Three Successful Exits - what this ex M&A lawyer learned about Earnouts: Tony Simmons:

Master M&A, Earnouts, and Small Business Growth with Tony Simmons | Owner to Owner Podcast Ep #184

In Episode 184 of the Owner to Owner podcast, host Michael Kerr sits down with entrepreneur, builder, and former M&A lawyer Tony Simmons to explore the hidden realities of business exits, negotiation traps, and structural deal risks.

Episode Overview & Key Takeaways

• From Corporate Law to Entrepreneurship: Tony shares his pivotal career shift from working on massive telecommunications deals at British Telecom in London during the dot-com boom to chasing his entrepreneurial ambitions.
• Building and Exiting Tech Ventures: A look back at Tony’s ventures—including Full Circle Group, Lithodomus, and Sonant—and why solving real customer problems naturally leads to acquisition opportunities.
• Navigating M&A Traps and Exclusivity: Expert advice on avoiding predatory buyer tactics, managing living data rooms from day one, and navigating high-stakes exclusivity periods without losing leverage.
• Demystifying Earnouts: Understanding how earnouts function as an insurance policy for acquirers, the importance of securing cash upfront, and how poorly structured deals strip founders of control.
• The Post-Exit Reality: Candid insights into the psychological toll, identity loss, and emotional challenges founders face the day after walking away from their businesses.
• Fixing Small Business Policy: Tony's take on cutting bureaucratic red tape and why policymakers need real-world private sector experience to support small business growth.

Listen to the full episode to master the mechanics of business exits and protect your enterprise value. 

Connect with Tony Simmons at tonysimmons.com.au or via LinkedIn.

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Reach out to Michael Kerr via the website if you need personal assistance or advice for your small business.

michael.kerr@kerrcapital.com.au

www.ownertoownerpodcast.com.au