August 2018
MidMarket Talk: August 2018
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CM&AA 2018
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Obtain the most advanced credential illustrating the highest recognized standards of professional excellence for middle market corporate finance, advisory, and transaction service professionals in a collaborative, peer-driven learning environment. 

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September 24 - 28, 2018
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October 22 - 26, 2018
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Wednesday, September 12, 2018

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018

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Tuesday, September 18, 2018

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Thursday, September 20, 2018

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Thursday, September 27, 2018

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Thursday, October 25, 2018
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We Want To Hear From You!
Many of our members and contacts are accomplishing amazing things and we want to hear about it! This is a place for our readers to tell us about accomplishments and highlight your successes, so don't be shy! We are also interested in hearing about current events, newsworthy stories, and suggestions for ways that you would like to stay connected with The Alliance family.
New Tombstones Page is Now Live
By: Kelly Betzold,  Business Development Associate

In order to better recognize the successful closing of deals and opportunities by our Members, we have recently updated the Tombstones page on The Alliance's website. The page has been cleaned up and a consistent style for posting Tombstones has been adopted.  Our goal was to create a more visually appealing way to display the Tombstones as a testament to the successes of you, our Members. 
If you have recently closed a deal and would like to have it listed on our Tombstones page, please let our Chapter Coordinator, Kat Hoke know by emailing her the details at khoke@amaaonline.org. Just be sure to provide us with the date the deal was finished, who was involved (if the particular companies can be named) and what type of deal it was. A link to a press release would work, too. Once your Tombstone has been posted to our website, we'll also share it to our network via Twitter.  
 
On the hunt for new opportunities? New Deals/Opportunities are available.
Dealmakers Planning for a Successful Merger or Acquisition: Aligning The Management Group (Part 1)
By: Gary W. Craig, Managing Partner & COO, Vector Group, Inc

Last month In MidMarket Talk, Dealmakers Planning for a Successful Integration: The Challenge of Identifying and Retaining Key Talent Once the Deal is Final we took a step back and described essential steps in identifying and retaining key talent for the new organization. The Executive Group made several critical decisions on moving forward with the new organization. This month we move forward to discuss the alignment of the Management Group; this follows the alignment of the Executive Group. If Dealmakers are true advisors, they need to advise their client on the criticality of aligning the Management Group.
 
This article on Aligning the Management Group will be in two parts. This first part will focus on the All Managers Session and how to facilitate those sessions. Part 2 (next month) will show what to do with what comes out of the sessions for management to act for the accomplishment of the strategic intent of the merger or acquisition.
 
The Management Group includes those ranging from senior management to first-line supervisors and this group is the driving force for organizational behavior. The Executive Group can set the direction for the new organization, but middle management drives the culture. In a new organization combined of two (or more) organizations, effectively leveraging the Management Group is critical for integrating the cultures. Continue Reading>>
Why Sell Your Business Now
By: Eric Allison, Partner, Golden One Ventures

Business growth mentality has transitioned from building to buying in the recent years because of globalization, technological advancements, low-cost of capital and highly competitive conditions in various industry sectors. 2017 saw $3.7 trillion made in global M&A deals, having the tech industry making the majority transactions. Interestingly, even other industries have begun to understand the advantages of acquiring smaller businesses in order to remain competitive. 2018 is expected to see an even higher number of deals as companies are eager to seek opportunities that boost inorganic growth.

Companies with strong profit margins, niche market, and solid management teams will continue to be highly sought after by strategic buyers for deal-making opportunities this year. Valuations continue to increase steadily as industries continue to experience a robust seller's market with activity from both domestic and international buyers.

Since operating environments across most industry sectors are at an uptick, an increasing number of firm owners within the IT, Healthcare and Staffing industries seek to take advantage of their current strong performance by profiting through either recapitalization or a sale. There is a noticeable increase in seller interest as advancing operating results via Mergers & Acquisitions make targets more easily attainable. Several business owners are also noticing the potential risk of holding on to their firms for too long that could lead to missing the open window of opportunity for completing an M&A transaction. Continue Reading>>
Market Trends 2017/18: The Jobs Act
By: Rebecca DiStefano, Greenberg Traurig, P.A.

The U.S. economy was spotlighted during an unprecedented national Presidential election in 2016 with campaign debate focused on the preservation and initiation of new jobs. This topic, of course, is not a new one. In response to the economic malaise following the 2009 financial crisis, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012 (112 P.L. 106, 126 Stat. 306) (JOBS Act), signed into law by President Obama, on April 5, 2012, implemented striking changes to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (Securities Act). 

The JOBS Act mandated that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relax historically rigid financial regulations to enable fledgling start-ups and developmental companies to advertise their ideas and solicit individuals for investments in emergent enterprises. The statute also provided an on-ramp of greater disclosure flexibility for smaller companies to transition to public companies. 

The economic rhetoric of the 2016 presidential election raises the question as to whether these changes made a difference. How is the JOBS Act playing out in reality? Based on economic studies conducted by the SEC, unregistered exempt securities offerings have eclipsed registered offering activity in the years following the financial crisis and passage of the JOBS Act. Continue Reading>>
When Selling Your Business Causes An Identity Crisis
By: Frank Williamson, Founder & Managing Partner, Oaklyn Consulting 

When you run a business, you're tied to it both financially and personally. The financial side is obvious: Your company's success or failure ultimately rides on your shoulders, affecting not just your personal livelihood but that of your employees. The emotional aspect of being a CEO is something that's not discussed very much. When you devote yourself to your company's success over a period of years, working long hours and thinking about it even in your downtime, it affects how you view yourself.
 
When your personal identity becomes tied to your role as a business owner, what happens if you receive an offer to sell? Can you envision a future for yourself that doesn't involve your business?
 
In my work guiding businesses through mergers and acquisitions, my clients include various types of owners who are defined by their jobs to some degree. For each of them, a bit of soul-searching is required to decide whether selling their company is the right choice. If you're a business owner, perhaps you'll recognize something familiar in one of these examples.   Continue Reading>>
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The Alliance of M&A Advisors® 
(The Alliance) is the premiere International Organization serving the educational and resource needs of the middle market M&A profession. Formed in 1998 to bring together CPAs, attorneys and other experienced corporate financial investors and advisors, the Alliance's 1200+ professional services firms - including some of the most highly recognized leaders in the industry-draw upon their combined transactional expertise to better serve the needs of their middle market clients worldwide.