In this book - the only mergers and acquisitions guide that focuses on small and midsize companies - experts from every profession and specialty related to the sale or acquisition of a business lead buyers and sellers step by step through each phase of the M & A process. Their aim is to help both parties avoid hazards and mistakes and arrive at a fair and mutually profitable arrangement. With 36 self-contained chapters that can be read in sequence or consulted independently, Mergers and Acquisitions for Small and Midsize Companies is both a comprehensive M & A tutorial for newcomers to the process and an indispensable reference for professionals involved in any aspect of the buying and selling of small and midsize companies.

Solvency Opinions Asolvency opinion, by design, aims to assure the directors of the Company, and/or the lenders in the transaction, that the transaction will not likely subject the Company, and its? other creditors, to undue financial distress. Houlihan Smith

Your Best Approach to Determining Value If you're buying, selling, or valuing a business, how can you determine its true value? By basing it on present market conditions and sales of similar businesses. The market approach is the premier way to determine the value of a business or partnership. With convincing evidence of value for both buyers and sellers, it can end stalemates and get deals closed. Acclaimed for its empirical basis and objectivity, this approach is the model most favored by the IRS and the United States Tax Court-as long as it's properly implemented. Shannon Pratt's The Market Approach to Valuing Businesses, Second Edition provides a wealth of proven guidelines and resources for effective market approach implementation. You'll find information on valuing and its applications, case studies on small and midsize businesses, and a detailed analysis of the latest market approach developments, as well as: A critique of US acquisitions over the last twenty-five years An analysis of the effect of size on value Common errors in applying the market approach Court reactions to the market approach and information to help you avoid being blindsided by a litigation opponent Must reading for anyone who owns or holds a partial interest in a small or large business or a professional practice, as well as for CPAs consulting on valuations, appraisers, corporate development officers, intermediaries, and venture capitalists, The Market Approach to Valuing Businesses will show you how to successfully reach a fair agreement-one that will satisfy both buyers and sellers and stand up to scrutiny by courts and the IRS.

Written by Shannon Pratt, one of the leading gurus in the business valuation field. Case study approach includes problems, solutions, and over 100-multiple-choice test questions. A reference and review of the core body of knowledge for those who need a grasp on business valuation even though they might not be seeking a professional designation.

Overview Any corporate transaction involving an existing or potential conflict of interest may become the subject of litigation initiated by minority shareholders.1 In such case, directors may be called upon to prove that all aspects of the transaction were fair to the corporation and its shareholders. Directors may, however, be able to shift this burden of proof away from themselves and to the minority shareholders/plaintiffs if they have taken certain steps to ensure the fairness of the transaction.2 One important step is the establishment and use of a properly functioning Special Committee comprised of independent and disinterested Board members empowered to negotiate the transaction.3

Fairness Opinions A fairness opinion, by definition, is a letter prepared by an experienced investment banker, or business appraiser, that states whether or not a transaction'from a financial point of view'is fair. The fairness opinion speaks to the ?fairness? of the financial terms of a transaction, as of a specific date, and given a set of assumptions.1 ?Fairness? in this context, parallels the notions of unbiased, impartial, and just. As denoted by the colloquial term ?fair play? or the business phrase ?an arm's length transaction,? a fairness opinion represents whether a deal is fair to shareholders, particularly a company's minority shareholders, all material matters and circumstances considered.

A detailed look at risk identification and value creation in private equity investment Equity Value Enhancement ("EVE"): Governance, Risk, Relationships & Knowledge ("GRRK") provides the information and tools practitioners and business owners need to work with the multitude of intangibles ("GRRK") in equity investment decisions. The author engages readers with an insightful and brief claim: "Values are more than numbers." He then provides support for just how important human capital is to the value creation paradox. He doesn't stop there because ideas without definitive actions don't promote transformation. He further challenges the reader with: "If you don't think outside of the box, you're doomed to live in the box." A user-friendly manual chock full of vignettes, suggestions and pithy commentary EVE is a must read for owners, officers, boards and advisors to derive understanding of business value drivers. This book teaches the reader how to conduct more intangible asset due diligence as well as what decisions and behaviors impact value. With more effective methods of risk identification, measurement, management, and mitigation ("IMMM"), trusted advisors and owners can establish a "working on the business" strategy to prioritize issues impacting a company's intangible assets – assets which almost inevitably create the largest component of value in flourishing companies. This focus also serves to reduce risk while leveraging human capital and operational effectiveness. This book challenges users of value enhancement and valuation services to demand greater intellectual rigor to best serve owners/investors of the United States' economic engine—the midmarket company. Therefore, readers are challenged to look beyond the common metrics and numbers. They are admonished to rely less on formulaic approaches and on software that can generate spurious opinions. The reader is called to action by the author, a US Marine Combat Officer veteran, to lead the change: "You burn the boats if you want to be sure you succeed taking the island." Trillions of dollars of private equity are changing hands as Baby Boomer owners and investors seek greater liquidity and legacies while investors seek higher returns from direct investment in private companies. This book provides risk and human capital guidance removing some of the guesswork on valuation and value creation. Provide better evidence of value & equity discounts Identify and quantify risk and provide tools to manage it Inform better business management and investment decisions Create a more comprehensive valuation for equity investments Roadmap and strategy for enhancement of going concern value Governance, Risk and Compliance ("GRC") management are hot topics in today's economic environment. The familiar financial metrics may not be providing adequate indications of value creation – the core principle of most shareholder investment expectation. To identify risk and work with it effectively, practitioners need an in-depth understanding of the forces at play. Equity Value Enhancement is a detailed, insightful guide for making better equity decisions. Finally, the author puts his passion front and center by offering the reader the opportunity to invest in the human capital this book addresses by encouraging support of military veteran's with combat PTSD so they may be productive citizens with the leadership and business skills provided by our country's "Greatest Generation."