Sell-Side M&A and Business Succession

Mit seinen „Hidden Champions“ gilt der deutsche Mittelstand für Investoren aus aller Welt als attraktives Investment. Für Inhaber und Gründer, die ihre Nachfolge über einen Verkauf regeln möchten, hält der Verkaufsprozess jedoch einige Fallen und Stolpersteine bereit. enomyc-Autor und M&A-Experte Dr. Tim Bauer erklärt, wie sich der Wert des Unternehmens im Vorfeld steigern lässt und was man tun kann, um ein Scheitern der Verhandlungen zu vermeiden.

A company’s realizable value is determined long before negotiations begin. Owners who can demonstrate the quality of earnings, cash conversion, growth potential, and risk profile early on lay the foundation for a robust valuation, an attractive pool of buyers, and a controlled sales process. Those who have to wait until they approach the market to make a case for the company’s value find themselves on the defensive during negotiations.

Especially in economically challenging times, M&A transactions offer a powerful opportunity for companies to drive strategic development. Whether a deal ultimately succeeds depends on a wide range of factors – and one of the most decisive is thorough preparation. In this best practices series, our M&A specialists Dr. Tim Bauer and Janina Buchholz explore the key prerequisites for a successful transaction.

What effect does the family factor have on change processes in family businesses? Our partner Dr. Tim Bauer researched this topic years ago. In 2012, he completed his PhD on "Innovation Processes in Family Businesses." Prior to that, he worked at the Chair for Family Businesses, advised young founders, and studied renowned family businesses from the German Mittelstand. That he now advises family businesses in transformation processes is partly because he himself comes from a family business and managed the company for a decade with his brother. How can family businesses respond to the current pressure to transform? What are their pain points? And what is essential in consulting for family businesses? Here are insights from his entrepreneurial and consulting practice.

90 percent of German companies are family businesses. Often with a long tradition and several management changes from generation to generation. These handover processes are often complex. "A family-internal company handover is of great importance for all family members," finds Bessie Fischer-Bohn. The economist, psychotherapist and executive consultant has been accompanying families through the leadership transition for many years. Why do those who don't normally sit at the conference table also have to come to the table? How can the Prince Charles Syndrome be avoided? And what do families typically ignore?

Martin Hammer, managing partner of enomyc, comes from an entrepreneurial family and is himself a father and founder. What has his experience from over 300 handover projects with the family businesses taught him? When should entrepreneurs think about succession and become active about it? What are the most common reasons why succession processes fail, and which factors make a successful company handover possible in the first place ?