Mergin' Mondays

Another week has gone by, let's check out the latest industry news:

The red carpet is being rolled up and the stars are hanging up their dresses and ties. What else got hung up this week? Well for one, the Sprint - MetroPCS deal. Looks like the pursuit of another platform to help boost their 4G bandwidth is still ongoing.

Warren Buffett reassured shareholders that Berkshire Hathaway will be in good hands - but hasn't quite said who's. In a New York Times article article, Buffett also makes it clear: he is not leaving just yet. The article shows how open and honest Buffett is. At one point, he even admits his being wrong about the housing market turn-around. Mr. Buffett uses this interview to show that he still calm, cool, collected - and capable of continuing to run Berkshire Hathaway.

Amidst the heavy press of the Facebook IPO, fashion designer Kenneth Cole is shaking things up. While the world of finance has been focused on Mark Zuckerberg and the billions of dollars that the IPO would produce, Cole says that he wants take his clothing line private. “Recent market challenges have created a sharply competitive landscape, and I believe it is now more important than ever to embrace a more entrepreneurial perspective,” Mr. Cole wrote in a letter to the company’s board on Friday. If you're thinking about selling your business or would like to know how much it's worth, please contact Plethora Businesses by calling 714-255-8862 or emailing Rachel@PlethoraBusinesses.com

Wondering About When to Sell Your Business - Check out this Infographic

Courtesy of Warman Capital Thinking about selling your business? Contact Plethora Businesses at 714-255-8862 for more information!

Market Watch Wednesday!

With a holiday on Monday, we didn't have a chance to go over some of the interesting things that have taken place recently in the M&A World. Let's see what's going on: Billabong: Big news for surfers, Southern Californians and culture enthusiasts - Billabong announced their plans to sell part of the Nixon brand and close hundreds of stores. Selling to Trilantic Capital Partners, who are new to the industry, Billabong's plan is to reinvest in the Nixon brand, making it known around the globe. Two OC Manufacturers to merge: another local news story illustrates another merger, but this one hits a littler closer to home. Literally. An Irvine-based company has bought another plastics manufacturer, adding more money behind all of the plastic in Orange County, and no, we're not talking about credit cards. Amidst their Viking-ish characters and the pair of Alec Baldwin, it seems that Capital One is growing in size. The Fed has approved the sale of the online unit of ING Direct. Hopefully, this doesn't mean more Alec Baldwin commercials. Have you heard about an interesting merger or acquisition? We'd love to hear about it! Contact us at Rachel@PlethoraBusinesses.com

Announcing the Closed Sale of Pest/Termite Company - So Well Known, We Can't Release the Name!

Founded in 1982, this company specializes in industrial, residential and commercial pest control. Because of their exceptional service, they have an extremely high referral base, which accounts for nearly 40% of their annual revenues. With headquarters in North Orange County, they provide services to Orange, Los Angeles, as well as the Western side of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Screened and pre-qualified by Plethora Businesses, the buyer of this company is a private equity group with one of the principals as the buyer. Plethora Businesses is a leading M&A firm specializing in business sales, mergers, acquisitions and valuations. Offering senior-level attention from start-to-finish, Plethora Businesses is dedicated to developing creative solutions to achieve client objectives. For more information on completed transactions by Plethora Businesses, or a confidential consultation please contact George Lanza (George@PlethoraBusinesses.com) or Rachel Foster (Rachel@PlethoraBusinesses.com) or by calling (714) 255-8862.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: [Orange, CA} - George Lanza Elected as 2013 Chairman of the Board for the IBBA.

Nominated by his peers across the globe, George Lanza, CEO and founder of Plethora Businesses, located in Orange, CA, has been selected to be the 2013 Chair Elect for the International Business Brokers Association (IBBA), the world’s largest association of intermediaries. It was an incredible honor for George to have received the call from China, where the past IBBA chair is headquartered. George, who was also The M&A Source Chair 2009-2010, is excited to step into the same shoes as so many incredible and talented men have. George, a mergers and acquisitions advisor, author and instructor, is known for his dedication to his clients, expansive network, creative negotiating strategies and expertise in M&A. For more information on George or Plethora Businesses, please check their website at www.PlethoraBusinesses.com.

More Mergin' Mondays

Here's a quick glance at the world of M&A and how it affects us all. There's a sweet side to this savory deal: The Pringle's brand is up for sale and many think that Snyder-Lance will be placing a bid on the popular chip. A few more popular names have their ears perked at the Pringle's sale, proving that once this news pops, it just won't stop. For all of us professionals out there, the popular social networking site, LinkedIn, has some new networks as well. They just announced last week that they would be buying an SF-based start-up, Rapportive, but did not release the sale amount. Lastly, there are lots of updates regarding the infamous Yahoo.com drama. You can read all about it here. There's a lot to take in: lay-offs, hiring new c-level execs and selling their stake in Asian companies. If that doesn't sound like a big deal, the co-founder also left.

Business Owners, Negotiations and "Necessary Roughness"

Last night, we had the absolute pleasure of attending the NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) Orange County chapter in their monthly dinner seminar. It was incredible seeing a room filled with over 100 women (and a few men) representing a growing minority in the business world. After about an hour of networking and sharing with the group the kinds of services that Plethora Businesses provides (valuations, consultation, assisting in the selling of businesses and developing exit strategies), we were entertained and educated by the great Mimi Donaldson. Mimi's talk, as well as her book, Necessary Roughness was about the need to do business like football. You go in with a mission, you do the impossible and you stop when the whistle blows. She had us laughing, nearly to the point of tears, but also made many realize that women, especially strong women, have a hard time doing business, solely because they let their own emotions get in the way. Want to sell your business? Fantastic. But it's important to first know realistically how much it's worth. We can't stress enough the important of a valuation. Looking to develop and exit strategy? Make sure you plan it 3-5 years before you actually want to walk away. Some women are methodical planners, but like football, the need to be objective is required and often rough. Please check out Mimi's website and book. She's hilarious but also informative. She, like an objective M&A transaction adviser, can provide you with the wealth of knowledge needed to succeed.

Another Closing! International Freight Fowarder/Logistics Sells for over $20M!

Founded 34 years ago, this company specializes in time-sensitive and tailored freight solutions to customers both overseas and abroad. With headquarters in Los Angeles as well as offices in San Francisco and New York City, this company is known for their quality of work with clients in nutrition, oil and gas, engineering, entertainment and defense as well as high-tech industries. Screened and pre-qualified by Plethora Businesses, the buyer of this company is a private equity firm based in Florida who takes a disciplined approach with acquisitions, committing to long-term growth and prosperity. Plethora Businesses is a leading M&A firm specializing in business sales, mergers, acquisitions and valuations. Offering senior-level attention from start-to-finish, Plethora Businesses is dedicated to developing creative solutions to achieve client objectives. For more information on completed transactions by Plethora Businesses, or a confidential consultation please contact George Lanza or Rachel Foster at (714) 255-8862 or George@PlethoraBusinesses.com and Rachel@PlethoraBusinesses.com, respectively.

What is Your Business Worth?

This morning, the New York Times posted a very interesting article on the "Art of Running Small Businesses." In the article, Paul Downs, the owner of his own company, discuss in detail (ie. releases a few of his company's financial figures) the struggle with being your own boss. He talks about how it can be difficult to run a successful and profitable company, if you don't pay yourself & eventually, when you do run a profit, what do you do with the cash? This story, both interesting for it's qualitative and quantitative value, shines a light on something business owners may not be aware of: you need to know the value of your company. Many people think of valuations and appraisals when they are beginning to think about selling their company or developing an exit strategy, but it's just as important to know the value of your company, simply to strategically plan for the next year. Do you know where your company stands in terms of its value? It's easy for owners to overestimate the value of their business because, well, simply: it's not their job. Their job is to run a profitable company. It's up to a trusted and knowledgeable appraiser for valuations to be completely accurate. If you're thinking about selling in a few years: get a valuation - it's the first step in a long process. If you're not planning on selling: get a valuation - it will help identify the steps you need to take in order to grow your business.