Insight for Owners Preparing for What’s Next
Explore practical guidance, transaction readiness and market conditions.
ARTICLE
No line item for legacy: The reality of an owner-led exit
In this thoughtful article from Ideals, Emily Harris explores what founder-led exits really look like and why many business owners aren't as prepared to sell as they think.
For many founders, an exit is far more than a financial transaction. It's a deeply personal transition that deserves thoughtful planning and preparation.
NEWS RELEASE
Wayfinder Strategic Advisors is Pleased to Announce the Acquisition of Allcryo, Inc. by CTR Cryo within TransTech Group.
Wayfinder served as the exclusive financial advisor in connection with this transaction. Congrats to the rest of the team involved with this exciting acquisition, including McCullough Huddleston and Woo, Doug McCullough, Benesch Law, and JPMorgan Chase.
ARTICLE
M&A Update: Engineering & Construction
Download Wayfinder’s Q3 2026 Engineering & Construction M&A Update for current valuation trends, recent transactions and practical guidance for business owners.
THE EXIT SERIES
An Invitation to Think Ahead
THE EXIT SERIES
The Management Buyout
THE EXIT SERIES
The 100% Exit
THE EXIT SERIES
The Second Bite of the Apple: Navigating Majority Sales and Rollover Equity
You didn't build your company overnight – and you shouldn't think about an exit overnight either.
The Exit Series is an invitation for founders and business owners to begin thinking ahead. Doug McCullough and Emily Harris explore the many paths available to owners, including management buyouts, ESOPs, recapitalizations, full exits, and business succession planning.
The first installment focuses on an important idea: preparation is not the same as deciding to sell. Preparing your business today can strengthen operations, preserve future options, and increase value – whether you ultimately decide to sell, bring in outside capital, transition ownership, or continue leading the company for years to come.
For many business owners, the answer isn't family. It's the management team that's helped build the company over the years.
A management buyout can offer continuity for employees, customers, and company culture, but it also comes with important considerations around financing, valuation, governance, and long-term success. Like every exit strategy, it's not the right fit for every business.
In this installment of The Exit Series, we explore the advantages, tradeoffs, and key questions owners should ask when considering a management buyout as part of their succession plan.
Selling 100% of your business is more than a financial transaction; it is a decision to fully step away from something you may have spent decades building.
Before signing an LOI, founders should look beyond valuation and consider what life will look like after closing.
The third installment of the Exit Series will explore the financial, legal and personal considerations behind a 100% exit – and why a successful sale is about more than receiving a good price.
Selling a majority stake in your company doesn’t always mean walking away.
In many mid-market transactions, founders retain rollover equity, creating an opportunity for a second, potentially larger payout as the business grows under new ownership. But that upside depends on more than the valuation. Tax structure, governance rights, equity terms and the relationship with the buyer all matter.
This latest issue explores what founders should understand before entering a majority recapitalization – and why choosing the right partner may be the most important decision in the deal.
Transaction Experience
That Carries Into Every Engagement
Our transaction experience includes corporate sales, recapitalizations, divestitures, and strategic mergers completed at Wayfinder and prior firms. That breadth helps us anticipate buyer questions, prepare management teams, and keep a process moving when the details become difficult.
Transaction experience includes deals completed at prior firms.
