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Your Balance Sheet in a Sale: What You Keep vs. What You Deliver
Plus: What Makes a Good M&A Advisor (Especially for Small Business Owners)
Derek Avdul
December 02, 2025
Quick M&A Insights, Infographics, & Interesting Info Every Week!
Welcome to the M&A Mindset!
This Week:
We're breaking down your balance sheet in a sale so you better understand what you keep vs. what you deliver to the buyer at close. Plus, we answer the question of what makes a good M&A advisor. And, as always, curated articles, learning resources, fun M&A merch, and something to get you to lighten up a bit...
Let's dive in.
- Derek
Table of Contents
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.
Your Balance Sheet in a Sale: What You Keep vs. What You Deliver
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 Makes a Good M&A Advisor (Especially for Small Business Owners)
Trade Before the Noise Starts
Skip the noise.
Elite Trade Club delivers a concise premarket briefing with the stories and stocks that actually move markets—so you can act before the bell.
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EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
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!
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.
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS
Trade Associations in the M&A Industry
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.
What's In A Vest?
Wall Streeters Told Us Why They Wear The Finance Fashion Staple
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!
Thanks for reading this week's edition!
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Stay Curious,
Derek Avdul
New to the M&A Mindset? This weekly newsletter cuts through the noise with concise insights, infographics, and resources on middle-market M&A—trusted by 5,000+ deal professionals, business owners, and investors. Whether you're planning a transaction, building your expertise, or just fascinated by deals, you'll find something valuable here every week.
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