| Organization: A manufacturer seeking to sell after decades of success. | Need: A sale preserving legacy, protecting employees, and boosting value. | Outcome: Closed in five months at a good value to the owners’ preferred buyer. |
Understanding the situation
A wire harness manufacturer serving industrial and transportation markets had owners ready to transition after decades of success. Their priorities were clear:
- Maintain the company’s legacy
- Protect employees
- Achieve a fair value
While a few parties had expressed interest previously, the owners wanted a structured process and expert guidance for a first-time sale.
Get help preparing your business for a smooth sale.
Exploring the challenge
Negotiating with professional buyers for the first time, the owners needed informed guidance to protect their goals — market-norm terms, tax impacts, purchase agreement details, and a fair net working capital target — while keeping key managers incentivized. They also needed clarity on tax estimates and support through buy-side diligence.
How CLA helped
CLA delivered a comprehensive, sequenced approach:
- Prepared sell-side quality of earnings and tax models
- Supported letter-of-intent negotiations and purchase agreement review
- Advised on net working capital targets and market terms
- Supported diligence and aligned personal goals through wealth advisory
“CLA helped us get ready to sell, provided thorough due diligence and tax modeling, and kept negotiations and buyer requests on track so we closed in under five months at a value we felt good about.” — Manufacturing company owners
Achieving results
The transaction closed in less than five months at a value the owners were comfortable with, delivering a transition on their terms.
The operating business was sold to the owners’ preferred buyer, while the real estate was sold separately to meet the overall deal objectives. Key management employees were retained and incentivized to support continuity through the transition, helping day-to-day operations remain stable.
Overall, the owners achieved both strong outcomes and peace of mind, with continuity preserved for the business and team.