Posts by Hagen Rogers

Hagen Rogers

63 posts

https://watermarkadvisors.mystagingwebsite.com

Selling Your Business in 2026: 9 Factors Buyers Look For

July 8, 2026

Every business owner I speak with starts in the same place: “What is my business worth?” and “Is now the right time to sell?” In 2026, those are the wrong two questions. The lower middle market is not frozen. It is selective. The same market is running competitive auctions for some businesses and going silent…

Regulatory Pressures and Strategic Adaptation in Cross-Border M&A (Part 2)

December 5, 2025

Hagen Rogers

In Part I, we looked at how rising geopolitical tensions have reshaped the global cross-border M&A landscape, affecting deal volumes, valuations, and capital flows. Part 2 turns to another key force shaping these transactions — the growing weight of regulatory and national security oversight. It also explores how companies are adapting, using new deal structures…

Navigating Geopolitical Forces within Cross-Border M&A (Part 1)

November 18, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Cross-border M&A is undergoing significant changes due to heightened geopolitical tensions. While companies continue to pursue these types of transactions to expand markets, gain valuable resources, and achieve synergies, the environment has shifted. Since 2021, the share of cross-border deals in the U.S. relative to total M&A activity has steadily declined and is on track…

The Rise of Alternative Acquirers_watermark-wire

The Rise of Alternative Financial Acquirers Beyond Private Equity

October 22, 2025

Hagen Rogers

The lower middle market M&A landscape is undergoing a significant shift, with private equity now sharing the stage with a broader range of active financial acquirers. Independent sponsors, family offices, and search funds have each emerged as meaningful participants, bringing distinct investment approaches and value propositions to sellers. While private equity continues to play a…

From Bias to Discipline – How to Mitigate Behavioral Risk in M&A Part 2

October 9, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Nearly 70% of M&A deals miss the mark—behavioral biases are a major culprit. In Part 1, we examined how overconfidence, confirmation bias, and herd behavior influence M&A outcomes—and how tools such as devil’s advocates, pre-mortem analyses, and diverse committees can help mitigate their effects. Yet these represent only part of the behavioral challenge. Equally influential…

The Invisible Forces Behind M&A – Why Behavioral Finance Matters Part 1

September 17, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Nearly 70% of M&A deals miss the mark—behavioral biases are a major culprit. Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are often portrayed as calculated financial maneuvers—numbers on spreadsheets, deal multiples, and strategic rationales. But anyone who has lived through one knows the reality can be far more complex. The world of M&A is a tangled mix of…

An Interview with Robert F. Bruner: Author of Deals from Hell and Applied Mergers and Acquisitions

June 5, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Bob Bruner is a retired University Professor at the University of Virginia, Distinguished Professor of Business Administration and Dean Emeritus of the Darden School of Business. He is the author, co-author or editor of more than 20 books on finance, management and teaching. As a financial economist, Bruner is best known for his research on…

Navigating Turbulence: How Tariffs Are Reshaping the 2025 U.S. M&A Landscape

May 22, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Executive Summary Approaching mid-2025, the U.S. mergers & acquisitions (M&A) market faces heightened uncertainty, driven in part by significant tariff policies implemented under the Trump administration. Tariffs, including the 145% levy on Chinese imports and the 25% duties imposed on Canadian and Mexican goods, have introduced complexities into business decision-making. In May, a temporary agreement…

Deals, Disruption, and a New M&A Era: A First Look at 2025

May 1, 2025

Hagen Rogers

Deal Volume and Expectations for 2025 The U.S. M&A market heading into 2025 was expected to strengthen as key bottlenecks – namely monetary policy uncertainty and regulatory scrutiny abated. According to Goldman Sachs’ 2025 M&A Outlook, stabilizing capital markets, a rebound in CEO confidence, and the need for strategic growth and capability enhancement were expected…

Seller Fumbles & Landmines: Part 3 – The Subtle Mistakes That Can Derail Your Deal (10 Minute Video)

December 10, 2024

Hagen Rogers

In our last Watermark Wire video for 2024, Hagen Rogers shares 3 final Fumbles & Landmines that are more subtle in nature, but no less problematic! They often result in costly regrets for the seller.

Posts by Hagen Rogers

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