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Adams Strategy · Academy

Strategy Academy.

Insights and tips for a successful company sale — from over 25 years of M&A experience.

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Level:
Company Sale →
Beginner 5 Min

Tax Advisor as M&A Consultant? What Really Matters When Selling Your Business

Many business owners start with their tax advisor — and realize too late what's actually missing in a sales process.

Company Sale →
Beginner 5 Min

Alone or with an Advisor — Why Underperformers in M&A Often Act Solo

The numbers are clear: transactions with professional guidance structurally achieve better results.

Company Sale →
Beginner 6 Min

Ready to Sell? Eight Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Know Before an Exit

How solid is your exit preparation really? Eight control questions that reveal gaps — before a buyer does.

Company Sale →
Advanced 7 Min

The Day After — What Business Owners Really Face After a Sale

Liquid, but restless. Many sellers underestimate what comes when the deal closes. An honest look at life after the exit.

Company Sale →
Beginner 5 Min

Confidentiality in Deals — How to Protect Your Trade Secrets When Selling

NDA, data room, tiered disclosure — which protective measures in a business sale really work.

Company Sale →
Beginner 4 Min

Communication During an Exit — Whom to Inform and When

Employees, banks, suppliers — wrong timing in communications costs money and trust.

Company Sale →
Beginner 6 Min

Three Mistakes That Make Every Business Sale Expensive

Poor timing, wrong buyers, incomplete documents — the most common mistakes and how to avoid them from the start.

Company Sale →
Beginner 6 Min

The Checklist — What Must Go Right in a Business Sale

Documentation, valuation, buyer selection — a structured overview for owners taking their first step.

Company Sale →
Beginner 5 Min

Information Memorandum — Required Document or Optional?

Why the IM is essential for some transactions — and which deals overestimate its importance.

Company Sale →
Advanced 7 Min

Maximum Price or Quick Close — The Negotiation Logic in Business Sales

Who says yes too early leaves money on the table. What sellers need to know about negotiation logic in M&A processes.

Company Sale →
Advanced 8 Min

When the Buyer Pressures — How Sellers Maintain Control in M&A

Price reductions, reclamations, last-minute clauses — how to handle targeted negotiation pressure with confidence.

Company Sale →
Advanced 6 Min

At Least Three Interested Buyers — How Buyer Competition Drives Sale Price

If you only have one buyer, you don't have a buyer. Why alternatives at exit are not optional, but decisive.

Company Sale →
Beginner 5 Min

Understanding EBITDA — Why This Metric Determines Your Sale Proceeds

Definition, calculation, and what buyers really do with EBITDA. A primer for every business owner.

Company Sale →
Beginner 6 Min

EBITDA in Practice — How Buyers Really Value Your Company

Not EBITDA that counts, but adjusted EBITDA. What normalizations mean and how to prepare.

Company Sale →

Healthcare & Care

Home Care · Intensive Care · Care Services

Beginner 5 Min

Selling a Care Service — The Key Steps to a Successful Sale

From valuation to notary: a structured step-by-step guide for care service owners.

Healthcare & Care →
Advanced 6 Min

Trends, Prices & Buyer Interests 2025 — Care Service Sales in Transition

Market prices are rising, investor interest is growing: what care service sellers need to know about the current M&A market in 2025.

Healthcare & Care →
Beginner 6 Min

Timing Matters — When Care Service Owners Should Sell

Timing is everything. Three market indicators show whether the moment works for you — or against you.

Healthcare & Care →
Beginner 5 Min

Who Buys Home Care Services — and What Drives These Buyers?

Strategic buyers, private equity funds, or social enterprises — overview of the motivations of the main bidding groups.

Healthcare & Care →
Advanced 7 Min

First Offer Often the Worst — Why Patience Pays Off in Care Service Sales

Bad initial offers unsettle many owners. But they're often just the start of longer negotiations.

Healthcare & Care →
NEW Expert 8 Min

Selling Intensive Care Services is Not Standard — How to Do It Right

Intensive care services have special regulatory and structural characteristics that make exit complex. A guide.

Healthcare & Care →

Laboratories & Pharmaceutical Service Providers

Labs · CRO · Pharmaceutical Services

Expert 9 Min

Selling a CRO — Positioning Contract Research Organizations in a Niche Market

Independent sale, strategic merger, or PE backing? What applies to contract research organizations and why niche is an advantage.

Laboratories & Pharmaceutical Service Providers →

Medical Devices (MedTech)

Medical Devices · Equipment · Regulatory

Expert 10 Min

Selling MedTech — Maximize Price, Reduce Risks, Protect Employees

MedTech transactions operate in a different league. What owners need to know before a buyer sees the books.

Medical Devices (MedTech) →

Financial Services & Insurance

Insurance Brokers · Financial Advisory · Commission Models

Advanced 5 Min

Private Equity in the Broker Market: End of the Boom or New Opportunities for Insurance Brokers?

Consolidation in the broker market isn't over — it's shifting into new segments. What this means for mid-sized insurance brokers.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Broker Market 2026: Why Consolidation Is Entering a New Phase

Investors are becoming more selective, but demand remains high. Why quality in the broker market 2026 beats size.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Broker Pools as Acquisition Targets: The Next Major M&A Topic in Insurance?

Broker pools bundle significant brokerage volumes and offer investors a ready-made platform. Will they be the next major M&A theme?

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Business Sale in the Broker Market: Why Purchase Price Isn't Everything

In a broker sale, more than the highest price matters. Why choosing the right buyer is more important long-term.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Selling Insurance Brokers: How Is the Purchase Price Really Determined?

Same revenue, different purchase prices — why digitalization and customer retention so strongly influence business value.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Broker Succession Without Successor: What Options Do Insurance Brokers Have?

No family successor? Insurance brokers have more options than they think — from strategic buyers to equity solutions.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Sell Broker Portfolio or Broker Company: Which Is the Better Solution?

Portfolio sale or business sale — which option makes more economic sense depends on company size.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Broker Succession 2025: Why Consolidation in the Broker Market Is Just Beginning

Mid-sized brokers are in investors' sights. The second wave of consolidation in the broker market has begun.

Financial Services →
Advanced 5 Min

Selling Broker Companies 2025: How Are Purchase Prices and Valuations Developing?

Historically high demand, attractive multiples — and what risks sellers should be aware of.

Financial Services →

Industry, Engineering & Technical Services

Mechanical Engineering · Plant Engineering · Engineering

Advanced 5 Min

Business Sale in Industrial Assembly: Why Specialized Service Providers Are in Demand

Pharma expertise and recurring service contracts make industrial assembly companies attractive acquisition targets.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Selling Maintenance Companies: Why Technical Service Providers Are in Investor Focus

Maintenance contracts, skilled workers, and technical specialization — why maintenance companies are strategically desired.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Business Succession in Industrial Assembly: Why Many Businesses Face Generational Change

Demographic change and lack of successors make industrial assembly businesses attractive acquisition targets.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

PMQ Service Providers in Focus: Why Testing, Measurement, and Qualification Companies Are in Demand

Equipment qualification and GMP documentation as growth markets — why PMQ service providers attract M&A investors.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Selling Plant Engineering: Why Specialized Mid-Market Companies Are Sought-After Acquisition Targets

Engineering expertise and recurring service revenue make plant engineering companies strategically valuable acquisition targets.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Pipe Construction in Transition: Why the Industry Faces a Consolidation Wave

Labor shortage and pharma projects drive consolidation in pipe construction. What this means for entrepreneurs.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Selling Engineering Service Providers: Why Know-How Is Now More Important Than Machines

The enterprise value of engineering service providers lies in knowledge — not fixed assets. What investors really seek.

Industry & Engineering →
Advanced 5 Min

Pharma Engineering and GMP Services: Why Specialized Service Providers Are Becoming More Valuable

GMP expertise and high barriers to entry make pharma engineering companies among the most attractive M&A targets in the technical sector.

Industry & Engineering →

Real Estate Management & Facility Services

Property Management · Facility Management · Property Management

Advanced 5 Min

Selling Property Management 2026: Why Demand for Management Companies Continues to Rise

Condominium and rental management companies are in buyer focus. Why the market continues to grow despite consolidation.

Real Estate & Property Management →
Advanced 5 Min

Business Succession in Property Management: Why Many Owners Plan Too Late

Many property management owners wait too long with succession planning. What that means for business value.

Real Estate & Property Management →
Advanced 5 Min

Consolidation in the Property Manager Market: Where Is the Industry Headed?

Scale advantages and investor interest accelerate consolidation. Which property management companies benefit most.

Real Estate & Property Management →

For Buyers

Buyer Strategies · Investors · Purchase Process

Advanced 7 Min

Seeking Capital, Maintaining Control — What Really Matters in the Investor Pitch

Reading term sheets, understanding dilution, finding the right investor — not a glossary, but lived practice.

For Buyers →

Case Studies & Reports

Newspaper Articles

In-depth analysis and case studies on M&A, business sales, and succession — by Dr. Adams.

M&A Advisory · 6 Min.

Why an M&A Advisor Makes the Decisive Difference in Business Sales

Many entrepreneurs underestimate the complexity of a business sale — and skip professional advice. This mistake can be expensive. An experienced M&A advisor maximizes your price and protects you legally.

Read article →
M&A Advisory · 5 Min.

Tax Advisor or M&A Advisor: Who Really Takes Your Business Sale to the Finish Line?

Your tax advisor knows your numbers — but does he also master purchase price negotiations, buyer screening, and deal structuring? The answer surprises many entrepreneurs.

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M&A Advisory · 5 Min.

The Information Memorandum: Your Most Important Document in a Business Sale

Without a professional information memorandum, no serious buyer. What the document must contain, what mistakes to avoid — and why it determines your sales success.

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Exit & Strategy · 7 Min.

Eight Questions Every Entrepreneur Should Answer Before Selling Their Business

Timing, valuation, tax structure, employee communication — anyone who hasn't answered these eight questions before a sale risks significant value destruction and nasty surprises.

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Exit & Strategy · 5 Min.

Who Must Be Informed When? Manage Confidentiality Correctly in Business Sales

Too early information jeopardizes the deal — too late damages trust. Employees, customers, suppliers, banks: a clear roadmap for each phase of the sales process.

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Exit & Strategy · 6 Min.

The Three Biggest Pitfalls in Business Sales — and How to Safely Avoid Them

Wrong price expectations, poor preparation, bad buyer selection: these three mistakes account for the majority of failed business transactions.

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Exit & Strategy · 6 Min.

Business Sale: These Critical Points Decide Success or Failure

Due diligence preparation, contract pitfalls, buyer qualification — whoever knows these levers negotiates from a position of strength and achieves better results.

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Exit & Strategy · 6 Min.

What Comes After the Sale? Your Role and Future After Business Transition

Earn-out arrangements, management transition, personal reorientation: the day after closing is more challenging for many entrepreneurs than expected — prepare yourself.

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Valuation · 5 Min.

Understanding EBITDA: How This One Metric Determines Your Business Value

Buyers and investors think in EBITDA multiples. Whoever understands how adjusted EBITDA is calculated and what multiples apply in his industry negotiates on equal footing.

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Valuation · 6 Min.

What Investors Really See: The Decisive Factors in Startup Valuation

Team, market, traction, technology, unit economics — investors don't primarily judge your idea, but your ability to scale. What really matters when the term sheet hits the table.

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Negotiation · 6 Min.

Difficult Negotiation Situations in Business Sales: Stay in Control

Pressure tactics, last-minute demands, price reductions after due diligence: experienced buyers know all the tricks. Counter them confidently with the right preparation.

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Negotiation · 5 Min.

Why You Should Lead at Least Three Potential Buyers Simultaneously

If you only negotiate with one buyer, you lose your biggest lever: competition. Parallel talks with multiple interested parties can significantly increase the purchase price.

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Negotiation · 5 Min.

Protect Know-How, Preserve Value: Safeguard Trade Secrets in the Sales Process

NDA design, tiered disclosure in data rooms, protection of customer lists and technology — negligence here risks your most important competitive advantage.

Read article →

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