A “significant capital investment” will make BizEquity a part of the country’s biggest publisher of news and information on local businesses. American City Business Journals (ACBJ) announced today that it has acquired a majority stake in the business valuation specialist that will help fuel the company’s growth, as well as add to ACBJ’s own suite of business information services.
ACBJ CEO Whitney Shaw highlighted both points in explaining the reasons for the company’s investment in the businesstech firm. Noting that American City Business Journal’s primary service is delivering business news to people in the communities where those businesses operate, Shaw underscored BizEquity’s contribution to ACBJ’s product line-up. “Through BizEquity, we can enhance our core offering by giving additional, valuable information and insights to businesses of all sizes and to the professionals who serve them,” Shaw said.
BizEquity founder and CEO Michael Carter anticipates leveraging ACBJ’s “coast-to-coast footprint” and presence in 43 American cities to help broaden the market for BizEquity’s technology. “Democratizing business valuation knowledge to the more than 31 million private businesses in North America has been our mission from day one,” Carter said. “No information is more critical to a business owner’s future than knowing what his or her business is worth. BizEquity unlocks that information.”
Post acquisition, Carter will serve as the head of a newly-formed information services group at American City Business Journals, according to reporting in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
BizEquity’s cloud-based technology examines 143 different data points to enable owners and managers to monitor business valuation over time and see what forces make the most impact on value. BizEquity’s valuation service is available via a network of more than 650 financial institutions and 2,500+ advisors, bankers, accountants, and other financial professionals. The company’s partners include firms like Experian, TD Bank, and Mass Mutual Financial Group.
The acquisition news comes just days after the company disclosed a new partnership with UBS. The agreement will enable UBS financial advisors operating in the U.S. to access BizEquity’s database of businesses and valuation information. “Our advisors are constantly looking for new ways to grow their business and expand their reach, particularly in middle-market businesses,” explained James Jack, director of the business owner strategic client segment at UBS Financial Services. “Access to the BizEquity platform will help us to deliver highly tailored advice to our clients.”
BizEquity demonstrated the latest features of its BizEquity One UK platform at FinovateEurope 2015. These enhancements included real-time dynamic valuations updated daily, a powerful new search feature for pre-valued businesses in the U.K., real time advice and alerts, and an updated dashboard that provides an easy-to-understand, infographic-like view of business valuation and KPIs.