Transitioning a business to the next owner is one of the most important events in an entrepreneur’s lifetime. The success or failure of this experience is directly related to how well you understand and handle a host of personal, business, and financial issues related to your business transition. Missing one step in the process can often mean leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table or even sinking a deal.
The professionals at The CHRISTMAN Group have helped clients successfully resolve these issues hundreds of times during their careers. Our experience can make a big difference for you.

The CHRISTMAN Group’s Business Transition Planning process is designed to help business owners identify which direction to take given each owner's personal and financial objectives. Our specific recommendations include:

• When to Business Transition the business
  
• The pros and cons of different Business Transition strategies
  
• The current fair market value for the business
  
• Options for enhancing the value of the business prior to a sale
  
• How to structure the sale to maximize the proceeds you receive
  
• How to minimize the tax consequences of an Business Transition.

Business is like Life. Both benefit from vision, planning and execution.
At The CHRISTMAN Group we specialize in working with entrepreneurs to help them formulate a statement of personal, business, and financial goals. Once that statement of goals is defined, we are proud of our ability to work with dynamic individuals to help them make those goals a reality.

We examine and help articulate the business owner’s goals for his or her:

• Personal future
  
• Retirement
  
• Company
  
• Family
  
• Employees
  
• Charitable giving
  
• Estate

All of these goals are then integrated into each of the other steps in the Business Transition Planning process, and establish what steps are in the best interest of our client.

Company Analysis

We work closely with your management team to collect the critical details and insights that only they possess. Once that information is on the table we begin to assess your company’s strengths and weaknesses.

Our conclusions are then presented as part of the final Business Transition Planning Report. These conclusions then become an integral part of our Business Valuation Analysis and our Strategic Recommendations.

Business Valuation

At The CHRISTMAN Group a detailed business valuation is an integral part of the Business Transition Planning process. Our valuations are designed to be comprehensive, yet easy for you and your advisors to use and understand.

The CHRISTMAN Group’s business valuation report features:

• Three different valuation approaches
  
• Income
  
• Market
  
• Asset
  
• Detailed narrative and analysis and easy to read schedules and graphs that present information in a user-friendly format.
  
• A comparison of the financial performance of the client’s company versus the financial performance of other companies in the same industry.
  
• Detailed information (including the price and terms) about the sales of similar companies.

Value Analysis Services

As part of the Business Transition Planning process we will develop a detailed analysis of 54 value drivers in your company and present you with an action plan for maximizing the value of the client company prior to sale or transfer.

Some businesses require no "tweaking", others require several years of fine tuning in order to maximize their value. Our trained professionals help "coach" business owners through the process of value enhancement. We act as:

• Mentors
  
• Sounding Boards
  
• Outside Resource Providers
  
• Facilitators, and Coaches

We help our clients maximize the value of their business before deciding to sell.
In many cases this process has added millions of dollars to the final sales price.

M & A Sales Process

The sale, merger or other disposition of middle-market companies, from early stage strategic planning to final transaction closing, is at the core of The Christman Group’s advisory services.

The Christman Group represents owners of private company, private equity groups, and private and public corporations in both sell-side and buy-side M&A engagements.

From our initial engagement on an assignment, our team of professionals assist clients in:

• evaluating strategic alternatives
  
• developing key value drivers of the transaction
  
• preparing detailed confidential offering materials
  
• identifying and qualifying potential buyers or sellers, both foreign and domestic
  
• driving the transaction to a successful close

Our bankers have over 150 year of combined experience in dealing with the issues and complexities associated with completing M&A assignments.

While most investment bankers are focused on the transaction, we are focused on our clients. We define a successful transaction as one that satisfies the personal, business, financial, and family needs of the business owner. That may include a great deal more than just delivering the highest possible value for a company. To make sure that we deliver successful transactions for every client, we follow the process.

Personal Goal Formulation - Identify each client’s unique financial and personal objectives and then tailor a set of services that addresses the client’s short and long-term goals. A successful transaction is a lot like life. Both benefit from vision, planning and careful execution.

Company Analysis – Prepare a financial and strategic assessment of the Company and evaluate its competitive position in its industry.

Business Valuation – Complete a comprehensive valuation of the business to establish its current fair market value.

Value Enhancement Options – A detailed series of recommendations about how to enhance the value of the business prior to an exit.

Strategic Options - An analysis of different exit options available to the owner.

Marketing Program - Implement a marketing program for the company that solicits interest from appropriate financial and strategic buyers in the United States and around the world.

Post-Sale Planning – Assistance for business owners interested in exploring what they want to do after the sale of the business.

Business Services

Our primary goal is to help you maximize the value of your business. We define value as “unrealized wealth”. Many entrepreneurs operate their businesses to create comfortable lifestyles for themselves and their families. These business owners are not necessarily focused on creating value in their business.

To help you maximize the value of your business, we start by developing a detailed analysis of the 54 value drivers that affect the value of your company. This analysis looks at the strengths and weakness of your business from a buyer’s perspective and then examines the impact each has on the value of your business. We then present you with an action plan for maximizing the value of the client company prior to sale or transfer. We do this by focusing on those value drivers that (1) need improvement, (2) have a direct impact on value, and (3) are relevant to your personal goals and objectives.

Some businesses require no "tweaking", others require several years of fine tuning in order to maximize their value. Our trained professionals help "coach" business owners through the process of value enhancement.

When a client need value enhancement services we act as:

• Mentors
  
• Sounding Boards
  
• Outside Resource Providers
  
• Facilitators, and
  
• Coaches

If we can not provide you with the needed services in house, we have an extensive network of other technical professionals who are prepared to roll up their sleeves and help you do what needs to be done. We help our clients maximize the value of their business before they sell. In many cases this process has added millions of dollars to the final sales price.