Breaking Out of the Valuation Box
Many manufacturing companies are in a “valuation box.” That is, the value of the company, based on a market multiple, is not equal to the value of the assets. Or worse, once debt is paid off, the net proceeds would actually be negative. Here are some tips for getting out of the box. Now, how... Read More →
The New Industry: Will the Growth Continue?
Feature Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team How sustainable are the primary financial models in the United States regarding PCB fabrication shops? In this interview with IPC Chief Economist Shawn DuBravac and M&A expert Tom Kastner, we explore what’s happening with U.S. printed circuit board shops in today’s market, how consolidation affects the industry, and... Read More →
Acquiring a PCB/EMS Shop: Brownfield vs. Greenfield
We often get asked about establishing a new company (greenfield) rather than buying an existing PCB or EMS shop (brownfield). There are many criteria to consider. Many buyers want to grow through M&A, but they cannot find acquisition targets that fit their criteria. Perhaps they can find the right shop, or at least one that... Read More →
Catching Up With Industry M&A Expert Tom Kastner of GP Ventures
Dan Beaulieu, D.B. Management Group Every year or so, I like to chat with my friend, M&A expert Tom Kastner of GP Ventures. I know he has been busy the past few years, so I was anxious to find out more about it. He is the one person I know who really has his finger... Read More →
2023 PCB and EMS M&A Review
M&A picked up for both the PCB and EMS sectors in North America in 2023, despite a challenging overall M&A market. Higher interest rates, concerns over the economy, and global crises caused global M&A activity to fall in 2023. However, the technology/electronics sectors fared better than others. In the North American PCB sector, there were... Read More →
GP Ventures Advises Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding on Acquisition of Blackfox Training
GP Ventures is pleased to announce that its client, Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding, has acquired Blackfox Training Institute. Founded in 1996, Blackfox is a leading provider of IPC training and certification services. Electronics Manufacturing Training Holding is also the owner of EPTAC, an internationally recognized leader in IPC training and certification. Financial terms were not... Read More →
What Do Buyers Expect?
For sellers, the whole process is relatively simple: They may say it’s not just about the money, but in truth, it is. Sellers also want a quick process, most of their money upfront, and a reasonable expectation that any deferred compensation will actually be paid. They’re usually concerned that the buyer will take good care... Read More →
How to Choose the Right Buyer
Choosing the right buyer is more difficult than you might think. It would be easy to say that a seller should just choose the deal with the highest offer, but there are many other considerations. Usually, a seller initially signs one Letter of Intent (LOI) that includes an exclusivity period of 60 to 90 days.... Read More →
The Power of Projections
We are headed toward that time of year many of us dread—budgeting for the next year. This budgeting process becomes a huge tug-of-war because there is a lot at stake in terms of resources, bonuses, and pride. Unfortunately, many companies either give it little effort or they forgo the process entirely. However, budgets and projections... Read More →
2023 Mid-Year North American PCB and EMS M&A Update
The M&A market for North American PCB and EMS companies was quite active in the first half of 2023. In the PCB sector, our records show seven deals were completed in the first six months of 2023, compared to only five in all of 2022. In addition, two deals have been announced in July. In... Read More →