On this week’s Built to Sell Radio, Matt Ebert, founder and CEO of Crash Champions, reveals how a chance car accident led him to start what would become a $2.8 billion collision repair business. But it wasn’t all about fixing cars—Ebert also mastered the art of buying and selling companies.
When Ebert initially approached private equity, he wasn’t even thinking about selling. He was looking to borrow money to expand. Instead, he found himself selling a majority interest in his business, an opportunity he only considered because he stayed flexible about his options. This two-for-one episode gives you a look into both sides of the deal: how Matt sold control and then used private equity’s support to grow Crash Champions to 645 locations.
In this episode, you’ll discover how to:
- Sell a majority interest without giving up the reins of your company.
- Keep your options open when going to market and be ready for unexpected opportunities.
- Build through acquisitions while maintaining control over growth.
- Understand the benefits of rolling some equity into the new entity.
In this episode, you get the best of both worlds: First, learn how Matt sold to private equity, and then get inside his mind as a prolific acquirer—leveraging a virtual blank check to buy hundreds of companies with the backing of his private equity sponsors.
❓ Is your business Built to Sell? We can show you how to easily implement the Built to Sell methodology into your business. Book a free 10-minute intro call with us here.
Quote of the Week
I wasn’t looking to sell, just to borrow money—but sometimes the best time to sell is when someone’s buying.’
Matt Ebert
Deals
- LiveIntent, a company that helps businesses target their customers through email and digital advertising, has been acquired by Zeta Global Holdings Corp. (NYSE) for $250 million. Zeta will pay $77.5 million in cash and $172.5 million in common stock when the deal closes. The acquisition was reportedly priced at an Adjusted EBITDA multiple of around 16 times.
- TraceGains, a software company that provides cloud-based solutions for supply chain management in the food, beverage, and dietary supplement industries, has been acquired by Veralto Corporation (NYSE: VLTO) for $350 million, subject to customary post-closing adjustments. The acquisition was reportedly priced at a sales multiple of approximately 11.7 times, with TraceGains expected to generate just over $30 million in sales in 2024, more than 95% of which are recurring.
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