Commentary

Six Steps That Will Add Value to Your Business

With the Sochi Olympic Games taking place this month, it is interesting to reflect back on some of the big events of the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver. In the Men’s Downhill race at Whistler, for example, the winning time of 1:54:31 was posted by Didier Défago of Switzerland. The time among medalists was the closest in Olympic history, and while Mario Scheiber of Austria posted a time of 1:54:52 – just two tenths of a second slower than Défago – he finished out of the medals in fourth place. In ski racing, one fifth of a second can be … Read more

Report Card for 2013 Predictions

Every year we make predictions for the coming year relating to issues facing the green industry with a view toward their impact on merger & acquisition activity. We begin each year with a report card on our predictions from the prior year. Here is our report card for 2013’s predictions: General Industry Conditions Prediction: Growth will begin to accelerate in the industry- in both the commercial and residential sectors, particularly as housing starts improve, but growth rates will still be modest. Price competition will remain intense, especially in commercial maintenance. Specialty sectors, such as water features, will remain slow. Report … Read more

First Reflections on the Green Industry Conference

I have spent the last three days meeting with potential green industry business buyers and sellers during the Professional Landcare Network’s annual Green Industry Conference in connection with the massive Green Industry Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. Reports indicate attendance at both events is up significantly. We will be writing more about our observations about GIC over the next few days, but my initial thoughts are that the signals indicate we can expect a vibrant merger & acquisition market on the green industry on 2014. We met with at least nine potential buyers and sellers along with participating in the Breakfast … Read more

Every Deal Has Its Time

Many years ago, I was irritated with an attorney who did not seem to be taking the acquisition deal I was working on seriously. I was actually more confused than irritated. After all, I was the client and he wasn’t working on my deal. Some time later, that same attorney was in a completely different mode – working as hard as he could to get the deal documents together on one of my deals. As we took a short break one evening, he explained the difference to me. He simply said “Every deal has its time.” I reflected on what … Read more

Sorting Out Obamacare and the Small Business M&A Market – Some Thoughts for Green Industry Business Owners

Like many small business owners, I am getting pretty serious about thinking about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”), even with the recently announced one year delay in the employer mandate.  I really don’t like that term Obamacare, because it seems kind of disrespectful to our president.  I am reminded of the time one of my favorite presidents, Jed Bartlet, said, “In this White House, when the President stands, nobody sits.”  I fully understand why many if not most small business owners are pretty concerned about the impact the Act’s implementation may have on their businesses.  I am … Read more