Guidance Across the Entire Transaction

Complimentary valuation range

UBBA offers an initial business valuation range even if an owner ultimately decides not to engage the firm. We use comparable sold-business data and other relevant sources to help estimate fair market value and a reasonable offering range.

Full appraisal services

A comprehensive stand-alone appraisal may be appropriate for divorce, estate or retirement planning, business planning, exit strategy, or a partner buyout. UBBA can discuss whether an initial assessment or fuller appraisal is appropriate.

Financial comparison and cash flow

Using financial statements and tax returns supplied by the owner, UBBA prepares a three-year income-statement comparison and cash-flow analysis for use in valuation and buyer materials.

Offering memorandum

UBBA organizes relevant business, operating, employee, lease, asset, service, and financial information into a confidential offering memorandum. This information is released only to qualified buyers who have signed a confidentiality agreement.

Targeted marketing

UBBA begins with its network of potential buyers and identifies prospects whose acquisition criteria align with the type, size, and location of the business. Marketing may also include appropriate websites, publications, newsletters, direct outreach, and industry contacts.

Creating competitive interest

When market conditions and buyer interest permit, UBBA seeks to create a competitive process. Multiple qualified prospects can strengthen negotiating leverage and help establish the market’s view of value.

Buyer and seller meetings

UBBA attends meetings between prospective buyers and sellers to help ensure that appropriate operational information is exchanged and that early discussions remain productive.

Negotiating offers

Negotiations require balancing the seller’s objectives with the buyer’s need to believe the transaction is fair and workable. UBBA helps communicate offers, counteroffers, terms, and concerns without allowing avoidable tension to derail progress.

Keeping the deal together

Issues can arise among buyers, sellers, lenders, accountants, attorneys, landlords, and other parties. UBBA works through these issues and helps maintain forward momentum.

Allocation of purchase price

Purchase agreements commonly allocate value among fixed assets, goodwill, non-compete obligations, and consulting arrangements. The consequences differ for buyers and sellers. UBBA assists with the business discussion in coordination with each party’s accountant and attorney.

A second set of eyes

UBBA reviews versions of the purchase agreement from a business-transaction perspective and works with the client and legal counsel to identify missing business terms, inconsistencies, and unresolved issues.

UBBA maintains a network of service providers who may assist clients with transaction-related accounting and tax matters. Tax and legal decisions remain the responsibility of the client and the client’s qualified professional advisors.

UBBA helps keep the financial, operational, legal, and tax workstreams coordinated so that questions are addressed promptly and the business terms remain aligned.

UBBA works with several financing sources and can help introduce buyers to lenders familiar with business acquisitions. Credit, available cash flow, collateral, industry experience, and buyer qualifications are important underwriting factors.

Depending on the business and borrower, financing may cover a substantial portion and, in some circumstances, potentially all of the purchase price. All financing is subject to lender review, underwriting, terms, and approval.

UBBA is selective about the businesses it represents so that the team can remain personally involved throughout the process. Clients receive direct guidance from planning and preparation through buyer discussions, negotiations, due diligence, agreements, and closing.

Questions and negotiations do not always occur during conventional office hours. The team makes itself available by email and mobile phone when active transaction issues require attention.

The potential sale of a business is highly confidential. Unless instructed otherwise, UBBA limits seller contact to appropriate private channels and avoids disclosing the possibility of a sale to employees, customers, vendors, lenders, landlords, or others.

Prospective buyers must sign a confidentiality agreement before receiving confidential business information. The agreement limits disclosure and ordinarily permits sharing only with the buyer’s professional advisors for purposes of evaluating the opportunity.