The most difficult questions to ask end up being the most important ones. They are usually variations on a single question: What are you going to do with my company the day after this transaction closes? Too many CEOs follow the ostrich plan, sticking their head in the sand in an unconscious effort to avoid… Read More
Choosing a buyer or investor is like choosing a spouse, but with one major difference: Selling your business is usually irreversible. The typical investment banker-supervised auction process feels a lot like an arranged marriage, where everyone leaves the question of whether this is a truly compatible partnership to chance. Bankers tightly control the meetings in… Read More
Imagine yourself in a lunch meeting with a private equity investor. You notice he’s rude to the waiter and to his assistant but treats you like you’re the most important person in the room. It’s reasonable to wonder whether his attitude toward you will change once he gets what he wants—namely, your company. Then you… Read More
