Show Brokers "Proof of Funding" For Self-Funded Searchers?

searcher profile

June 25, 2019

by a searcher from University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School in 1032 N Boden Dr, Anaheim, CA 92805, USA

I've come across some business brokers who are looking for proof-of-funding. While some are okay with SBA-types of arrangements, some aren't. Does anyone know of any organizations, resources, or approaches to help show this?

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commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
Hey Joseph, totally get your point. Allow me to be devils advocate for a moment.

Sellers should state up front that they are interested in 100% one time transaction cash only buyers. Because it's the same way the buyer can waste their time money and effort. And it's the buyers job to be aggressive unless they are.... Quote u quote... Dumb money.... Would you walk on a Used Car lot and declare financing capabilities before you even sit in the car and feel the interior or look under the hood, read the specs, history of the car etc? Think not lol. So although I know brokerage is an industry it's still different when dealing with sophisticated investors who's job it is to match value with financing structures.

Again don't get me wrong, if I were a broker I probably would be asking for that too just to weed out the time wasters but would be keen on looking out for sophisticated buyers based on their responses to the proof of funds question.

From my experience the sophisticated brokers refrain from requesting proof of funds up front. But again you can look at it either way.
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Reply by a searcher
Lets assume you were an established organization with 25 years investing experience and a solid company with 30 employees and 2 billion under management. Would you disclose to a broker your confidential company financials to see a deal that isn't under the stage of LOI? My humble opinion is just respond and let them know that its against company policy to disclose financial information before the LOI stage, but you would be happy to disclose financial information subject to the successful signing of an LOI. You should be good to go with that. If they won't accept that then I wouldn't consider the broker professional at all. You are the buyer and you need to maintain power, don't let them sway you into releasing your negotiating leverage. You won't know what the deal is going to look like anyway until you see some kind of financials and do pre-due diligence. Best of luck. Hope it works out.
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