by wpadmin | Aug 31, 2020 | newsletter
“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin
The devastating Coronavirus Pandemic has precipitated an economic decline and slowed M&A transactions. While pundits compare the recent 2020 Coronavirus 2007-2008 Great Recession of 2007-2008, they are dissimilar.
The differences are important in a current business sale.
The Great Recession was a financial crisis that caused a near collapse of our banking system. When banks fail, the economy is not far behind. Before our economy shut down earlier this year, the USA was the envy of the globe, a shining star leading with economic growth, record low unemployment, and high private business valuations.
M&A deal activity was aggressive at the beginning of the crisis. Then our World changed. With the initial shutdown starting in March 2020, M&A transactions slowed to a crawl. That crawl has changed to a stampede.
Capital drives the world.
According to The Wall Street Journal in July, Private Equity Groups have $1.5 TRILLION in available capital for acquisitions. The Janas Team receives daily emails, newsletters, phone calls, and texts from well-funded buyers eager to compete for acquisitions.
So, what does this mean to you, the business owner?
Many Exit Strategy Plans are on hold in 2020. Owners whose businesses performed during the pandemic can attract upwards valuations. Companies that remained profitable, but profitability declined are also targets. Buyers are lined up to make competing offers.
Our point is simple. Despite the pandemic, an unprecedented abundance of investment capital is seeking to acquire your business. The time has come to Exit.
Next step? Give Janas a call.
To understand your alternatives, check your calendar, and we will set up a ZOOM call or phone chat.
We can tell you in minutes exactly what we see and hear.
by Jennifer Goodhue | Apr 16, 2020 | newsletter
Six weeks ago in mid February 2020 the world was different. The bright economic prospects in the U.S. for another year of expansion and growth seemed inevitable. Employment was at record highs, business and consumer confidence was strong, and GDP was forecast to grow at a healthy 2% for 2020. The expectation was that the roaring 1920s were back!
But then came the Corona Virus (Covid-19) which lurked in the wings, and has in 6 weeks spread across the world and turned a robust global economy into dust overnight, and has left in its wake thus far more than 2 million people infected, 140,000 dead, and it’s not over according to daily live tracking statistics.
To make matters worse as of today, mid-April 2020 if you haven’t been living on Mars, maybe you should be. Because most U.S. state orders are for businesses to close and citizens to stay at home, work from home, and not go out unless you have a darned good reason to. And as a consequence, the U.S. went from gaining 200,000 jobs per month to losing nearly 23 million in the last few weeks alone. Nothing like this has ever had such an enormous impact on labor since the Great Depression. It’s unreal, or surreal like a zombie apocalypse movie. And regardless of how many times I try to wake up, I can’t because it’s not a dream. And for now, this new reality for CEOs and business owners may not forecast increased sales, but rather increased bankruptcies.
Enter the US Government to the rescue In response to this health-driven crisis many governments around the world have braced for impact, all hoping to ease the economic crash by injecting trillions of dollars into their respective economies. The U.S. in response recently passed the $2 Trillion dollar Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) … to help fund payrolls and other operating expenses for 2.5 months for small businesses. The hope is to help shore up small business until the crisis passes. Sounds scary, and it is.
As a consequence, managing or owning a business has thus gone from approaching a paradise in February 2020 to Hell in March and going forward a living nightmare if your business was forced to close until further notice.
To help, we already reviewed dozens of webinars, newsletters, articles and websites over the past 3 weeks and found a few that we believe can really help cut through the haze and focus on how to specifically get aid to your business and keep you afloat. Check these out:
- How to Obtain an SBA Coronavirus PPP Loan and Have It Forgiven:
o https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348552
- 8 Ways Business Owners Can Take Advantage of the Federal Stimulus Package:
o https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/348710?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email
- SBA Loan Application – PPP – Paycheck Protection Program :
o https://www.sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/coronavirus-relief-options/paycheck-protection-program-ppp
- CEO Coaching Int’l group: Navigating the Crisis with access real-time CEO advisors:
This CEO Coaching Int’l group brings together CEOs offering free time to discuss your particular Covid-19 situation and offer some resourceful tools and ideas.
Best Advice
From my experience the key performance exercise is creating a detailed CASH FLOW PLAN for the next 6-12 months. Minimizing outflows and using the government loan and forgiveness programs to ease the pain. So if you haven’t taken advantage yet, better get started asap. Many will qualify for relief, but fewer if you don’t act fast. Second is to gather your executive team and external advisor including your CPA, Attorney and Banker. Everyone needs to be on the same page and follow your business crisis & continuity plan. This is your moment to shine through as a strong leader with a keen foresight and a keen ability to communicate to your staffers how the company will navigate through this existential crisis like no other. Until then… please stay well, stay strong, and stay together. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
Rick Andrade, Managing Director
by Jennifer Goodhue | Apr 8, 2020 | newsletter
BEST YEAR, WORST TIMES
Even in the worst of times, middle market M&A deals get done. During a 15-month period beginning in early 2008 and into the dark days of 2009, Janas completed eleven transactions and a half dozen consulting assignments – despite the Great Recession. Even when times are challenging, buyers who are compelled to complete their strategic objectives, and investors that want to put their money to work, still want to do deals. For good companies that are well-managed there still exist excellent opportunities.
Maximize Enterprise Value despite the Coronavirus Pandemic
In little more than a year, Janas completed eight petroleum distributor transactions, plus an auto parts company, a plastic cash card manufacturer, and a landscaping products company–all for premium prices. Janas Consulting supported several clients in their work to enhance Enterprise Value.
Janas told client stories so well that buyers became confident that buying our client was something they had to do–even in the darkest hours of the mortgage backed securities bust.
Janas has been flooded with calls and emails from Private Equity Groups and strategic buyers over the past month looking to make acquisitions despite remain-in-place orders and other restrictions. All of them are saying “We’re open for business!”
So, if you are kicking yourself for not selling your business in 2019, we at Janas are saying that it’s not too late! Perhaps you wanted to retire and now dread steering your business alone during these uncertain and demanding times. Wouldn’t you be better served to have a financial partner with substantial resources and expertise to help you through the tough times to come?
Call us at Janas—we have a track record of selling businesses at handsome prices even in tough times.
WE TOO ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND AWAITING YOUR CALL!
