In representing an owner during either the selling process or in the pursuit of alternatives to selling such as an InHouse Recap, Valufinder goes through a series of steps utilizing a number of tested techniques and marketing strategies designed to maximize value, while assuring the owner discretion and confidentiality. Therefore, in order to avoid redundancy in this material we will focus our presentation on the Selling Process and invite inquiries about Valufinder's process for creating alternatives to selling. Basically an owner has two options: One-On-One Negotiations and The Controlled Auction. Both options have their own unique strengths and are discussed below.

My firm had already sold a company with Valufinder's assistance and they had remained in contact with us about some of our other holdings. When we had a smaller division to divest, we decided to sell it ourselves and contacted Valufinder. Other than a small group of possible strategic buyers, we did not know the current market of buyers and Valufinder offered to help us identify additional buyers. They simply did an outstanding job. Not only did they introduce us to a superior group of aggressive buyers, Valufinder then went on to assist and coordinate the exchange of materials, follow up, and negotiations to make sure that the process maintained its momentum. I would commend Valufinder to anyone in the business of mergers & acquisitions. - Derek Kirk
Mergers & Acquisitions
Imperial Chemical Industries

One-On-One Negotiations

It is very important to note that a full auction process may not always be desirable or appropriate. When an owner has been approached by a synergistic buyer willing to make the owner a handsome offer based on the combination of the entities, then a very discreet negotiation may be the most appropriate. A full auction may also not be desirable when the owner is concerned about any of the following: absolute confidentiality; need for a speedy closing; a limited number of superior buyers; a need for a partner with very specific operating synergies; a specific type of partner to structure a complex or unique deal; or, when a large number of buyers parading through their operations could be very disruptive to the business or to employee morale. In any of these circumstances, the owner should consider having discussions with only a handful of carefully selected buyers and not conducting an auction.

The Controlled Auction

In a controlled auction, a carefully prepared package of information (an offering memorandum) about your company is presented on a confidential basis to a group of carefully qualified potential acquirers (previously approved by the owner) to elicit a number of generous offers from which an owner may choose.

In the pages linked below, we provide a summary of the meticulous way in which Valufinder conducts the various stages of the controlled auction process, which is always according to the needs of the individual company, its characteristics, and the owner's personal goals.

• Preparing to Sell (Proper Timing, Evaluation & Valuation, Determining a Price Range, etc.)
• Identifying Buyers (Locating Appropriate Buyers, Identification, Selection)
• Coordinating Negotiations (Contacting Potential Buyers, Coordination and Follow Through, Advisement and Negotiations)
• Evaluating Offers (Assessing Alternatives, Documentation)
• Additional Considerations (Confidentiality, Corporate Policies, Fees)