The right buyer can mean more than a name on an agreement. It can mean an owner feeling that the people behind the business have been understood.
In its July 1, 2019 announcement, ThirdSide Capital reported that it had advised the stockholders of Liberty Cedar, Inc. on the completed sale of the assets of its Rhode Island location and related real estate to an investor group with existing building-products holdings.
A business built on specialist products and relationships
The announcement described Liberty as a dealer in cedar and other specialty woods, serving architects, contractors and designers across the region. Its business combined product knowledge with attentive delivery and long-standing customer relationships.
The work behind the transition
ThirdSide’s announcement described valuation advisory, a confidential and structured marketing process, and negotiation of the transaction and financing. Rob Piacitelli and Bruce Charleson managed the engagement.
Liberty President and founding partner Dave Goss described the guidance in personal terms:
“ThirdSide’s process resulted in a buyer who is a great cultural fit for our employees.”
Dave Goss, Liberty Cedar President, quoted in ThirdSide’s July 1, 2019 announcement.
Let the owner’s priorities guide the questions
Our perspective is that an owner should have room to explain what a transition means personally, including the relationships they hope to see treated with care. That conversation can inform preparation, buyer discussions and the evaluation of proposed terms.
Cultural fit deserves practical questions. Ask how a prospective buyer understands the team, the customer relationships and the business’s strengths. Then consider the answers alongside the economics and the responsibilities you would retain.
Start with what matters to you
For someone considering a sale today, it illustrates why listening belongs at the start of the process. Before discussing what comes next, understand what the owner has built and what they want a transition to respect.
View the transaction overview →Sources & context
Prepared using the dated releases and announcements below. Practical observations are ThirdSide’s editorial perspective. Transaction plans are described as announced; economic estimates may be revised.
- ThirdSide Capital, “Successful Sale of Liberty Cedar, Inc.”, July 1, 2019. Firm announcement archive.
What would this mean for your business?
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