A glance at last Thursday's front page of the AFR and you might be forgiven for thinking ethical business is dead. The calls for Richard Goyder to resign amid claims of unethical customer treatment with the “Ghost Flights” scandal and the illegal sacking of 1,700 workers at Qantas. The leaking of confidential information from treasury to its clients by PwC and we haven’t even turned a page yet!

A well-conceived exit plan is indispensable for business owners and entrepreneurs looking to reap the rewards of their hard work

Successful business growth and sustainability rely on effective financial management, ensuring resources are allocated efficiently, risks are managed, and long-term

Long hours and a heavy workload seem to be the norm in professional service firms, that may not change anytime soon, but what does appear to be changing is that increased flexibility toward staff is now becoming the norm.

The global M&A Market in the first half of 2023 saw deal values drift lower especially in Q2, while the number of announced completed deals saw near record highs. So, deal volume was up whilst overall transaction values are down.

The terms “Exit Ready” and “Investor Ready” have become very popular when discussing what might need to happen in the period running up to when an owner might wish to merge or exit their business.

With all the talk of interest rates and a possible slow-down, we thought it was about time we looked at where the potential for exciting growth is happening. If you regularly read our content, you will know how we love research and the insights it can unlock. We also think it’s the basis for sound decision-making and frequently utilise it in our strategy work with clients.

Selling your business is an important and significant life event. Few people get to build an enterprise that somebody else wishes to own and will pay a significant sum for.. Often, it’s the most valuable material asset you own and is the result of a lifetime’s work. When it comes time to sell or merge, it makes sense to do it right.

An exclusivity period is normally agreed upon between the vendor and the buyer once the headline indicative terms are agreed. These terms are typically set subject to due diligence and contract. Whilst these terms are rarely binding (although there are exceptions), they do set a detailed framework for what is going to happen as parties move toward a completed deal.

I was struck by the recent article in the Australian Financial Review by Yolanda Redrup, who quoted a frustrated CEO of Infomedia saying he had “closed the door on tyre kickers”. I have witnessed this frustration many times, where vendors become sick of so-called buyers who turn out to be not serious acquirers.