Stillwater Capital

03/16/2022

As we continue our Steps to Selling a Business series, we turn now to the art of negotiation.

Negotiation strives to keep the power on your side.

Let’s be clear: keeping the power on your side is not the same as getting everything you want 100% of the time. Constructing a deal is much more than that.

Read this article to understand the two foundations of good negotiation. https://stillwatercapital.ca/two-foundations-of-good-negotiation/

When we work with clients, we do a lot of heavy lifting in thinking, analysis, explaining, and positioning. We have found that buyers respond very well to this effort and demonstration of professionalism. This is extremely helpful as we begin to understand what motivates and is essential to the buye...

03/10/2022

Stillwater Capital is pleased to announce that DTA Services Ltd. has been acquired by AFS Logistics.

Jordan Nix led the deal team in the transaction with the support of Arjaan De Visser, CPA.

Read the full press release here: https://stillwatercapital.ca/blog-post/stillwater-advises-dta-services-ltd-in-its-sale-to-afs-logistics/

03/03/2022

Stillwater Capital is pleased to announce that Hi-Tec Industries Ltd. has been acquired by Atlas Engineered Products Ltd. (TSXV:AEP).

Congratulations to Jordan Nix and Matt Harrison who led the deal team in the transaction.

Read the full press release here: https://www.atlasengineeredproducts.com/news/atlas-engineered-products-announces-acquisition-of-hi-tec-industries-in-british-columbia

12/17/2021

Stillwater Capital is pleased to announce that J.E. Strong Ltd., Canada’s largest ServiceMaster Clean franchisee, has been acquired by Cleanesque Solutions Inc.

Congratulations to Don Pagnutti who led the deal team in the transaction.

Read the full press release here: https://stillwatercapital.ca/blog-post/stillwater-advises-jestrong-in-its-sale-to-cleanesque-solutions/

Stillwater Capital, a leading M&A advisory firm, is pleased to announce that it served as exclusive advisor to J.E. Strong Ltd., Canada’s largest ServiceMaster Clean franchisee, in its sale to Cleanesque Solutions Inc. in December 2021.

11/11/2021

Cutting the buyers who aren't as likely to close will save you a lot of otherwise wasted time. Your Advisors will help you make the next set of cuts based on valuation, deal structure, and the chemistry between you and a buyer. Read further: https://stillwatercapital.ca/choosing-buyers-for-your-shortlist-pt-2/

11/04/2021

In the process of cutting the list of potential buyers, there are four specific criteria you should use to help make the best decision for who gets on your shortlist for consideration. The first is the certainty of closing. You’ll have to read the article to learn the rest.

In terms of a shortlist, there isn’t a precise target, quota, or arbitrary goal, for example naming a top three or reducing your pool of candidates by half.

10/26/2021

Our next step in the sale process is to require top buyers to submit a Letter of Intent. This is the moment we will likely see our least-preferred prospects step away of their own accord with little effort on our part, while the most interested will show their real interest.

Your Management Visits are over. You are sick of hotel boardroom coffee, dreaming in pre-scripted responses to questions about your run-rate analysis, and—if you’re like most—may feel a little exhausted, talked-out, and out of adrenaline. 

10/06/2021

Remember that after management meetings, the people you move forward with will be final contenders. There are two goals we have during these meetings that keep the momentum moving towards closing. Read further to learn more: https://stillwatercapital.ca/the-end-goals-of-management-visits/

09/21/2021

We ask all our seller clients to be highly coachable during the week of management visits. It can be demanding (and possibly a little humbling), but being coachable is a necessary component of creating the best outcome as you sell your business.
Read our latest article to learn more: https://stillwatercapital.ca/being-coachable/

09/14/2021

Sellers can, at times, inadvertently sabotage their own progress during a management visit. Thankfully, though, our team is skilled at intervening to fix any problems that may arise. Please read this article to learn about four common missteps and how we manage them. https://stillwatercapital.ca/how-not-to-derail-a-management-visit/

09/08/2021

The management visit is the highlight of the market outreach phase; a lot is riding on our success here. These meetings often happen over a single week where you take the same well-rehearsed, multi-hour meeting over and over again. Learn more about your role in management meetings and how your Advisors support and navigate these moments alongside you: https://stillwatercapital.ca/management-visits-are-critical/

08/16/2021

The next step in narrowing down the list of potential buyers is the management visit. This is a critical opportunity to meet and test out the fit between you and a potential buyer.

Read further to learn more about these interactions and how your Advisor acts as both a gatekeeper and coach in these meetings. Stillwatercapital.ca/narrowing-the-field-pt-2