M&A Advisor Fees – iMerge Advisors

 M&A Fees Explained

M&A advisors do not readily advertise mergers and acquisitions typical investment banking m&a fees on their websites.  In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find any that would pigeonhole a M&A advisor fee percentage to a specific deal size.  It is common knowledge the larger the deal size the smaller the M&A fee.  So why are those M&A fee’s so high in the first place ask many of our clients?

Click To Learn More About How to Sell a Software SaaS Company

Additional external factors impacting typical investment banking fees m&a fees are regulatory and administrative.  Large m&a firms with multiple metropolitan locations worldwide have significant administrative expenses to recover.  In addition, deals involving complex securities require these firms to be registered as broker-dealers with the SEC/FINRA adding significant compliance expenses to manage.  It is, for this reason, these large firms will prefer deal sizes in excess of $100 million in which they can earn several million in fees.  At a minimum, these larger firms would expect to earn $2 million in fees.

M&A Fees may vary depending on the deal size but for those deals whether it’s $10 million or $75 million (stay tuned for an article on why smaller deals take up much more of an M&A advisor’s time)  to the experienced m&a advisor it’s only a number in which everything else remains the same in getting your business successfully sold for the highest valuation possible.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are complex and expensive processes that require specialized expertise from M&A advisors, investment bankers, lawyers, and accountants. The typical investment banking or m&a firm fees associated with M&A transactions can vary depending on several factors, including the size and complexity of the deal, the experience and reputation of the service provider, and the type of entity managing the transaction.

Single Lehman and Double Lehman Fees

M&A fees can be structured in different ways, including single Lehman and double Lehman fees. Single Lehman fees are based on a percentage of the total transaction value, while double Lehman fees are based on a percentage of the transaction value above a certain threshold. Single Lehman fees are more common for smaller transactions, while double Lehman fees are more common for larger transactions.

Fees for Small Businesses

The fees for M&A transactions for small businesses priced under $5 million can range from $50,000 to $200,000. The fees for small business transactions are typically lower than those for mid-sized and large businesses, as the size and complexity of the deals are typically smaller. Small businesses may work with business brokers, M&A advisors, or exit planners to manage their transactions, depending on their needs and budget.

Business Broker Fees

Business brokers are professionals who specialize in assisting small business owners with the sale of their businesses. Business brokers typically charge a commission of 10% to 12% of the total transaction value for their services. Business brokers are generally not involved in larger M&A transactions, as their services are more focused on small business sales.

M&A Advisor Fees

M&A advisors are professionals who provide strategic advice and guidance to businesses throughout the M&A process. M&A advisors work with businesses to develop a strategy for their transaction, identify potential buyers or investors, and negotiate the terms of the deal. M&A advisor fees for small business transactions typically range from 1% to 3% of the total transaction value.

Typical M&A Fees You Can Expect to See

In addition to the retainer or work fee from $50k to $250k, which is sometimes paid as a monthly consulting fee over a period of 4-12 months, you will incur a success fee:

• Deal Size $1 million to $5 million expect to be quoted a success fee of 12% to 8%
• Deal Size $5 million to $25 million expect to be quoted a success fee of 7% to 4%
• Deal Size of $30 million to $100 million expect to be quoted a success fee 4% to 2%

Exit Planner Fees

Exit planners are professionals who assist business owners with the development of an exit plan for their business. Exit planners work with businesses to develop a strategy for their transaction. Exit planner fees for small business transactions typically range from $10,000 to $25,000.

Fees for Mid-Sized Businesses

The fees for M&A transactions for mid-sized businesses can range from $250,000 to $2 million. The fees for mid-sized business transactions are typically higher than those for small businesses, as the size and complexity of the deals are typically larger. Mid-sized businesses may work with M&A advisors or investment bankers to manage their transactions, depending on their needs and budget.

M&A Advisor Fees

M&A advisor fees for mid-sized business transactions typically range from 1% to 3% of the total transaction value. M&A advisors provide strategic advice and guidance to businesses throughout the M&A process, working with businesses to develop a strategy for their transaction, identify potential buyers or investors, and negotiate the terms of the deal.

Investment Banker Fees

Investment bankers are professionals who provide financial services to businesses, such as advice on valuation, creating marketing materials, and finding potential buyers or investors. Investment bankers play a critical role in the M&A process by helping businesses find potential buyers or investors and negotiate the terms of the deal. Typical Investment banker fees for mid-sized business transactions typically range from 1% to 2% of the total transaction value.

Fees for Large Businesses