Business owners who have spent years, sometimes decades, building something from nothing know the decision to sell is rarely just financial. It’s personal, tangled up with identity, legacy, and fear of what comes next.
According to Richard Waryn, a private equity veteran who says he has raised and managed more than $6 billion in emerging-market funds during a three-decade career, some aspects of the current market may create opportunities for owners considering a sale. However, the conditions and potential outcomes vary considerably by company, sector, buyer interest, and access to financing.
Waryn is a founding partner of Ridgefield Partners, a merger and acquisition advisory firm that works with lower middle market companies, generally those valued under 250 million dollars, guiding owners through the process of selling all or part of their business. He also personally acquired and grew LDK Logistics, a Colorado-based high-end logistics company handling first- and final-mile delivery of large equipment, giving him firsthand experience as an operator rather than only as an advisor.