The TobinLeff M&A Podcast

Most entrepreneurs are used to stepping into unknown terrain and climbing learning curves to hit their goals. However, selling a company is often a once-in-a-lifetime event, so your go-to-market journey should include a team who has been there and done that. That team should guide your transaction like an on-target GPS, helping you to navigate potential pitfalls and plan for reasonable expectations. TobinLeff has worked with over 250 clients on M&A transactions and exit planning solutions. In this video, our expert advisory team shares 5 heads-up lessons we share with our clients to achieve a smooth closing. To learn more about selling a business, visit tobinleff.com.

In 2022, Maura Corbett sold her company, Glen Echo Group, to Berlin Rosen, a portfolio company of the PE Group, O2 Investment Partners.  In this episode, Maura joins the TobinLeff team to discuss her selling journey and cover a number of topics, including: How and why did she decide to sell her company? What was her process for choosing an M&A advisory firm? How did TobinLeff prepare the company and Maura for the process? Why did she select Berlin Rosen and O2 Investment Partners as her ultimate buyer? How did she involve key employees in the process and reward them when the sale happened? What final advice would Maura give to owners considering selling their companies? Watch or listen now for an inside look into M&A.

Why is it that some companies are able to sell for above — sometimes even far above — commonly accepted ballparks, or market price? Why can some companies command the higher multiple compared to others, where there’s continuous pressure on both price and the terms? Learn how to make your business stand out from the competition so you can command top dollar for your company.

Nearly 100% of agency owners believe that an Exit Plan is an important element for their future financial security, but only 15% actually have a written Exit Plan in place. At TobinLeff, we believe that the most important explanation for this disconnect may be the most basic one of all: while the idea of an Exit Plan seems to make sense, most agency owners don’t really know what an Exit Plan is. For additional information on how to sell your company from a position of strength, visit our resources page.

You’re ready to sell your business — now what? You’ve built your business from the ground up, poured your life into it, and now you’re ready for your next step. Maybe you want to retire, or maybe you’d like to start your next business venture. No matter your reason, selling your company is a complex road to navigate on your own — so don’t go it alone. Join the partners of TobinLeff in this podcast where they go in-depth on four potential exit pathways. Learn how to: Sell to an independent agency or similar company Sell to employees via an MBO Sell to a Private Equity group Form an ESOP

What goes into a private equity acquisition? In this episode, David Tobin interviews Nick Burger, a partner at the ZS Fund, who oversaw the PE group's recent acquisition of TobinLeff's client, Communicus. Listen in to learn how PE groups: Value companies and assess opportunities Work with management teams to support their visions Determine important elements of deal structures And more... Learn more about TobinLeff's latest engagement here.

You’re ready to sell your business — now what? You’ve built your business from the ground up, poured your life into it, and now you’re ready for your next step. Maybe you want to retire, or maybe you’d like to start your next business venture. No matter your reason, selling your company is a complex road to navigate on your own — so don’t go it alone. Join the partners of TobinLeff in this webinar where they go in-depth on four potential exit pathways. Learn how to: Sell to an independent agency or similar company Sell to employees via an MBO Sell to a Private Equity group Form an ESOP

The M&A market is very active today, interest rates are at historic lows and banks are actively lending. Is now the time to sell your business because of potential increases in capital gains tax rates? In this episode, glean insight from partners David Tobin, Chuck Gottschalk, and Holt Vaughn as they discuss the pros and cons of selling your business based on the current market trends.

Selling your company is likely one of the most important transactions of your business career. When that time comes, will you approach the process from a position of strength or weakness? In this episode, learn how to: Get your business house in order and be prepared mentally and financially Qualify prospects and perform reverse due diligence Negotiate favorable terms in the LOI Take control during the due diligence process Have a Plan B

Having a solid communications strategy and plan for an M&A transaction goes beyond an announcement to employees. Strategizing your company's PR even years before you're ready to buy or sell can maximize your deal value when the transaction finally takes place. In this episode, David Tobin goes deep in his interview with PR expert Elizabeth Shea to provide listeners with action steps that can increase Enterprise Value for sellers and attract more qualified candidates for buyers.

Private Equity (PE) firms are buying marcomm companies — but what does that mean for your agency? In this episode, Tobinleff partner and former CPA with Ernst & Young, Chuck Gottschalk, explains what Private Equity is and how PE firms can get you a bigger payday for your business. Get answers to questions like: What is Private Equity (PE), and why would it be interested in purchasing marketing, advertising, digital, PR, and related communications agencies? What does PE look for in acquisitions, and what makes a marketing firm attractive? How does doing a deal with Private Equity increase what you’re likely to earn from a sale of your agency? What about the downsides?

For there to be a market for buying or selling an agency, there needs to be funding available. Often, especially in the case of agency sales between partners or to leadership teams, that funding takes the form of SBA financing. But, in this age of COVID, is SBA lending available?   The short answer? Yes, there is money; yes, they are lending. In this episode, co-principal Scott Leff interviews Adam Whitaker of F.N.B. Corporation to discuss in detail how today's COVID economy has impacted the world of SBA lending.

In today’s COVID Economy, acquihires (sometimes referred to as “bolt-ons” or “tuck-ins”) remain a productive growth strategy for buyers, and a viable way for sellers to find a new home. In this episode, Jeff Lambert, founder and CEO of Lambert Agency and a veteran of several acquisitions, and Holt Vaughn, a partner in TobinLeff, provide information, insights, and case studies on acquihire opportunities from both the seller’s and buyer’s perspective.

How has the recent economic shock of COVID-19 changed the landscape for acquisitions? Are buyers still buying? How are valuations and multiples impacted? More than ever, companies are now assessing if strategic acquisitions should be a part of their growth plans. To provide insights and answer questions like these, we interviewed industry leaders Peter Finn, Managing Partner of Finn Partners, and Michael Kempner, CEO of MWWPR. Tune in to learn about the market trends they're seeing and what they recommend for M&A moving forward during COVID-19.

Building your business was hard, but COVID-19 has left many business owners wondering what the future looks like for their company value. What can we know about the future of business now that COVID-19 has entered the scene? To quote a Hollywood legend, right now "nobody knows anything." Yet there are still many insights that can be had!   Listen to the premiere episode of The TobinLeff M&A Podcast to hear the partners of TobinLeff provide unique insights on how COVID-19 is affecting today's exit planning and mergers and acquisitions market and get answers to questions like: Is now still the right time to buy or sell a company? How do I move forward if the value of my business has been negatively impacted? What if I don't know what my company's value was before COVID-19? Tune in today and visit our website, TobinLeff.com, to learn more.