Adding Value – Involving Your Teams

When is the right time to involve your teams?

It’s a question we are asked all the time. There is no right or wrong answer – it depends on many aspects of your business and the dynamics of your senior management team. Your Prism advisor will be able to assist but here are a few things to consider that will help you to make that importance decision:

• Who can you trust? Remember that informing someone about a forthcoming transaction may help take the pressure off you but it inevitably transfers some onto them. Do they have broad shoulders?
• Who is crucial to a future sale – it generally pays to bring them on side early in the process.
• What are the risks of “word getting out” – the risk increases with the number “in the know”.
• Who do you need to help you through the due diligence process?

There are incentives you can put in place to help ensure that you do not lose your trusted key staff if you do decide to tell them about the exit. Consider share options and/or bonuses that are only exercisable on exit. These should help keep them committed and willing to help during the sale process.