The novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald once wrote, "There are no second acts in American lives." Second lives, in the sense of a second chance to sell a printing company at a price attractive to the seller, can be just as rare in the M&A marketplace. Here’s why.
The right moment to sell occurs when the condition of the seller’s business, the intentions of the buyer, and the state of the print market segment in which the seller operates all line up in favor of making a deal. A qualified M&A advisor can counsel the seller as to when that special moment has arrived. But, this good advice will also include a reminder that circumstances probably won’t align this way again and that the cost of missing the moment could be high.
James A. Russell, partner at New Direction Partners, brings over 20 years of experience as a printing company executive having served as CEO of two family-owned graphic communication companies. During his tenure as owner and CEO of Arbor Press, a commercial printing company in Michigan, the company was an eight-time winner of the National Association for Printing Leadership’s (NAPL) prestigious Management Plus Awards program. Arbor Press was also recognized twice during his leadership as one of the 50 fastest growing printers in the country. Contact him at (610) 230-0635, ext. 703.