Published : 9 years ago, on 20/06/2015

BizEquity targeting financial intermediaries in the US and IFAs in the UK as a strong route to market and expects to announce shortly a range of further partnership agreements

BizEquity, the world’s leading online provider of business valuation knowledge and big data announced that it has signed a distribution agreement with Four Seasons Financial Group, Inc. (FSFG), a leading US-based financial intermediary and wholesale provider of insurance and investments products and services to the institutional markets.

BizEquity is targeting financial intermediaries in the US and IFAs in the UK as a strong route to market and expects to announce shortly a range of further partnership agreements. Post the Retail Distribution Review, UK IFAs, which number some 15,000 firms generating close to £4 billion of annual revenues, have been looking for ways to add value and enhance their services and the BizEquity valuation platform offers an excellent opportunity to do this and build up stronger relationships with their clients.

The platform provides company owners with a simple and reliable service to give them insight into the fundamental question about their business, what it’s worth, at a fraction – less than 1/10th – of the typical £5,000 cost and typical time – 4-6 weeks – it takes traditional business valuation firms to undertake the same process. This helps to optimise business owners’ decision making over a range of areas, including finance, insurance, employee rewards etc and helps to ensure they adopt appropriate growth strategies.

FSFG, which works with over 150 banks and broker/dealers and over 5,000 financial advisors, will distribute BizEquity’s ‘Advisor Office’ subscription service to major insurance companies – life, health and property & casualty – banks, wire-houses, broker/dealers, registered investment advisors and other financial distribution sources and intermediaries.

Some 10 million businesses are expected to change ownership over the next 10 years, and many business owners planning retirement based on the sale of their company, business valuation knowledge is a vital service for financial institutions and advisors to provide.

BizEquity has also already signed agreements with 45 financial institutions globally, including leading wealth management firms, financial advisors and international banks, including Metro Bank US, Dynasty Financial Partners in New York; Mutual of Omaha; and one of the UK’s largest wealth management firms.

BizEquity secured £3 million from boutique UK private equity firm, Frost Brooks, to accelerate its global expansion strategy and planned roll out across Europe, the Asia Pacific region and North Africa. In February 2015, the company launched in the UK at one of the world’s leading FinTech conferences, Finovate Europe, and has since established a UK office at the prestigious Level 39 accelerator in London’s Canary Wharf.

BizEquity, headquartered in Wayne, Pennsylvania, was founded by Michael M. Carter, a former venture capitalist, in 2010.  Over the past 12 months BizEquity has enjoyed rapid growth and to date has valued more than 29.4 million businesses worldwide, with turnovers ranging from $35,000 to $375 million.

Globally the business valuation industry is also set for accelerated growth and the market opportunity is significant with some 200 million businesses worldwide and over 98% of them failing to value themselves annually, largely due to the time and cost constraints. BizEquity is an excellent example of the fast-paced expansion of the global FinTech sector. International investments in FinTech ventures tripled from $4.05 billion in 2013 to $12.2 billion in 2014 and this shows no sign of slowing in 2015.

Michael M. Carter, CEO of BizEquity, commented:  

“BizEquity has developed the world’s largest and only real time, online business valuation system and service.  By adding FSFG as a strategic distribution partner in the life insurance market we will benefit from their stellar 20 plus years’ experience and focus in the financial markets and we couldn’t be happier with their assistance in our growth plans.  We plan similar partnerships with leading IFAs in the UK, which are looking to enhance their services and stay close to their clients and we have already experienced great success working with over 45 financial institutions and we are aiming to expand our reach to 100 by the end of the year.”

James J. Sorebo, CLU President and CEO of FSFG, commented: 

“Four Seasons couldn’t be more excited about having the opportunity to partner with BizEquity. The company’s market leading position globally in the business valuation market provides a huge value add to our financial based clients.  In today’s commoditized product world, BizEquity will be the difference maker for financial intermediaries to talk with business owners about their largest asset, their business, like never before. The business valuation market is approximately $8 billion in the U.S, with 98% of private businesses never having gone through the process.  We’ll disrupt the current model by doing it quicker, easier and less expensive than ever before.”