Business acquisitions are pursued by:

1. An individual or group of individuals working together to buy their own business.
2. A management team seeking to buy-out the business they are running.
3. A corporation seeking to grow an existing business through acquisitions or to diversify into other businesses or product lines.
4. Venture capital and private equity funds seeking an exceptional return on investment by acquiring a platform business and subsequent add-ons, a consolidation of smaller companies in a particular industry, or a variety of other reasons.

For all of these buyers, The Buckingham Group is an outstanding resource specializing in:

1. Finding the best deal to meet your goal, and
   
   
2. Helping you complete the acquisition transaction to whatever extent you need our assistance.

Acquisition Searches

The value Buckingham brings to you is expanding your deal volume and horizon, as well as searching out the deals that meet your criteria. We have expertise in research, networking and negotiating with sellers. A focused search is faster, more efficient and produces better results.

Our work with you starts by developing a clear idea of what kind of business you wish to acquire. Acquisition criteria can include:

1. Size of business
2. Industry
3. Location
4. Unique characteristics
5. How much you are investing

Typically we will identify a rather large list of prospects, which could be several hundred companies. These are reviewed and the list is narrowed to a manageable number which we engage in conversation, gain information about, and eventually enter into a confidentiality agreement to obtain financial statements and operating information.

This initial activity can take anywhere from one to three months. We give you written status reports at least once a month, and verbal reports more often, as needed.

From our conversations with the prospective sellers and the financial information we obtain from them, we develop an initial idea of what the purchase price might be (a range) and what terms would be needed based upon your criteria. If the prospect appears to be of interest to you at this point, we usually arrange for you to meet with the potential seller and to see the business.

Our scope generally covers acquisitions in the $5 million to $100 million price range.

Why Do an Acquisition Search?

There are a number of sources where you can learn about businesses that are for sale. Brokers, valuation firms, ads, word-of-mouth, and other sources all contribute to the list of businesses on the market.

One approach is to look at all of these sources to see if there is a business for sale that comes close to meeting your criteria. This is usually a long and somewhat frustrating experience, especially for the individual. Even private equity investment firms can find "deal flow" slow at times.

From our Buckingham experience, we know that many business owners who do not have their company listed with a broker and thus are not "on the market," nevertheless are open to the possibility of selling. This is much like an executive who is employed by a company, but is open to hearing what an executive recruiter might have to say.

We believe it is faster, more effective and much more likely to fit your criteria to conduct a search for the business you want to buy. Through a highly experienced research capability, our proprietary database, and a vast network of business contacts, The Buckingham Group excels at finding the best deal for you. We identify and communicate with business owners who do not have their business officially on the market. Not only is this a much better way to find the best deal, but often the price and terms are more readily negotiated.

Up to this point, our work with you is similar whether you are an individual, a management team, a corporate buyer or a private equity investment firm. However, what happens next depends upon the extent to which you need our further help:

1. Private equity investment firms usually have their own experts for analysis, deal structure, due diligence work and negotiations. At this point our work is basically concluded except to play a role in the negotiations with the seller, as needed.
   
   
2. For individuals and management teams, and some corporations, our work can continue and may include development of presentations to be made to financial institutions for raising money, negotiation of the purchase price and terms, and continuing in our advisory role until the acquisition transaction is completed.
   

For detailed information on how The Buckingham Group can assist you, please click on the appropriate type of client ………

• INDIVIDUALS
• CORPORATIONS or MANAGEMENT TEAMS
• PRIVATE EQUITY FUNDS
• NEW BUSINESS VENTURES