IBA offers its clients a marketing program for their businesses that is specifically developed for the type of company being represented and its unique confidentiality issues. This program includes the following: development of a professional presentation packet for the business; strategic marketing to individuals; companies; private equity firms; and nonprofit organizations in our exclusive buyer database and potential acquisition candidates; Internet, print; and trade publication advertising; network marketing in the mergers & acquisitions; business brokerage; investment banking; private equity; commercial real estate; legal; accounting; and banking communities; and when the situation merits advertisement in the commercial real estate multiple listing service. The results of this proactive marketing program are documented in the high number of potential buyers who review the companies we represent and the relative short time the companies we represent stay on the market versus similar entities represented by our competition.

We believe that the environment created for negotiations between the buyer and seller is critical to the successful transfer of ownership of a business. That environment should provide for an atmosphere of confidentiality and full disclosure. IBA, as the facilitator of negotiations, will control the environment and make sure that what is important gets discussed prior to the start of negotiations. This professionally managed process is the reason that a very high percentage of IBA’s clients sell their businesses after reaching agreement on a Letter of Intent with a potential buyer.

Following that exchange of oral and written information, negotiations are commenced by IBA with the buyer and/or their professional advisers on behalf of the seller. It is generally important at this stage that the buyer & seller do not interact directly. The reason for this separation is that negotiating the purchase or sale of a business can be mentally and emotionally taxing and direct confrontation between the parties can diminish mutual goodwill and negatively impact business performance post transaction. This is where IBA’s transactional experience and professional negotiation skills become invaluable to the transaction. A willing and able buyer and seller now exist. The goal is to get them to agree on the price and terms for the transaction. IBA is very familiar with this transaction territory and will with the seller’s goals clearly in mind proceed to negotiate the terms of the deal. It is our philosophy that if our client is not happy we have not achieved our goal and will keep on negotiating. We want 100% satisfaction and our proof to that achievement will be nothing short of a signed agreement.

IBA’s representation does not stop with tentative agreement. Our representation continues after that point until the transaction is completed. There are many i’s to dot and t’s to cross in the purchase or sale of a business. IBA is aware of the administrative steps necessary to transfer ownership and will make sure that both sides of the transaction are aware of what needs to be done to end one owner’s tenure at the helm and start the next smoothly.