Mergers & Acquisitions

For certain businesses—typically those with strong financial performance, industry leadership, or proprietary advantages—we offer an enhanced Strategic & Structured M&A Process. This approach leverages a more curated and competitive buyer environment to unlock premium outcomes. This phase is selective and tailored, used when a broader market auction isn’t ideal and a targeted, relationship-driven strategy delivers better results.


Key elements:

  • Development of a highly targeted strategic buyer list, focusing on synergistic acquirers, private equity groups with a platform fit, or industry players seeking growth.
  • Creation and delivery of an M&A Process Letter outlining key deal parameters, buyer expectations, timelines, and response protocols.
  • Tight management of confidentiality, communications, and buyer engagement to create competitive tension and control over deal flow.
  • Coordination of buyer meetings, responses to indications of interest (IOIs), and transition into final negotiations and due diligence.


Benefits of this approach:

  • Faster time to close, as aligned buyers are prioritized early and engaged decisively.
  • Stronger offers, driven by fit, strategic synergies, and readiness.
  • Increased certainty and control, as timelines and expectations are defined from the outset.


This process is ideal when your business has a clear strategic narrative, a specific buyer type in mind, or the goal of minimizing time in-market while maximizing valuation.


Below is an overview of what a structured M&A process looks like:

A Proven Process That Delivers Results

A targeted and structured M&A process built around a curated list of strategic buyers can unlock significantly higher value, speed up timelines, and deliver a more aligned and secure outcome. This process combines precision, confidentiality, and competitive tension, driven by a structured timeline and a clear M&A Process Letter. The results speak for themselves.

20-30%

Higher Multiples
Strategic buyers can pay 20% to 30% more than financial buyers, recognizing synergies and strategic advantages not reflected in standard market comps.

25-40%

Faster Closings
Structured processes often lead to 25% to 40% faster deal closures, thanks to defined timelines, clear expectations, and better-prepared buyers.

20%

Greater Deal Certainty
Strategically targeted buyers are 50% more likely to progress from IOI to LOI, with structured approaches reducing deal fallout during diligence by up to 20%.

2.5x

Better Cultural Fit
Sellers using targeted outreach are 2.5x more likely to find a culturally aligned buyer, improving employee retention and transition success post-sale.

Merger & Acquisition Services

FCBB M & A Advisors

Senior Associate Advisors offer a personal approach for lower middle market M&A, guiding you through 8 Steps to sell your business.

  1. The Initial Consultation: Your FCBB Advisor will listen and work with you to help you define your goals, compile needed documentation, discuss financial modeling and obtain financing letters of interest.
  2. Market Price Analysis Valuation: A thorough review of your financial statements will be conducted to provide a Market Price Analysis report for the valuation of your business. We will carefully review our findings with you to determine if the current market value will meet your expectations.
  3. Marketing for Results: We’re not interested in listing your business, we’re interested in selling it! Once a determination of value has been discussed and a price set, the creation of marketing materials will immediately begin. Your FCBB Advisor will develop a marketing strategy and confidential business profiles aimed at highlighting your business history, future predictions and your business strengths. Using these materials, we will discretely search for the appropriate buyer, both within our current database and outbound marketing focused on strategic buyers for your business.
  4. Creating the Buyer Pool while maintaining confidentiality: Once buyers are identified and they have expressed a substantial interest level based upon general information (without the disclosure of your company name and address), they will be asked to execute a non-disclosure agreement. Once signed, the buyer will be provided with the initial confidential business profile. If their interest continues, the buyer will then be asked to provide proof of funds or source of funds. If the funds appear appropriate the buyer will then be provided with a full confidential business profile package on your business.
  5. Buyer & Seller: The buyer has by now received enough information to determine whether a face-to-face meeting or conference call is warranted. If he or she wishes to move forward, meetings and/or conference calls are scheduled. Meetings can either take place at the business location, typically outside of business hours, or at the FCBB Advisor’s office.
  6. Fielding Offers: Expressions of interest may be presented in several different forms. Two of the most common are the LOI (Letter of Intent) and the Purchase Agreement. Each have their advantages and disadvantages based upon the number of interested buyers and their respective offering abilities. Keep in mind, there may be several iterations prior to a full acceptance.
  7. Offer Acceptance and Due Diligence: Once an offer is accepted, the buyer’s due diligence period will begin. The due diligence process may involve several players, depending on factors such as buyer sophistication and the type of business being sold. These individuals typically include the buyer’s CPA (due diligence consultant) and/or his or her attorney.
  8. Due Diligence Release and Closing: Once the due diligence and contingencies have been released, preparations for closing will be made by a neutral third-party entity. This entity is either a closing attorney or an escrow officer, depending on the state your business is located in. At closing, the proceeds (funds) are wired to you as the seller and the ownership documents are wired to the buyer for ownership transition.