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Even as winter settles in, the M&A market is finally starting to thaw. 2025 opened with hesitation baked into every corner of the lower middle market. Deals were getting done, but only for companies that had cleared an unusually high readiness bar. Buyers had record levels of capital yet approached each transaction as if the downside risk...
Read MoreThe 2025 M&A market isn’t quiet, but it is selective. While the number of global private equity and venture deals is down nearly 6% year-over-year, the total value of those deals is up nearly 19%, according to S&P Global. That tells us one thing: fewer deals, higher premiums. Buyers are showing up. But only for the best-prepared
Read MoreMost business owners assume they will be ready to sell when the time comes. Profitability is strong. The team is capable. Customers are loyal. The number in their head feels reasonable. Generous, even. But in 2025, readiness is not a feeling. It is a discipline. Buyers are no longer rewarding potential; they are rewarding proof. And...
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