Benchmark International Blog

• Businesses Are Just Like Classic Cars April 6, 2020
  Anyone who owns or has owned a classic car will attest that it’s a very special relationship and one not dissimilar to owning a business. Classic cars and businesses are assets that relatively few have the privilege of owning, they take time to build or acquire, have personality, and generally represent a sizeable investment and […]
• What The Heck is M&A? April 3, 2020
  Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) involve the consolidation of ownership of companies through financial transactions. They serve as vital components of business strategies, allowing companies to innovate, evolve, and sometimes even survive. You may hear the terms "mergers" and "acquisitions" used interchangeably, but they are two fundamentally different types of transactions. Both processes are comprised of […]
• 5 Ways To Determine It's Time To Explore Your Company's Exit Options April 1, 2020
  As a business owner, you will someday reach the point when it is time to start thinking about your exit strategy. But how do you know when that point is? Below are five key questions you can ask yourself to help determine if you are ready to begin planning your exit. 1. How is the […]
• Valuing Companies – 7 Pointers From 30 Years’ Experience in the UK March 31, 2020
  Nick Hulme (Managing Director, Manchester UK) summarises his recent article, ‘7 Pointers from 30 Years’ Experience in the UK’, in this short blog.1 - It’s Not Just About the Numbers!Although the normal formula for valuing a company involves multiplying ‘earnings’ by a chosen ‘multiple’, a company is only worth what a buyer is prepared to […]
• Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Apex Training & Development Limited and Interact Training Group Limited March 26, 2020
  Benchmark International is delighted to announce the transaction between training and development provider, Apex and Rockpool Investments-backed Interact Training Group. Established in 1993, Apex is a multi-award-winning training technology business, providing learning solutions that specialise in service, sales, account management, negotiation, management, coaching, and leadership. The business has offices in Falkirk, Plymouth, London and Dubai. […]
• Benchmark International Has Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Becker Communications, Inc. DBA BCI Integrated Solutions and Midwest Alarm Company, Inc. March 26, 2020
  Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Becker Communications, Inc. DBA BCI Integrated Solutions and Midwest Alarm Company, Inc. BCI Integrated Solutions is a Florida-based company celebrating 20 years in service. They offer integrated solutions in security, audiovisual, fire & life safety, data & network cabling, and healthcare communications. The company mainly services markets […]
• 2020 Outlook For The Global Agriculture Sector March 24, 2020
  Geopolitical Factors Mergers and acquisitions activity in the agriculture sector was bustling with billion-dollar deals in the years of 2017 and 2018. An M&A slowdown occurred in 2019 and spilled into 2020, largely due to uncertainty caused by global politics. The trade war between the world’s two largest economies, the United States and China, has […]
• Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Pebble IT Limited and Optimity Limited March 23, 2020
  Benchmark International is delighted to announce the sale of managed IT services provider, Pebble IT, to internet service provider, Optimity. Pebble IT offers a vast array of flexible IT services to clients deriving from a range of sectors, such as branding and design, market research, recruitment and architecture. The company has grown revenues 94% over […]
• One Certainty about this Virus – Your Taxes Will Go Up March 20, 2020
  There remain innumerable uncertainties about the spreading pandemic. However, one thing became clear over the last five days – governments are opening their coffers to stem the economic dislocations caused by the many forms of “social distancing.” With air travel curtailed, stores closing, and events cancelled, central banks and executive branches are swinging into action […]
• Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Aventura Magazine and Palm Beach Media Group March 19, 2020
  Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction between Aventura Magazine, asset of Stern Bloom Media, Inc. (“Stern Bloom”) and Palm Beach Media Group (“Palm Beach Media”). Stern Bloom is an integrated print publishing company in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Its flagship lifestyle magazine, Aventura has established itself within South Florida as the source for entertaining editorial, […]
• How Long Should The Seller Stay On After The Sale March 18, 2020
  When an individual buys a business, it may be assumed that the buyer will be taking over the leadership of that company. In these cases, we most often see the seller stay on for no more than six months, and also in a part-time capacity. In the less common situation, in which the individual buyer […]
• COVID-19 Update March 17, 2020
  A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHAIRMAN As COVID-19 continues to impact the globe, we want to ensure that our clients are fully informed on how Benchmark International is positioned and prepared to make sure that we continue to service our clients during this challenging period. Benchmark International have been closely monitoring COVID-19 since the beginning of […]
• Entrepreneurs’ Relief – What’s the Big Deal? March 17, 2020
  As a business owner looking to sell the worst has been confirmed by Rishi Sunak in his Budget – or has it? Before the Budget, it was rumoured that Entrepreneurs’ Relief was going to be abolished completely, yet instead it has been reduced from £10m to £1m.     Previously, Entrepreneurs’ Relief reduced the rate […]
• 7 Quick Tips About Growing Your Business March 13, 2020
  1. Build the Right TeamCreating growth for your company is achieved by having certain goals, and meeting those goals starts with having the right team in place to get it done. Seek out self-starters and highly motivated people who are not afraid to pitch unique ideas or put in extra effort to make things happen. […]
• Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail – A Brexit Planning Guide for Businesses March 11, 2020
  Following the UK officially leaving the EU on the 31st January, the UK is in a transition period until the end of 2020, where the government will aim to secure a trade deal before the deadline. During this period, essentially nothing will change, but it provides business owners with much-needed time to prepare their businesses […]
• Benchmark International Has Successfully Facilitated the Transaction of Professional Development Psycle (PTY) LTD T/A Dale Carnegie Training March 10, 2020
  Benchmark International has successfully facilitated the transaction of Professional Development Psycle (PTY) LTD t/a Dale Carnegie Training. Dale Carnegie & Associates is a global training organisation established in the USA in 1912 by the company’s namesake Mr. Dale Carnegie; a prolific author and public speaker, widely considered to be the greatest pioneer of the self-development […]
• Why You Should Consider Buying A Business After Retirement March 9, 2020
  I had the opportunity to meet Linda and Frank this week at a networking event. What I heard from Linda was a reoccurring theme, “Frank has been driving me crazy since he retired in October. He needs to find a job.” As M&A professionals, we often see people who retire from a career and decide […]
• The Anatomy Of A Letter Of Intent March 6, 2020
  In the exciting and jargon filled word of mergers and acquisitions, you may often find reference being made to a letter of intent. But what exactly is a letter of intent (LOI)? Given the importance of an LOI it is crucial to answering this question, as well as other common questions we come across when […]
• Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction between Dempsey, Dilling & Associates and Thomas & Hutton March 5, 2020
  Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction between Dempsey, Dilling, & Associates to Thomas & Hutton.  Thomas & Hutton (T&H), a Southeast-based, privately-held, professional consulting and engineering firm, is pleased to announce the addition of Smyrna, Tennessee-based Dempsey, Dilling & Associates (DDA) to the team. With offices in Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Nashville, Tennessee, […]
• Benchmark International Successfully Facilitated the Transaction Between Industrial Applications to Rogers & Morgan March 4, 2020
  Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction between Industrial Applications to Rogers & Morgan in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Industrial Applications (“IA”), is a Knoxville-based sole proprietorship with a rich history dating back to 1938 when it was first established by G.W. Sutton, a retired engineer. The current form of IA is a specialized steam distributor focusing on […]