Family Business Advisory Services

July 2, 2021

Summer 2021 Reading

Family Business Director is off enjoying 4th of July festivities this week. For our readers that are looking for some beach reading, we thought we would direct your attention to some of our more popular posts in case you missed them the first time around.

Valuation Principles Family Business Directors Should Know in 2021

Family business directors will make plenty of difficult decisions in the remainder of 2021, and many of those decisions will require assessing the value of the company’s shares, a particular business segment, or a potential acquisition target. What should you and your fellow directors know about valuation? In our experience, there are six basic valuation principles that can guide directors as they make tough valuation-related decisions in the coming year.

Click Here to Read


Navigating Tough Family Business Conversations

How should your family business have discussions around sensitive topics? Perhaps it is a patriarch who has run one too many strategic board meetings, the cousin who refuses to take their Vice President role seriously, or the aunt who is rather loose in defining what a “business meal” is. “No Aunt Millie, this is not a case of defining what ‘is‘ is”.

Click Here to Read


The Three-Legged Stool of Family Business

Our family business advisory practice is focused on three strategic financial questions that weigh on family business directors and can keep them awake at night. Clients often solicit our advice because they are struggling with one of these questions. But, in our experience, the questions can’t really be tackled in isolation. Each question comprises one leg of the three-legged stool of the family business. As an engineering-minded client recently pointed out to us, while it is impossible for a three-legged stool to wobble, it can be crooked. If the three legs are not designed to work together, the stool won’t be level, and won’t hold anything valuable for long.

Click Here to Read


All EBITDA Is Not Created Equal

In the world of family-owned and other private businesses, EBITDA is the most commonly cited performance measure. Every company has EBITDA, but some EBITDA is better than others. Why is that?

Click Here to Read


The Economics of Family Shareholder Redemptions

Regardless of the reason, significant shareholder redemptions are among the least understood corporate transactions. In this post, we consider the economics of family shareholder redemptions from three perspectives: the selling shareholder, the family business, and the remaining shareholders.

Click Here to Read


We hope you have a relaxing and enjoyable summer break. If you know a family business director or advisor that might benefit from our content, forward this note or email us and we will be sure to add them as a subscriber. Happy reading!

Continue Reading

Mercer Capital Sponsoring and Speaking at the 5th Annual It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium
Mercer Capital Sponsoring and Speaking at the 5th Annual It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium
Mercer Capital is pleased to sponsor the 5th annual It’s All Relative Family Business Symposium, hosted by the Ole Miss Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The 2026 program will focus on governance and boards, with sessions designed to help family business leaders think more strategically about structure, stewardship, and long-term continuity.The Symposium takes place September 15-16, 2026, in Flowood, Mississippi. Travis Harms, Tripp Crews, and Zac Lange will represent the firm at the Symposium.In addition, Travis Harms and Tripp Crews are also leading the Tuesday afternoon session on “Dividend and Redemption Policies,” which explores how family businesses can balance shareholder liquidity needs with the capital required to support the long-term health of the business.Travis Harms, CFA, CPA, ABV, is President of Mercer Capital and leads the firm’s Family Business Advisory Services Group. He focuses on financial education, valuation, and strategic financial consulting for multigenerational family businesses.Tripp Crews, ABV, is a Vice President with Mercer Capital and serves on the firm’s Transaction Advisory Services team, the Agribusiness Industry team, and the Family Business Advisory Services Group. He works on valuation and transaction-related matters for closely held businesses and family enterprises, with particular experience in agribusiness and ownership transition issues.Zac Lange, CPA, ABV, is a Vice President with Mercer Capital and serves on the firm’s Family Business Advisory Services Group. He focuses on supporting family businesses and litigants with valuation, financial analysis, and dispute-related matters, including corporate planning and reorganizations, financial reporting, and fairness opinions.Mercer Capital regularly works with family business owners and advisors on valuation and strategic financial matters involving ownership, governance, succession, and long-term planning. The firm is proud to support programs that bring family business leaders together for practical discussion and shared learning.Mercer Capital looks forward to connecting with attendees in Flowood and participating in this year’s Symposium. To learn more about the symposium, visit the event's website: https://olemisscie.com/family-business-26/
When Was the Last Time Anyone Read the Buy-Sell Agreement?
When Was the Last Time Anyone Read the Buy-Sell Agreement?

You Asked. We Answer.

Periodic review of a family business’s buy-sell agreement can reveal whether its valuation, liquidity, and transfer provisions still align with current shareholder expectations and financial realities. Testing the agreement through a hypothetical triggering event can help identify potential conflicts before they become costly disputes.
What Happens If the Formula in Our Buy-Sell Agreement Is Wrong?
What Happens If the Formula in Our Buy-Sell Agreement Is Wrong?

You Asked. We Answer.

Buy-sell agreement formulas can become outdated as a family business evolves, potentially producing values that no longer align with shareholder expectations. Regularly testing the formula against a current valuation can help identify problems before a triggering event occurs.

Cart

Your cart is empty