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M&A News & Trends

Industrial AI Audit

The Industrial AI Audit: Turning “Data Plumbing” into Valuation Multiples

The landscape for lower-middle-market industrial transactions has undergone a fundamental shift in 2026. While traditional financial metrics remain the foundation of any deal, a new standard of due diligence has emerged: the Industrial AI Audit. Buyers no longer view technology as a secondary footnote; instead, they treat digital readiness as a primary driver of EBITDA […]

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SaaS Valuations in the Age of AI

The New Tech M&A Reality: SaaS Valuations in the Age of AI

For the modern software founder, the most critical shift in 2026 is the transition from tools that merely “store data” to platforms that “execute intent.” As tech giants declare the era of traditional, manual applications over, middle-market founders are finding that legacy CRUD-based systems, once the gold standard of stability, now face a “relevance gap” […]

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Buy-Side M&A Strategy: Navigating the Interest Rate Distraction

The Cost of Hesitation: Refining Your Buy-Side M&A Strategy for 2026

For manufacturing leaders in the lower middle market (LMM), a successful buy-side M&A strategy is currently being undermined by a psychological fixation on interest rates in early 2026. While Federal funds rates have settled into a stable range between 3.5% and 3.75%, a “wait-and-see” stagnation has quietly stalled many boardrooms. Owners of industrial firms with […]

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2026 M&A Outlook for the Lower Middle Market

2026 M&A Outlook for the Lower Middle Market

After a year of market choppiness in 2025, the M&A environment for lower-middle-market businesses is shifting toward stability. For owners of companies with annual revenue between $20 million and $200 million, the instability of early 2025, driven by tariff fluctuations and valuation gaps, initially slowed deal activity more than anticipated. However, as conditions stabilized in […]

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M&A South 2026: Why Your Advisor’s Valuable Network is Your Greatest Asset

M&A South 2026: Why Your Advisor’s Valuable Network is Your Greatest Asset

For a business owner considering an exit, the decision of which Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) firm to partner with is perhaps the most critical choice of the entire process. While financial acumen and a proven process are vital, one often-overlooked asset can significantly influence the outcome: your advisor’s deep, valuable network of buyers. In the […]

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F-Reorgs and M&A Exit Strategy

F-Reorgs and M&A Exit Strategy: Structuring for Success

For a business owner contemplating a sale, the M&A process is often seen through the lens of maximizing the final sale price. While value is certainly crucial, the underlying corporate structure of the selling entity often plays a significant, and sometimes overlooked, role in achieving the best possible outcome. This is where an F-Reorganization, or […]

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Samantha Jones, Principal

Introducing Samantha Jones, Principal at Walden M&A

Walden M&A is pleased to announce the addition of Samantha Jones as a Principal, adding a distinct perspective to our M&A advisory services.  She brings a combined experience as both a business seller and corporate executive with expertise in strategy, marketing, business development, and operations. This unique firsthand knowledge from both sides of the table […]

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Net Dollar Retention in M&A: The Key to Successful Business Acquisition

Net Dollar Retention in M&A: The Key to Successful Business Acquisition

For founders and executive operators of middle-market businesses with recurring revenue models like Software as a Service (SaaS), achieving a successful exit hinges on demonstrating business sustainability. For founders and executive operators of middle-market businesses with recurring revenue models like Software as a Service (SaaS), achieving a successful exit hinges on demonstrating business sustainability. Your […]

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The Attorney's Role in Mergers and Acquisitions

The Attorney’s Role in Mergers and Acquisitions 

For a middle-market business owner, the decision to sell represents the culmination of a lifetime’s work. It is an intensive process, full of complex negotiations and due diligence. A successful transaction hinges on meticulous preparation and the strategic alliance of experienced advisors. From the legal perspective, the attorney’s role is to build a rock-solid foundation, […]

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What Business Owners Need to Know About Business Valuation

What Business Owners Need to Know About Business Valuation

Deciding to sell a business is the culmination of years of hard work, but translating that effort into a maximum sale price requires expertise. Many founder and family-owned business owners begin their journey with a single, simplifying thought: their valuation is just an EBITDA multiple.  As an M&A firm specializing in the lower-middle market, Walden […]

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How to Find the Right Business for Your Acquisition

How to Find the Right Business for Your Acquisition: A Buy-Side Strategy

For middle-market companies seeking to grow, diversify, or gain a competitive edge, the process of finding the right business for acquisition requires a clear strategy, beyond a simple market search. It demands discipline, a precise vision, and the kind of marketplace access Walden M&A provides. Walden M&A Principals John Phillips and Samantha Jones share their […]

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How Much Will I Pay in Taxes When Selling a Business? Navigating the Tax Complexity for a Successful Exit

Navigating the sale of a business is one of the most critical events in an owner’s professional life, and the central question for many is: How much will I pay in taxes? The complexity of tax liability in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transactions is significant, depending on variables like business structure, deal type, and the […]

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