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Due Diligence Checklist for Buyers
When conducting a due diligence investigation, it pays to take a very organized approach. That way, you'll stay focused on the most important issues and avoid becoming distracted by less-significant factors. Sticking to a methodical approach can also reduce the risk of "falling in love" with the acquisition or merger target and then making a bad decision that causes financial heartache…Read More -
Preventative Steps Help Ensure M&A Success
Just because a merger or acquisition is completed on paper doesn't mean the transactions will be a success. The implications can generally be seen 18 to 24 months after the deals close and officials can assess how the combinations contributed to improvements or disappointments on profit and loss statements. M&A activity remains active, as illustrated by a string of mega…Read More -
Building Business Value – Lessons from the Trenches
Fahrenheit held the Leadership Forum on January 14th along with our partnering sponsor Keiter. This leadership forum entitled “Building Business Value - Lessons from the Trenches” was graciously hosted by the University of Richmond’s Robins School of Business. The program focused on key considerations to assist CEO’s of privately-owned businesses in building self-sustaining value in their organizations. At the core…Read More -
Be Aware of the Stakeholders in Your Business—Or You May Regret It
In the good old days, business owners believed that as long as they served their customers effectively and made sure that their stock maintained or increased its value, all was taken care of. However, it's now part of the norm that business owners not only have to please their customers and shareholders, but also be concerned with their stakeholders. A…Read More -
Beware: M&A Activity Can Trigger Unexpected Tax Issues
During a merger or acquisition, the issues surrounding employee benefit plans may not get a great deal of attention. But afterwards, the complexities of merging a variety of benefit arrangements can overwhelm the companies. Even worse, the IRS is on the lookout for compliance failures after a merger or acquisition and may step in to conduct a "team audit." Keep…Read More -
Surviving an Earnout Provision in a Business Sale
Earnout sales are becoming more common, especially in high-growth companies, those with unproven products, and situations when the buyer and seller disagree on valuation issues. By some estimates, up to half of small business sales involve earnout provisions lasting two to five years, and involving 15 to 50 percent of the purchase price. What are earnout provisions based on? Keep…Read More -
Lesson #3: When Evidence Collides with Ideology
Lesson #3: When Evidence Collides with Ideology - July 30, 2013 Dave Garlock, Fahrenheit Finance Are you comfortable considering non-conforming ideas and concepts? How do you respond to ideas that attack the core of your beliefs and understandings? What do you do to validate challenging ideas and transform your own beliefs and understandings? This article is the third in the…Read More -
Lesson #1 Learned from the Rise and Fall of Vanquished Companies
Lesson #1 Learned from the Rise and Fall of Vanquished Companies, July 3, 2013 David Garlock, Director Fahrenheit Finance Both virtual and physical bookshelves everywhere are filled with management theory treatises written by leading CEO’s (e.g., Jack Welch of GE fame) and academics / consultants (e.g., Peter Drucker). In my experience, it is rare to find a book that…Read More -
Lighthouse startups show their stuff
Eight Richmond-based startup companies have taken refuge since March from the hurdles that threaten young companies by collaborating with Lighthouse Labs, a new-business accelerator. Todd Nuckols, Lighthouse’s managing director and founder, has been working for two years on the accelerator idea to connect entrepreneurs with a network of Richmond-based mentors. (@FahrneheitAcctg / Keith Middleton is one of them) Business accelerators…Read More -
How a #RVA Entrpreneur Found Angel Investors – Story Featured in Forbes
It’s not easy to find angel investors outside the big market areas but it can be done. @MartiBeller of PlanG (@My_PlanG), proves that you can. Beller is based in Richmond, Va, not known as a hub for tech startups, but it does have its fair share of successful entrepreneurs. The lesson: Successful entrepreneurs are everywhere. Check out the article in…Read More -
Messages Business Leaders Shared With This Year’s Crop of Grads
Messages Business Leaders Shared With This Years Crop of Grad's Creative thinkers from the business world offered real-life advice to students at their graduation ceremonies this year. This video is a compilation of commencement speeches from four top business leaders. The accompanying article is a checklist that can help your children, grandchildren or other graduates make the critical financial…Read More