CEPA case studies
CEPA · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) credential is designed for professionals who advise business owners through the sale, transfer, or wind-down of a privately held company. It is most commonly pursued by CPAs, financial advisors, attorneys, insurance specialists, M&A intermediaries, and wealth managers who want a shared framework for owner engagement rather than a transaction-only skill set. The CEPA case studies are 5 cases and about 5,754 words.
1Ray's 7x: The Price of Admission He Won't Pay
Ray, 58, founded a specialty metal fabricator 26 years ago. Revenue is 18M, EBITDA 2.1M, and he expects to sell at 7x - roughly 14M - in four years.
1,026 words, about 5 min2Dana's Four Doors: Headline Multiple vs. Spendable Dollars
Dana, 62, owns a 30M-revenue industrial distributor with EBITDA of 4.0M and no family successor. Four paths are live: PE platform: 6.5x ( 26M), 70% cash at close, 30% rolled into newco equity, a 3M earnout, and a three-year employment agreement.
1,127 words, about 6 min3The Inspection Firm With Four Holes in Its Intangible Capital
An industrial inspection firm has 9M revenue and 1.8M EBITDA. Its largest customer is 38% of revenue and re-bids its vendor panel every three years; the current award has two years remaining.
1,125 words, about 6 min4Marguerite's $6 Million and the 4% Question
Marguerite, 66, owns 100% of a specialty chemical company carried at roughly 6.8M, which is 72% of her 9.5M net worth. The rest is a 0.9M house, free and clear, and 1.8M across brokerage and retirement accounts.
1,224 words, about 6 min5Ken's Advisor Circus: A Teaser in the Mail and a Trust on the Cap Table
Ken, 61, has assembled his own team: a CPA who has prepared the company's statements for 20 years and also does Ken's personal returns; a business broker who wants to list at 12M; an M&A advisor recommending nine months of preparation and a 9–10M target; a wealth advisor who has never worked on a transaction; and an estate attorney who, three years ago, sold 20% of Ken's stock to a grantor trust for a note. Ken's son, who runs operations, believes he should take over and has told the general manager so.
1,252 words, about 6 min