What Every Owner Should Know

Table of Contents

• Welcome to the M&A Mindset!

  • Interesting Infographic

  • M&A Topic Briefing

  • Articles of Interest

  • Educational Resources

  • Spreadsheet Tips & Tricks

  • Good Reads This Week

  • From The Benchmark Blog

  • Industry Associations

  • Friends of the M&A Mindset

  • Lighten Up!

  • M&A Merch

  • Rate This Week's Issue

INTERESTING INFOGRAPHIC

Each week, I feature a visually engaging infographic that distills a key M&A subject area into an easy-to-digest format. These quick reference guides aim to deliver clarity, insight, and practical understanding at a glance.

Deal Language 101: What Every Owner Should Know

M&A TOPIC BRIEFING

In this section, I provide a clear, concise overview of a specific topic, trend, or concept within the realm of M&A. The goal is to educate, inform, and spark discussions on relevant subjects, helping you deepen your knowledge and better navigate the complexities of M&A more confidently.

What Buyers Assume

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ARTICLES OF INTEREST

• Buyers Pay More for Clean Businesses - Here's How To Make Yours Exit-Ready - To attract top offers and higher valuations, owners should build operational clarity—clean financials, documented processes, and a team that can run the business without the founder—so buyers see predictability and scalability, not risk.

• The Secret To Successful M&A: "Be Clear On What You're Buying" - Successful M&A hinges on deep strategic clarity about what exactly is being acquired—beyond financials to include capabilities, culture, and value drivers—so buyers can focus execution and integration with confidence.

• How Soon Can You Walk Away After Selling Your Business? - While sellers can technically exit immediately, most leadership transitions last about six to 24 months after a sale, and staying longer often helps capture more value and ensure a smooth handover to new management.

• 5 Forces Driving M&A in 2026 - Morgan Stanley forecasts accelerating 2026 M&A activity, propelled by AI-driven corporate deals, financial sponsors’ urgent monetizations alongside ample dry powder, strategic break-ups, rising cross-border interest, and expanded capital options for founder-led companies.

• US CEOs Signal Major Rebound In Dealmaking Confidence - US CEOs’ confidence in dealmaking is sharply rising, with the latest EY-Parthenon survey showing M&A intent jumping to 62%, signaling expectations of a rebound in merger and acquisition activity.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

• Wall Street Oasis: Elite Modeling Course

• Coursera: Introduction to Finance & Accounting (Wharton - UPenn)

• Wall Street Prep: How To Build A 3-Statement Model

• Corporate Finance Institute: Introduction to Mergers & Acquisitions

• Data Camp: Financial Modeling in Excel

SPREADSHEET TIPS & TRICKS

Master Financial Modeling from Elite Practitioners

6 jam-packed courses with countless cases and 30+ exercises to help you learn financial modeling. Each course is designed to guide you step-by-step in your journey to develop elite modeling skills. Click Here!

GOOD READS THIS WEEK

FROM THE BENCHMARK BLOG

My firm, Benchmark International, a global, award-winning sell-side M&A company, has a ton of great resources that help anyone considering selling or buying a business get more educated on all aspects of the process. Below is just one helpful article. Check out Benchmark International for many more useful articles, news, and resources.

• Benchmark CEO, Tyrus O'Neill Talks M&A, Growth, & Trust on The Ryan Gorman Show

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Trade Associations in the M&A Industry

• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)

• Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (AMAA)

• The M&A Advisor

FRIENDS OF THE M&A MINDSET

From time to time, we’ll highlight newsletters and podcasts we genuinely read, listen to, and respect across M&A, PE, and the broader deal ecosystem.
No paid placements. No mass promotions. Just thoughtful, high-quality content that complements the M&A Mindset.

Have something to suggest that we should know about? Reach out. 

LIGHTEN UP!

In the fast-paced world of M&A, we can sometimes take things (and ourselves) a bit too seriously, so it’s good to remember to enjoy a lighter moment now and then.

"Bull Run", the Next Crazy Wall Street Comedy

Watch the trailer here:

M&A MERCH

Here’s a find for us finance folks to grab some M&A-inspired swag. Stuff for those of us that speak fluent EBITDA. If you find others that have great deal-themed gear, send them this way so we can let everyone know. Enjoy!

• Merch & Acquisition Co. - Dress Like You Just Closed