Main Street To Mid-Street Acquisition & Financing News

Expert insights, funding strategies, and practical guidance for securing capital, financing growth, and navigating business acquisitions. Whether you're raising capital for expansion, restructuring debt, or exploring your first acquisition, our blog provides the knowledge and resources to help you succeed.

Growth
October 14, 2025

Sony Acquires StatSports to Advance Sports Technology Landscape

Sony has acquired performance-tracking company StatSports in a move that strengthens its position in the global sports technology market. The deal integrates StatSports’ wearable data with Sony’s portfolio — including Hawk-Eye, KinaTrax, and Beyond Sports — to create a unified analytics ecosystem for athletes, coaches, and fans. By combining optical tracking with biometric insights, Sony aims to revolutionize athlete performance, injury prevention, and fan engagement worldwide.

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Growth
October 13, 2025

Private Credit vs Bank Loans: Pros and Cons

Private credit is faster and more flexible—terms can be tailored and deals can close in weeks—but you’ll typically pay higher rates and fees and may face tighter covenants. Bank loans are cheaper and build credit with regulated, standardized structures, yet require extensive documentation and can take 60–90+ days to fund. Choose private credit for time-sensitive, complex transactions; choose bank loans when cost and long-term predictability matter most.

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Growth
October 13, 2025

Ultimate Guide to Private Credit Fund Metrics

Private credit funds have become a cornerstone of modern alternative investing, offering higher yields by directly lending to businesses outside traditional banks. To evaluate these funds effectively, investors track key performance metrics like IRR, MOIC, and DPI to assess realized returns versus projected outcomes, alongside risk indicators such as default rates, LGD, and credit spreads. As the market evolves, asset-based lending, regulatory shifts, and global diversification continue to shape how managers deploy capital and how investors measure true performance in a higher-rate environment.

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Growth
October 12, 2025

How EBITDA Adjustments Impact Business Valuations

EBITDA drives valuation, so “normalizing” it—adding back owner perks, true one-time costs, and non-operating items—can swing enterprise value dramatically. Even a $50,000 adjustment can shift price by $150,000–$300,000 at a 3–6× multiple, which is why clean support (receipts, contracts, market-rate comps) is non-negotiable. Precise, defensible adjustments build buyer trust and help reflect the company’s true earning power.

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Growth
October 12, 2025

Improving SBA Loan Applications After Feedback

Got a “no” on your SBA loan? Treat the lender’s notes like a checklist: fix missing docs, tighten a data-backed business plan and projections, address credit blemishes, and be sure you’re applying to the right program (7(a) vs. 504). Re-submit a clean, consistently labeled packet—ideally using a secure data room and pre-qualification tools (e.g., Clearly Acquired + Plaid)—to speed underwriting and boost your approval odds.

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Growth
October 12, 2025

Novo Nordisk acquires Akero Therapeutics, driving stock surge of 19%

Novo Nordisk announced its $5.2 billion acquisition of Akero Therapeutics, causing Akero’s stock to jump 19% as investors welcomed the move. The deal centers on Akero’s promising drug, efruxifermin, aimed at treating liver disease caused by MASH, and could include an additional payout if FDA approval is secured. This acquisition strengthens Novo Nordisk’s pipeline in metabolic disease treatments as it faces growing competition and cost pressures in its core obesity drug segment.

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Growth
October 12, 2025

Key Players in Private Credit for SMB Financing

Private credit has rapidly emerged as a dominant force in small and medium-sized business (SMB) financing, offering faster and more flexible funding than traditional banks. With nearly half of all new SMB credit now coming from alternative lenders, firms like Five Points Capital, Sixth Street, and Clearly Acquired are leading the charge. Each brings a unique edge—ranging from relationship-driven capital partnerships to asset-based lending and AI-enabled deal financing—helping SMBs access tailored funding that aligns with their growth goals.

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Growth
October 10, 2025

Confluent explores sale amidst rising AI-driven data software acquisition trends

Confluent Inc. (CFLT), a leading data streaming platform, is reportedly exploring a sale after attracting interest from private equity firms and major tech players, according to Reuters. The move comes as the company’s stock struggles—down 26% year-to-date—despite its strong positioning in AI-driven data infrastructure. This potential sale aligns with a broader trend of consolidation in the AI and data software sector, following major acquisitions by Salesforce, Snowflake, and Databricks aimed at strengthening real-time data and analytics capabilities.

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Growth
October 10, 2025

5 Common Collateral Types for Business Loans

When securing a business loan, lenders typically ask for collateral—most often real estate, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, or cash/marketable securities—to reduce risk and size the loan with clear loan-to-value ratios. Each asset varies in valuation ease, liquidity, and risk (cash and A/R are most liquid; inventory can be riskier), so the best choice depends on your industry and balance sheet. To improve approval odds, document ownership, confirm there are no competing liens, and keep valuations and financial records current.

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Growth
October 9, 2025

How to Scale and Exit With Bolt-On Acquisitions

Bolt-on acquisitions are one of the fastest ways to scale and increase enterprise value before an exit. By acquiring smaller, complementary businesses, operators can expand market share, add capabilities, and grow profits far faster than through organic means. As Josh Davis’s story shows, building systems, empowering people, and leveraging technology are the keys to turning bolt-on growth into a high-value, private equity–ready exit.

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Growth
October 9, 2025

How to Buy a $500K/Year Business Using an SBA Loan

Buying a $500K-per-year business with an SBA loan is one of the most accessible paths to wealth creation for first-time buyers. With just 10–20% down — often offset through seller financing — you can acquire a profitable, cash-flowing company while leveraging bank capital to minimize personal risk. The key lies in selecting a stable business, proving operational readiness, and structuring the deal to meet SBA lending requirements.

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Growth
October 8, 2025

NBA approves record $6.1B sale of Boston Celtics to Bill Chisholm's team

The NBA has approved the record-breaking $6.1 billion sale of the Boston Celtics to a group led by private equity executive Bill Chisholm, marking the largest transaction in U.S. sports history. The deal, which could rise to $7.3 billion, gives Chisholm majority ownership and full control by 2028. Beyond setting a valuation milestone, the sale underscores the surging market demand for elite sports franchises and ushers in a new era for one of basketball’s most storied teams.

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Acquire Quality. Fund Growth. Close with Confidence.

As an AI-driven Business Acquisition Marketplace and Financing Platform, we are on a mission to simplify and accelerate the MainStreet to MidStreet lending and acquisition ecosystem.

We specialize in technology that supports price discovery, identity verification and financial qualification, and buy-side tools to help searchers source and manage deal flow, make offers, secure lending/financing solutions, and close with confidence.

illustration of team with digital platform

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some frequently asked questions by users that are looking to buy businesses on Clearly Acquired:

How can I show business owners I'm a legitimate buyer and that I'm interested?

With a Clearly Verified account, you can instill confidence in other users, brokers and sellers that you are, who you say you are, when you "verify" your identify.  This is the key to instilling confidence in the users on the platform,  gaining traction and getting instant access to financials, supporting data and insight to quickly move to making an offer or moving on.   This will save you months of wasted time and expedite the closing of a sale.

How are my finances verified?

Using financial technology the Clearly Acquired Platform safely and securely verifies your finances, to help sellers understand your closing capability and help lenders expedite your financing. Additionally, the buy-side deal room will help you get your documentation in order, to prepare you for the debt and equity financing you will need to close your acquisition.

Can I get in touch with advisors to help support me in this process?

The Clearly Acquired team is here to support you on your business acquisition or business sale journey. That said, the platform is designed to connect you with a community of users, who are identify verified, which include: investors, lenders, advisors, brokers, consultants, and other buyers who are looking for partners.  

What is a Deal Hub?

The Deal Hub is the central repository for all transaction-related activities on our business acquisition platform. It serves as a secure and organized space where buyers and sellers can access critical information and manage the entire acquisition process efficiently. The Deal Hub is divided into two main components: the Data Room and the Deal Rooms.

Data Room: The Data Room is a secure, virtual storage space where sellers can upload and share essential documents related to their business. This includes financial statements, legal contracts, operational reports, and other due diligence materials. Buyers can access these documents to conduct thorough evaluations and make informed decisions. The Data Room ensures that all sensitive information is protected and only accessible to authorized parties.

Deal Rooms: The Deal Rooms are dedicated spaces for each business listing where buyers and sellers can collaborate and negotiate terms. Each Deal Room is equipped with tools for real-time communication, document sharing, and tracking the progress of the deal. This streamlined environment facilitates transparent and efficient interactions, helping to expedite the acquisition process and ensuring that both parties are aligned at every stage.

The Deal Hub's comprehensive and secure infrastructure simplifies the complexities of business acquisitions, providing a seamless experience for all users involved.

What is Plaid?

Plaid is a financial technology company that provides a secure and seamless way to connect and interact with financial institutions. It enables applications to access users' financial data with their consent, facilitating a wide range of services such as identity verification, account authentication, and transaction history retrieval. Plaid's robust API infrastructure ensures high security, reliability, and compliance with regulatory standards.

By integrating Plaid, Clearly Acquired can offer a secure, efficient, and reliable method for identity verification, building trust among users and ensuring the integrity of the acquisition process.

I am new to the idea of business acquisition, where can I get more information on how to get started?

Make sure to check out our Educational Course on Business Acquisition that is offered in our paid plans for buyers: From Purchase to Profit: Mastering the Art of Business Acquisition.

This Membership Course for buyers is designed to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to navigate the business acquisition process successfully. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced entrepreneur, our course equips you with the tools and insights needed to make informed decisions and achieve your acquisition goals. Join us and embark on your journey to buying a business with Clearly Acquired.

Easy as 1, 2, 3

Create Your Account. Get Verified. Start Searching.

1

Create an account

Every day, lenders, investors, brokers, and sellers come to Clearly Acquired looking for qualified operators like you. Creating an account and getting verified helps you stand out and build trust.

2

Build your profile

Build your profile to get matched with capital and opportunities. Showcase your expertise and resume, to connect with the right capital and acquisition partners—making every opportunity count.

3

Search & Connect

Browse Verified listings, source off-market deals, & manage deal flow with powerful tools to underwrite opportunities, and connect with capital to streamline the entire acquisition and funding process

Join the Clearly Acquired Search Community

Create Your Profile & Get Verified for Free