InboxInsights

2011: New Year Wishes from Kolb+Co. M&A Advisers

 

John Kielich, CPA - Managing Director for Kolb+Co. M&A Advisers   email | bio 
LeAnne Foster, CPA - Senior Associate for Kolb+Co. M&A Advisers   email
December 2010

We would like to welcome you to our final InboxInsights of 2010. Like last year, we will not reflect on the past but rather look to a better 2011. Here is our list of wishes for friends, business owners and everyone reading this InboxInsights.

Wish 1: We hope the new faces in government will get some good things done.

Certainly the elections of November brought significant changes in all levels of government. Nationally and locally, many new faces will be appearing in January in Washington D.C.; Madison, Wisconsin; and any number of other state capitals around the country. Our wish is that there is real progress made to help our country regain its economic prominence and that individuals and businesses prosper.

Wish 2: We hope new jobs are created and our manufacturing companies flourish.

We wish we had all the answers on how to make this happen as the impact of this would solve a lot of the other issues the economy still is facing.

Wish 3: We hope the financial institutions will make funds more available.

A disconnect still exists in the market. A lot of projects and transactions continue to be slowed by the current requirements held by the bank credit committees. In their defense, much of this is due to the intense scrutiny of regulators, but, whatever the cause, we hope a cure is found.

Wish 4: Near and dear to our heart...we hope the M&A market flourishes.

Buyers have the money - synergistic buyers are sitting on over a trillion dollars of cash and private equity firms have 500 billion dollars available for transactions. With a little help from the banks, one side of a deal is ready to roar. Multiples are getting better and there might not be a better time to sell than now. We now need the sellers, specifically the good ones, who have been waiting.

Wish 5: We hope our education system generates the best and brightest in engineering, technology, sciences and the other technical areas.

We have lost our edge in a lot of key professions that made this country great. We need to build the base of smart people to effectively compete and grow in the future.

Wish 6: We hope our tax dollars are spent wisely.

We think that all of us would feel a little bit better if we knew that we were not throwing hard-earned dollars to wasteful programs or legacy costs.

Wish 7: Finally we hope our readers, friends and family get their wishes for 2011 and that you keep reading our articles, attending our seminars and think of us for opportunities.

Cheers and Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous 2011 from John and LeAnne.