For the lower-middle market business owner, revenue figures tell only half the story. In the language of high-stakes M&A, EBITDA is the true currency of exit value. This strategic brief explores how sophisticated buyers utilize this metric to normalize earnings and how proper recasting can significantly alter your enterprise valuation before you go to market.

Tax efficiency often obscures true enterprise value. This strategic brief examines the critical role of Owner Add-Backs in recasting financials, transforming suppressed Net Income into the Adjusted EBITDA metrics that drive premium middle-market valuations.

The distinction between a generation-defining transaction and a capital impairment lies in the first 100 days. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on Post-Merger Integration, focusing on wealth preservation, risk mitigation, and the specific mechanics of merging middle-market entities.

In the industrial sector, automation is the new currency of value. This strategic brief outlines the top global robotics conferences in 2026 where owners can find the technology—and the buyers—to secure a premium exit.

True liquidity is born from operational optionality. This strategic guide explores how to build a business that is perpetually ready for exit, transforming daily operations into transferable equity value and eliminating the "Key Man" discount.

In the heavy industrial sector, value is no longer determined solely by tonnage. This strategic brief outlines the top 2026 global conferences where foundry and metalworking owners can identify the technological trends that drive premium exit valuations.

In the manufacturing sector, technical excellence alone does not guarantee a premium exit. This strategic brief outlines the top 2026 North American conferences where owners can gain the intelligence required to structure their business for a future strategic sale.

The industrial landscape of 2026 is reshaping valuation metrics. This Chairman's View explores how strategic manufacturing forums like IMTS and AeroDef define the "premium" acquisition targets of tomorrow, offering a roadmap for owners to maximize EBITDA multiples through market intelligence.2026 Manufacturing M&A: Strategic Events for Exit Planning

While often conflated, Exit Strategy and Succession Planning are distinct disciplines. One focuses on the transaction, the other on continuity. This Chairman's View explores how synchronizing them drives premium valuations and preserves wealth.

In the theater of Middle Market M&A, the transaction is not just a sale—it is a discipline of wealth preservation. This strategic brief outlines the architectural shift from "Operator" to "Asset Manager" required to maximize EBITDA multiples and secure a sophisticated deal structure.

The transition from operator to emeritus is a high-stakes maneuver where the margin for error is slim. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on mitigating risk, optimizing deal structure, and preserving wealth during a complex middle-market liquidity event.

Excerpt: For the sophisticated principal, acquisition is not merely expansion—it is a calculated maneuver toward wealth preservation. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on sourcing proprietary deal flow,

The divestiture of a lower-middle market enterprise is not merely a transaction; it is the culmination of a career’s work. This strategic guide outlines the "Chairman's View" on maximizing EBITDA multiples, optimizing deal structure, and navigating the complexities of a strategic exit.

The "Liquidity Super-Cycle" of 2026 demands architectural precision, not just market participation. This strategic outlook analyzes the widening gap in EBITDA multiples and the sophisticated deal structures required to secure a premium exit in the evolving lower-middle market.

The transition from operator to emeritus requires more than a transaction—it demands architectural precision. This strategic brief applies the "Chairman's Lens" to maximizing enterprise value, codifying financial integrity, and de-risking revenue streams for a premium middle-market exit.

The transition of a lower-middle market enterprise is not merely a transaction; it is a defining moment for legacy. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on orchestrating a competitive exit, optimizing deal structure, and maximizing EBITDA multiples for a premium liquidity event.

Valuation is not a static figure; it is a dynamic reflection of risk and opportunity. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on navigating EBITDA multiples, understanding the "Owner's Trap," and engineering a premium valuation for a definitive middle-market exit.

The transition from operator to emeritus is a defining moment for legacy. This strategic brief outlines the "Chairman's View" on orchestrating a competitive exit, optimizing deal structure, and maximizing EBITDA multiples for a premium liquidity event.

The intersection of Private Equity and M&A is a calculated engine for wealth preservation. This strategic brief outlines the institutional playbook for transforming a standalone business into a high-value platform through multiple expansion, deal structure, and the "second bite of the apple."