Mergers & Acquisitions Report, News and Outlook for Q1 2024

Q1 2024 Outlook Mergers Acquisitions In the central region of the United States, M&A activity has remained robust, but across the broader United States, activity was muted in the first half of 2023, picking up through the remainder of the year. Looking ahead to 2024, two factors that will likely bring greater activity: i) stabilizing interest rates contribute to higher valuations and/or higher activity, and ii) consolidation trends in many industries. For the first time in ...

Mergers & Acquisitions Report, News and Outlook – ClearRidge Quarterly Update

2023 has been a stronger year for M&A than many were expecting. At the same time, different industry sectors have registered greater disparity in valuations, deal activity and deal volumes than we typically see. We continue to have strong demand for acquisitions and more clients bringing businesses to market than in a typical year. This may be isolated to Oklahoma, Texas, and the Midwest, but our feel for M&A is …
Mergers & Acquisitions Report

Innovex has acquired a minority interest in Downhole Well Solutions (DWS)

DWS (www.downholewellsolutions.com) designs, manufactures, and rents proprietary downhole drilling optimization tools, including the PowerGLIDE oscillation tool, the RIPstick anti-stall and anti-stick slip tool, and most recently the new PileDRIVER. DWS engaged ClearRidge to advise them on acquisition strategy.  The ClearRidge team managed the process and due diligence. DWS will continue to operate as a standalone business under the leadership and majority ownership of ...
DWS_Innovex_ClearRidge

What’s next for Mergers & Acquisitions in 2023? ClearRidge M&A Trends and Outlook

While many anticipated a slowdown in 2023 with talks of a recession, we haven’t seen that in our central and southern region so far. At ClearRidge, we have had one of the busiest starts to any year since our founding fifteen years ago.  As we continue through 2023, we’re anticipating a further pickup in deal activity as there continue to be unprecedented levels of cash available for acquisitions, both from strategic and private acquirers.  Even in the event of a mild recession, company balance sheets are stronger now than when the US economy entered previous recessionary periods. With higher interest rates, companies have been committing more equity to ...
MergersAcquisitionsUpdate_03.02.2023

Boyne Capital – McKee Utility Acquisition

Boyne Capital partnered with management acquiring McKee Utility Contractors, a water and sewer infrastructure services platform providing pipeline installation, replacement, tunneling, and boring for water, wastewater, and stormwater utility customers. (www.mckeeutility.com). With an exhaustive process to prepare McKee Utility, identify and approach potential partners, the ClearRidge team managed the planning, process and due diligence to complete the acquisition.
McKee Boyne ClearRidge

Summit Steel acquires Laser Specialties

Laser Specialties, Inc. has been acquired by Summit Steel Fabricating. Laser Specialties is a full-service custom and contract metal manufacturing company. Founded in 1993, LSI operates out of a 131,000 sq ft campus in Tulsa, Oklahoma and has over 55 employees, with a client list that includes OEMs, Military Products, Environmental, Energy, Construction, Transportation, and Agriculture. The owners of LSI engaged ClearRidge to represent them in the sale. With an exhaustive process to prepare LSI, identify and approach potential acquirers, the ClearRidge team managed the sale process, and due diligence.
Summit Steel acquires Laser Specialties

M&A Activity Diverges from Larger to Smaller Transactions in Q3 2022. What’s next for M&A in 2023?

Global M&A activity plummeted in the third quarter of 2022, but that was attributable to a decline in large transformational industry transactions. Volatile equity markets (that comprise many public company strategic acquirers), rising interest rates and economic uncertainty have weighed on M&A activity. However, for ClearRidge and our private company transactions ($20 Million - $100 Million in revenues), transaction volume has been robust in …
M&A Activity Diverges from Larger to Smaller Transactions in Q3 2022

Jetta Corporation acquired by Longwater Opportunities

Jetta Corporation has been acquired by Longwater Opportunities, an operationally focused private equity firm with offices in Dallas, TX and Fargo, ND. Jetta's Board had set goals for the future sale of the company and with successful strategic and operational initiatives implemented in the last five years, Jetta met the Board’s goals and the Company engaged ClearRidge to represent Jetta in the sale. With an exhaustive process to prepare Jetta for a sale, identify and approach potential acquirers, the ClearRidge team managed the sale process, due diligence and closing.
Jetta acquired by Longwater

Second Half 2022 M&A Outlook Drivers: Tax changes, Inflation, Economy, Interest Rates, plus industry sector analysis

Business owners may be contemplating selling in any given year but are often motivated by a trigger event to take action and sell. As discussed in our industry sector outlook research, many business owners are feeling now may be a good time to sell. The pipeline continues to be strong for new businesses coming to market. Analysts expect 2023 to …

AIR Technologies acquired by Fidelity Building Services Group (Fidelity BSG)

AIR Technologies has been acquired by Fidelity Building Services Group (Fidelity BSG), a national leader in HVAC/Mechanical Services, Building Automation & Controls and Emergency Power Generators. When the owners of AIR Technologies were approached by a strategic acquirer, they reached out to ClearRidge to advise them on the potential sale.  With an exhaustive process to prepare AIR Technologies for a sale, identify and approach potential acquirers, the ClearRidge team managed the sale process, due diligence and closing.
AirTechnologies-Fidelity-Acquisition

Livingston Machinery Company acquired by Summit Equity Group in partnership with Midwest Growth Partners

Livingston Machinery Company, a leading agricultural equipment dealer serving customers in Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Kansas and Colorado, was acquired by Summit Equity Group in partnership with Midwest Growth Partners. ClearRidge advised the Owners and Board of Directors of Livingston on the sale.
Livingston Machinery Company acquired by Summit Equity Group in partnership with Midwest Growth Partners

Mergers & Acquisitions Rebound after COVID and the Election – 2021 ClearRidge Outlook

The short story is good news. A rebound is expected in mergers and acquisitions in 2021, gaining momentum throughout the year. Top of mind in Spring is the COVID-19 recovery, vaccine rollout and return to a new normal. Second, we have the implications of a new political climate. Without bias to any political party, a divided congress may be the best …
Mergers Acquisitions 2021

Surprises to selling a company in COVID-19

We had several acquisitions working in March when everything shut down and were not expecting to initiate any new engagements until late summer. However, we did start discussions on a new acquisition at the end of May. Surprisingly to us, the response was overwhelmingly positive and, as of last week, we have nine bona fide offers to acquire this company, five of which are at or above pre-COVID market value. How could this be?

How does a Presidential Election Impact the Sale of My Business?

What happens to M&A in the run up to the 2020 Presidential Election? In past election years with an incumbent President, there has been a slowdown in M&A activity from October into mid-November, but how about 2016? Most experts got it wrong. Prior to the 2016 Presidential election, …

Sayed Feghali Cardiology Assoc. acquired by Medical Center Cardiovascular Association

ClearRidge advised the owners of Sayed Feghali Cardiology Association on the sale. The owners of Medical Center Cardiovascular Association acquired the practice and will continue to operate out of Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston.

M&A Outlook for Spring 2019; Q4 Transaction Report

In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Spring 2019. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,..

M&A Outlook for Winter 2019; Q3 Transaction Report

In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Winter 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare,

M&A Outlook for Fall 2018 and Q2 Transaction Report

In this report, ClearRidge reviews the region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for Fall 2018. Aerospace, Chemicals, Construction, Engineering, Energy, Healthcare, ...

Mergers & Acquisitions Report Q2 and Outlook for 2016

In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remainder of 2016. The business mood and M&A environment remains positive and there continues to be demand from buyers for niche companies that are outperforming their competitors. There is no shortage of cash available for acquisitions; it is a matter of being able to

Mergers & Acquisitions Report Q1 and Outlook for 2016

We are in the second quarter of 2016 and deal data is now available through the end of the first quarter. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for the remainder of 2016.

Mergers & Acquisitions Outlook for 2016 and Q3 2015 Review

We are in the fourth quarter of 2015 and mergers and acquisitions data is now available through the end of the third quarter for business owners selling their company. In this report, we review our region’s most active industry sectors and give an outlook for 2016.

Section 338 Business Sale –Stock Sale, with Asset Sale Tax Treatment

What is a 338 Election? How would I use it when I sell my business? In a typical acquisition (using an S-corporation as an example), the seller seeks to maximize capital gains, on which they pay a lower tax rate, and the buyer seeks to maximize the present value of tax deductions. While this may be desired, there may be a need to effect the transaction as a stock deal rather than an asset deal.

Baby Boomers and Their Businesses – Implications for Mergers & Acquisitions in 2013 and Beyond.

The U.S. economy is at a critical intersection. Privately-held businesses have long been the driving force of the economy, and are now in a period of transition that has been building up for the last 50 years. Baby boomers own an unprecedented number of businesses and hold an unprecedented proportion of U.S. private wealth. Having propelled the booming U.S. economy since the early 1990s, baby boomers have now reached their peak in the consumer spending cycle.

Baby Boomers and Their Businesses. Implications for Mergers & Acquisitions in 2013 and Beyond.

November 30, 2012: Q3 2012 Baby Boomers and Their Businesses. Implications for Mergers and Acquisitions in 2013 and Beyond.

Filling a Void? Oklahoma Venture Capital and Growth Capital

According to participants in yesterday’s Bricktown Capital Conference in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has a need for more robust venture capital, nurture capital and in some cases private equity, when an entrepreneur needs between $1 million and $5 million to fuel the growth of their business. For any higher amounts, out of state capital is targeting Oklahoma companies, and for amounts below $1 million, there are small business grants, loans, incentives, family money and even bootstrapping that can provide the required capital. It is the critical gap in between where we need to focus our efforts.

Honor Thy Banks and Creditors – It’s Good for Business.

In the last year, huge numbers of loans were refinanced on the back of competition among lenders to sell money and attractive loan pricing. As a result, many CFOs have now refinanced, put their loan documents away and will revisit them in a few years when it’s time to renew. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy anymore; in particular in a sluggish and faltering economy, as your creditors keep a closer eye on all the covenants of your loan.

Acquisitions: Earnings Multiples or Absolute Valuations?

How is it possible to make an acquisition valuation based only upon earnings multiples in disparate economic environments and business climates? And how heavily should we rely upon “standard” earnings multiples for comparable transactions in an industry?

Lending for Business – Debt Ceiling Concerns?

In April and May, commercial and industrial lending was strong, companies were opening up new revolvers and refinancing at reduced rates. Banks were allowing extended maturities and were eager to put money to work; so much so, that some banks were loosening lending standards to offer favorable terms to those with less than strong credits.

Implications of Earnouts when you sell your business – Tax Focus

First, a couple of thoughts on earnouts when you sell your business. While an earnouts is often seen as a mechanism to defer payment of the purchase price; if used correctly, it should in fact be consideration to the seller of a company over and above full cash paid at closing. Earnouts should not be considered part of the purchase price if/until they materialize and are paid to the seller, but why not set additional opportunities to increase the purchase price paid, over and above the full cash price paid? If “x” is the maximum that a buyer will pay for a company in cash at closing, it is still possible to negotiate “x” at closing, plus an additional 25-50% or more after closing. As with most things in life and business, it is not the tool that is at fault, it is the way that it can be misused and misunderstood.

When should you sign a Letter of Intent – Business Buyer vs. Business Seller?

One purpose of a LOI is to document a mutual agreement between the buyer and seller on the major points of the purchase and sale of a business. With this in mind, a LOI is often signed much too early in the process. There is an understandable eagerness if you are selling a business to receive a Letter of Intent from a prospective buyer as early as possible. In some cases, business owners are even advised that they should request a LOI in order to learn price and terms from the prospective buyer.