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Advisors, Business Owners

The Winning M&A Advisor [Volume 1, Issue 7]

Welcome to the latest issue of The Winning M&A Advisor, the Axial publication that anonymously unpacks data, fees, and terms from the winning M&A engagement letters of professional M&A advisors using Axial to win new sell-side business.

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Engagement Letter Details
Retainer Required Yes - $40K
Retainer Payment Terms Non-refundable, up front payment
Engagement Duration 12 months
Success Fee Based on the total transaction value, calculated below.
3% - up to $22.5M
5% - above $22.5M
Retainer Applied to Success Fee Yes - 100% applied
Minimum Success Fee $500,000
Special Terms
Tail Period: 24 months - the advisor is owed a success fee if a deal is closed with a party introduced during the engagement term.

Behind The Win:

As part of every Advisor Finder process, we ask the business owner or management team to provide a rationale for why they hired a given advisor. The following attributes contributed to the selection of the Winning M&A Advisor:

  1. Industry Knowledge and Relevant Experience: The advisor demonstrated strong familiarity with the company’s industry and transaction type. The owner viewed them as knowledgeable and experienced, which inspired confidence in their ability to navigate the market and connect with potential buyers.
  2. Substantial Organizational Presence: Compared to other finalists, the firm came across as a larger, more well-resourced operation. This gave the owner added confidence in their ability to manage a complex sale process and deliver a strong outcome.
  3. Professionalism and Preparation: While all finalists were pleasant to engage with, this firm stood out for their professionalism, thoughtful responses, and clear articulation of capabilities. They presented themselves as a cohesive team—rather than just a single advisor—which reinforced their institutional strength and collaborative approach.
  4. Alignment with Buyer Profile and Deal Strategy: The firm’s experience closely aligned with the seller’s expectations—particularly in targeting private equity buyers seeking platform add-ons—positioning them as the best fit to attract and negotiate with the right acquirers.


The Business
Timeline
Reaches Out To Axial 12/20/2024
Begins Interviewing M&A Advisors 2/5/2025
Signs The Winning Engagement Letter 4/8/2025
Business Data
Industry Business Services, Industrial Services
Revenue Range $20M - $25M
EBITDA Range $4M - $5M
Desired Transaction
Transaction Type Majority Sale (Over 50%)
Reason For Transaction Business Growth Plateau; Seeking Personal Liquidity
Transaction Timeline 6-12 Months
Advisor Recommendation #1 (Winning M&A Advisor)
Firm Type M&A Advisory Firm
Generalist / Specialist Generalist
Deals Marketed on Axial L12 6
Deals Marketed on Axial All-Time 146
Average Revenue of Deals $19,025,145
Average EBITDA of Deals $3,159,100
Advisor Recommendation #2
Firm Type M&A Advisory Firm
Generalist / Specialist Specialist
Deals Marketed on Axial L12 5
Deals Marketed on Axial All-Time 14
Average Revenue of Deals $23,079,495
Average EBITDA of Deals $2,153,780
Advisor Recommendation #3
Firm Type Investment Bank
Generalist / Specialist Generalist
Deals Marketed on Axial L12 10
Deals Marketed on Axial All-Time 159
Average Revenue of Deals $27,551,624
Average EBITDA of Deals $4,475,827


Axial is the trusted deal platform serving the lower middle market ($2.5-$250M TEV).

Over 3,500 advisory firms and 3,000 corporate and financial buyers have joined Axial to efficiently connect with relevant capital partners, source actionable deals, and build new relationships.

Visit the Closed Deals page to see selected transactions that have been sourced and closed via Axial.

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