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April 25, 2024
Changing Times In M&A Require Buyer Adjustments
By Adam Burroughs
Permanent Equity's Taylor Hall on the challenges and opportunities in today's M&A market.
March 7, 2024
Announcing St. Louis' Smart Business Network Dealmaker Award Winners and 2024 Dealmakers Hall of Fame Class!
We're celebrating the accomplishments of the 2024 class of winners March 14 at the St. Louis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the St. Louis business community.
February 9, 2024
Raising Capital And Competing With Unicorns
Hungry Planet CEO Todd Boyman talks about launching Hungry Planet and why it raised modest capital compared to its unicorn competitors.
February 1, 2024
Competing On Culture
Seyer Industries' Chris Seyer on how he uses culture as a competitive differentiator.
January 5, 2024
Even With Experience, Selling A Family Business Can Be A Challenge
Recently, Jeff Gershman, Chairman of the Board, of Gershman Mortgage & Gershman Investment Corp., sold Gershman Commercial Real Estate, a brokerage and property management company. Through his law
November 17, 2023
See Your Business Through Buyers' Eyes
The advice to business owners looking to exit is often to get the right advisers and plan well ahead of going to market. But for many, that's not always the reality. "We deal with the business owners
September 29, 2023
Transparency Is Needed When Selling A Family Business
Multigenerational family businesses, says Richard J. Wolkowitz, CEO and Family Advisor at Xylogenesis | Family Office Advisory, are tough. The family working in the business may have a different
September 1, 2023
When Buying, Understand The Seller’s Post-Close Intentions
John Dolan, President and CEO of PFI InStore, has been part of many exits and acquisitions. From that experience, he says he’s learned many lessons, a number of which focus on the human capital side
August 4, 2023
Cultivation Capital: A Fund By Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs
Barry Sandweiss started Cultivation Capital around 2011 along with former entrepreneurs. So, he says, the fund is naturally entrepreneurial. "We know what it's like to sit in the chair of a founder,"
June 29, 2023
In This Economy, Buyers Must Look Deeper
Given the volatility in today's Market, Emily Martin, president of Aschinger Electric - A Guarantee Electrical Company, says both buyers and sellers are facing economic pressures that are impacting
June 2, 2023
The Misperception Of Investors
Balto founder and CEO Marc Bernstein has built a SaaS platform designed to provide real-time guidance to contact center agents. He's scaling fast and having fun doing it, even after adding multiple
May 5, 2023
Protecting The Value Of 2021 Deals In A Much Different Market
Aon's Jessica Harger on issues buyers are facing after a year of fast-paced deals.
April 6, 2023
Raising Capital Requires Warm Relationships
TCARE Co-Founder Ali Ahmadi on the company, its growth and the lessons he's learned about raising capital.
February 17, 2023
Digital Health Frenzy Propelled SteadyMD
Guy Friedman is a Co-Founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and President at SteadyMD, a B2B telehealth infrastructure provider that enables telehealth patient experiences in all 50 states. He spoke on the Dealmakers Podcast about how he built SteadyMD as a direct-to-consumer offering, but quickly realized it’s value to other businesses.
January 27, 2023
Tough Decisions In Family-Led Businesses
Herschend Family Entertainment started in 1960 in Branson, Missouri by Jacob Herschend's grandparents. They leased a cave and made it available for tours. As it increased in popularity, they built
December 16, 2022
What To Consider When Raising Debt
Cequel III Vice President Mike Pizzella, Jr., former CEO of StayLock Storage on current trends in financing business growth — including debt-based financing — and how to best leverage financial tools for different stages of your business lifecycle.
November 18, 2022
Understand Why Before You Buy
EPIC Systems CEO Michael Higgins on the elements of a deal to consider beyond price.
October 14, 2022
Immunophotonics Makes Strides in Cancer Research
Lu Alleruzzo, a bioengineer with a MBA, had an opportunity early in his career to understand innovation and immediately apply it to society for the benefit of all. That opportunity fueled him and his biotech company, Immunophotonics, to pioneer a field of cancer care called Interventional Immuno Oncology.
September 9, 2022
What to consider when considering minority investments
Broadview Group Holdings' Clay Hunter, LoanNEX's Eloise Schmitz, Lewis & Clark AgriFood's Tim Hassler, PNC's Tim Brady and BDO USA's Meg Kellogg on what minority control sales look like, and how planning in advance can lead to multiple bites at the apple.
August 11, 2022
When (and when not) to call an investment banker
Christopher Riley, CEO, United Cutwater, has more than 30 years’ experience owning and operating more than a dozen businesses in numerous industries. He discusses the current M&A landscape and what business owners should be doing if they’re considering selling.
July 6, 2022
Reasons to be excited, cautious, when launching a business with family
Geneoscopy's Andrew Barnell on launching Geneoscopy, structuring the business and working with family.
June 10, 2022
How labor challenges are affecting M&A
Calaway Habeck Talent Consulting's Jaynanne Calaway-Habeck, Denim Social's Douglas Wilber, CliftonLarsonAllen's Adrian Nohr, PFI Holding Co.'s John Dolan and BMO Harris' Robert Harrod on the factors impacting today's M&A transactions.
May 11, 2022
Compass Earns Multiple Returns in Less than a Year
Compass Group Equity Partners goes into every investment with a 100-day plan. They’re ready and prepared to move quickly, which they did when they purchased Sunpro Solar in 2020. Compass’ playbook includes augmenting the team and building a board deck with metrics and key performance indicators and having a written strategic plan. John Huhn, founder and managing partner of Compass Group Equity Partners, talks about how that plan enabled Compass Group sell Sunpro with multiple returns in less than a year.
April 1, 2022
Perimeter Manages Merger in Virtual World
Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions, talks about securing $1.15 billion of development capital and, concurrently, merging with EverArc Holdings.
February 25, 2022
Paul Larson highlights real estate trends investors should watch in 2022
Larson Financial Holdings CEO Paul Larson talks about his company's 2021 in real estate, the trends that affected the market then, and how he sees real estate investment playing out in 2022.
January 27, 2022
What To Do With The Family Business
HBM Holdings' Mike DeCola, along with Clayton Capital Partners' Kevin Short and First Bank Center for Family-Owned Businesses' Joe Ambrose discuss options for family businesses, look at the macroeconomic factors that are influencing owners' decisions to sell or stay put, and explore case studies from those who have developed successful solutions.
November 24, 2021
DYOPATH CEO Rob Koch Offers His Sell-Side M&A Perspective
DYOPATH CEO Rob Koch, along with WILsquare Capital's Drew Caylor, CIBC's Greg Gorlinski and Polsinelli's Paul Klug talk about what sellers should consider when dealmaking during the pandemic.
October 29, 2021
Creating liquidity events through IPOs and SPACs
Odeon Capital's Eric Gomberg, along with BDO USA’s Meg Kellogg and Scott Hendon, as well as Armstrong Teasdale LLP’s John Sten, talk about creating liquidity events through IPOs and SPACs.
September 24, 2021
Weighing organic vs inorganic growth
CK Power's Clayton Costello and PFI Holding Company's John Dolan, along with Commerce Bank's Tom Harmon, RSM US LLP's William Spizman and Capital For Business' Tim Buening on how acquisitions fit into a growth strategy.
August 27, 2021
How Jim Sramek came to sell Midwest Equipment Company to his employees
Midwest Equipment Company's Jim Sramek shares his story of transferring his company to and ESOP.
July 21, 2021
Quick prep and deal killers
Bethany Michel, managing director at the Harbour Group; Vic Richey, CEO of ESCO; Bo Butters, principal at CLA; and John Chalus, director – corporate advisory, at BMO Harris Bank; talk about deal preparedness.
June 18, 2021
Jonathan Herrick pursues growth at Benchmark
Jonathan Herrick, a St. Louis entrepreneur who’s now CEO of Benchmark, talks about its most recent acquisition of Contacts+, as well as what’s in store for 2021.
May 7, 2021
Thomas Hillman and Jim Eberlin share lessons learned
Thomas Hillman, managing partner at Lewis & Clark Capital, and Jim Eberlin, founder and CEO of TopOPPS offer their perspective and approach to dealmaking, as well as some of the lessons they’ve learned over their decades-long careers.
April 8, 2021
Matthew Porter’s post-transaction advice for entrepreneurs
Matthew Porter, Vice Chairman at Contegix and Senior Strategic Advisor at Invisibly, offers advice on post-transaction life, as well an overview of the transaction that led him to these realizations.
February 12, 2021
Truck Centers’ John Hopkins on moving the family business forward
While he expects to participate as an acquirer, Truck Centers’ John Hopkins is structuring the family business so that selling remains the furthest thing from the family's mind.
December 3, 2020
Jeff Hewitt on finding the right buyer for the situation
Jeff Hewitt explains how his former company strengthened itself internally by working with a financial buyer, a move that enabled it to be sold from a position of increased strength a few years later.
November 4, 2020
RSM’s Amy Rudolph offers acquisition strategies for success
RSM's Amy Rudolph soffers tips for serial acquirers on creating an acquisition playbook that leads to consistent success.
October 9, 2020
Mark Mantovani says sell your company's future to buyers
Mark Mantovani, principal of Mantovani Holdings LLC, on how to know when it's the right time to sell a business.
June 19, 2020
Clayton Capital’s Kevin Short on how buyers are jumping over deal hurdles with tech
Kevin Short, managing director of Clayton Capital Partners, talks about how buyer diligence has adapted to transacting during a pandemic.
May 21, 2020
Buyers are eager, sellers hesitate says Vincent J. Garozzo
Vincent J. Garozzo, of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale P.C., talks deal flow, the seller mindset and the position of capital institutions.
April 24, 2020
Leery investors = More Scrutiny
Podcast: CLA partner Bo Butters sees increased scrutiny on deals in the wake of the coronavirus, but he also expects there will be operators who are unwilling to untangle their businesses from the mess caused by the pandemic, creating opportunities for buyers.
March 13, 2020
How Glenn Kraft came to the decision to sell G2N
When Glenn Kraft started thinking about his personal post-G2N financial future, he began a process to explore what he might get for his company, who might be interested, and what to do if the answers were nothing and no one.
February 28, 2020
Dealmakers Conference Photos
The Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark was the site of the biggest CEO-focused dealmakers event in St. Louis on Feb. 23. The Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, presented by U.S. Bank, featured panel discussions with some of St. Louis' top dealmakers, as well as extensive networking opportunities to meet with entrepreneurs, investors and advisers who make deals happen in Greater St. Louis.
February 13, 2020
At Gateway Blend, Kasey Grelle digs in to acquisitions
With Kasey Grelle at the helm of digital media company Gateway Blend — which owns and operates a portfolio of more than 14 websites that each month reach more than 120 million users — the company has a CEO ready to roll up her sleeves when it comes to acquisitions.
February 13, 2020
2020 Dealmaker of the Year Awards
Smart Business Dealmakers is recognizing some top deals and dealmakers in the St. Louis region. Here are the 2020 Dealmaker of the Year Award winners!
January 10, 2020
How HBM Works With CEOs To Spur Growth
Andrew Fulford discusses HBM Holdings' expectations for operators and their role in dealmaking.
January 9, 2020
Capital-raising tips any business can learn from
Coolfire Solutions CEO Don Sharp talks about raising capital, nurturing investor relationships and what should be understood when faced with the decision of whether, or whether not, to take on outside capital.
January 8, 2020
Successful Integration Requires Upfront Planning
Sean Morris talks about how he prepared Pulse Therapeutics for a merger, and worked to maintain value for everyone involved.
December 5, 2019
Deal Us In
Business owners can’t afford to ignore M&A — even if they’re not actively looking to buy or sell. That’s because competitors are out scooping up a new technology, diversifying into new geographies, raising growth capital, and implementing long-term exit plans that help them run their companies better.
December 4, 2019
Thompson Street's Jack Senneff: The Ins And Outs Of Deal Prep
Thompson Street Capital Partners Managing Director Jack Senneff offers his perspective on deal readiness — what owners should do, and not worry so much about doing — ahead of a potential transaction.
December 3, 2019
How Maxine Clark Financed Build-A-Bear
Build-A-Bear Workshop founder Maxine Clark talks about how she raised the capital — both financial and intellectual — to grow the retail chain and eventually take it public.
December 2, 2019
Process Control's Bill Morgan offers an M&A education to owner-operators
The way Bill Morgan sees it, he’s an operator, not an M&A guy. But the truth is, he’s both.