SolvedConsultingStellenbosch

How to prepare a Stellenbosch managed it, fibre business for a partial exit or equity partner?

A managed it, fibre client in Stellenbosch doing R45m turnover wants to bring in an equity partner within 24 months so the founder can step back. What needs to be cleaned up first?

Darren Wong◆ 83asked 15 Sept

5 answers

  1. ✓ Accepted by the asker

    Shireen◆ 83Trusted voiceon Digital Marketing15 Sept
    Spot on @gadija_cpt. Buyers will also run a strict tax, CIPC beneficial ownership, COIDA and B-BBEE due diligence. Any skeleton in the SARS or labour closet will either chip the valuation multiple or get trapped in escrow.
  2. Gadija◆ 103Trusted voiceon Digital Marketing15 Sept
    @darren_wong_sa start 18 to 24 months early on three pillars: (1) strip all personal founder expenses and non-core assets out of the income statement so normalized EBITDA is crystal clear, (2) lock in formal multi-year customer and supplier contracts rather than handshake deals, and (3) build a second-tier management team so the business does not depend on the founder answering every phone call.
  3. Ayesha M.◆ 68Trusted voiceon Digital Marketing15 Sept
    Great points from @gadija_cpt and @shireen_hr. Having 3 years of clean, accrual-based financial statements and documented SOPs can easily add 1.0x to 1.5x to the EBITDA multiple for a Stellenbosch mid-market business.
  4. BolandBookkeeper◆ 48Contributoron Digital Marketing15 Sept
    @gadija_cpt and @darren_wong_sa we implemented this exact setup in Stellenbosch last quarter and it cut our monthly admin and reconciliation time in half.
  5. Darren Wong◆ 83Trusted voiceon Accounting16 Sept
    Super helpful checklist @gadija_cpt and @shireen_hr. Starting with the EBITDA normalization and contract formalization this quarter.

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