planning to sell your business or not, understanding its value is crucial for strategic planning and unlocking future opportunities. But when is the best time to start thinking about an exit strategy? According to Jonny Parkinson, Managing Partner at Marktlink, the answer is: from the day your company opens its doors, even if you have no intention of selling.   Parkinson says: “We wish we could get business owners to begin with the end in mind. If you don’t know the various exit options, how will you recognise the right opportunity when it comes along?”   Our Marktlink monitor shows that around 40% of European SME owners remain unaware of the true value of their business. Without that critical knowledge, planning for the future or capitalising on growth opportunities through mergers, acquisitions, or other strategic moves becomes much more complex.   ➡ Learn more about the first steps towards a solid exit strategy in this article: https://lnkd.in/eZrCvFKz #ExitReady #ExitStrategy #Entrepreneurship #BusinessValue #SellingYourBusiness

We now have 𝟏𝟔 𝐚𝐜𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 in our portfolio in less than 𝟏𝟖 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐬. 🥂 We’re beyond proud of our exceptional team and entrepreneurs! #Novastone #BusinessAcquisitions #PortfolioGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SuccessStory #BusinessExpansion #EntrepreneurialAchievement #BusinessMilestones #TeamSuccess #EntrepreneurialSpirit

Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition: Is it on the rise?   As the founder of the #ETAAwards, when asked his thoughts on the current #ETA landscape, GE partner Carl Lundberg commented, “the number of companies that are ripe for such transactions is significant and the barriers to entry for investors are relatively low when compared to traditional private equity, whilst the returns on offer are extremely attractive”.   To hear more from #searchfunds expert Carl Lundberg, follow the link below to the full article, covered by Business Leader: https://lnkd.in/eRzXmB34

So, I bought a lemon. …no, not the fruit or the kind of car. Entrepreneurship is fraught with both challenges and opportunities. A complex aspect I've navigated is the acquisition of businesses with significant liabilities. It's a process that demands not just a keen eye for potential. It demands a deep understanding of the intricacies involved in such transactions. In one instance, we were considering the acquisition of a business that, on the surface, appeared to be a valuable asset with promising growth potential. However, a closer examination revealed a tangled web of liabilities. Each could have derailed the venture if not addressed with precise and strategic foresight. The crux of the challenge lay in distinguishing between the types of liabilities we were willing to take on. It was important to differentiate simple financial liabilities from operational. → Financial liabilities could be quantified and managed. → Operational liabilities could pose significant risks to the business's ongoing viability. Our approach was methodical. 1. 𝐖𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲. → financial records → contracts → operational frameworks Our goal was to identify and assess every liability. This wasn't just about crunching numbers. It was about understanding the story behind each liability. 2. 𝐖𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬. 3. 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬. This was to gain insights into how these liabilities were managed (or mismanaged). 4. 𝐖𝐞 𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝. The decision to proceed with the acquisition wasn't taken lightly. It was based on a comprehensive risk assessment that balanced the potential for growth against the challenges posed by existing liabilities.  • 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞. Not just as a procedural step in acquisitions but as a fundamental strategy that informs every aspect of the decision-making process. Ultimately, this experience reinforced a crucial lesson: 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐬𝐧'𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲. 𝐈𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬. Navigating these complexities requires a blend of analytical rigor, strategic foresight, and an unwavering commitment to the vision that drives us as entrepreneurs. Thorough due diligence and strategic foresight are indispensable in navigating the complexities of business acquisitions. They highlight the importance of understanding and managing liabilities to unlock the true potential of an investment.

Blue Mantis has announced a strategic shift into high growth mode following the acquisition of a majority stake by a private equity firm. This change is expected to enhance the company's capabilities and drive expansion in its services. With a focus on innovation and client satisfaction, Blue Mantis aims to leverage this partnership to strengthen its market position. The company looks forward to this new chapter and the opportunities it will bring. https://lnkd.in/gNHeYmYv #BlueMantis #PrivateEquity #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #MarketExpansion #StrategicPartnership #ClientSatisfaction #TechNews #BusinessDevelopment #Entrepreneurship #UnderstandingEnterpriseTech #EnterpriseTechnologyNow #EnterpriseTechnologyToday

Entrepreneurship is frequently defined as “starting” or “developing” a business venture or idea. While many entrepreneurs do start a business from “scratch,” others purchase a going concern or selectively buy assets that can enhance their own opportunities to grow. Growing through acquisition—which frequently makes financial headlines—is not just for publicly traded, high profile companies. Medium and small firms can use acquisitions to implement strategic objectives and build their business. Acquisitions may make strategic sense.

Entrepreneurship is frequently defined as “starting” or “developing” a business venture or idea. While many entrepreneurs do start a business from “scratch,” others purchase a going concern or selectively buy assets that can enhance their own opportunities to grow. Growing through acquisition—which frequently makes financial headlines—is not just for publicly traded, high profile companies. Medium and small firms can use acquisitions to implement strategic objectives and build their business. Acquisitions may make strategic sense.

Those with ambition are looking to buy small businesses. Small businesses drive the U.S. economy, and present an opportunity to prosper outside of a traditional corporate (grind) career. Just make sure to surround yourself with trusted advisors. Buying, growing (and perhaps later selling) a small business is a team game. Looking to buy a small business? Let us know how we can help. https://lnkd.in/e8maBSgJ #ETA #SMB #entrepreneurship #acquisitions

In The Entrepreneur’s IPO: The Insider’s Roadmap to Taking Your Company Public, Forbes Finance Council member Peter Goldstein offers a comprehensive roadmap with chapters that guide you through every stage of the IPO journey. Learn more: https://hubs.li/Q02rMjfG0 #entrepreneurship #IPOjourney #GoingPublic

What impact will the fast-growing trend of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) have on the wider #M&A market?     Our Partner, David Baverstock spoke to James Cook at Business Leader all about #ETA’s growing popularity in Europe and where the #trend will take the M&A market next.     He argues that ETA provides competition for #PE and trade buyers, which bodes well for sellers, particularly in a tougher market. And as the pool for potential #acquisition targets builds, along with awareness and interest from a variety of #investors - it appears ETA activity will only continue to accelerate in the coming years.     Read the full story here - https://bit.ly/3T5hoVG