Timeline

14 of 27 complete · 6 late, 5 of them on the critical path.

Critical path

Ordered by what a slip actually delays

Data room final

Due Aug 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

88d late

Formal process launch

Due Oct 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

27d late

Management meetings

Due Oct 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

27d late

Diligence round one

Due Oct 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

27d late

IOIs received

Due Oct 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

27d late

Buyer research baselines

Due Feb 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Data room audit

Due Feb 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Exit readiness assessment

Due Feb 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Financial reporting foundation

Due Mar 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Relationship development

Due Apr 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Enterprise dealer group wins

Due Jun 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Quiet strategic conversations

Due Jun 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Metric improvement

Due Aug 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Top buyer engagement

Due Aug 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

Management presentation ready

Due Aug 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

NDAs executed

Due Sep 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Completed

LOIs received

Due Nov 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Competitive bidding

Due Nov 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Buyer selection

Due Nov 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Confirmatory diligence

Due Dec 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Definitive agreement

Due Dec 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Closing

Due Dec 1, 2026 · nothing depends on it

Not started

Months 1–2 · Transaction prep

6/6

Transaction preparation

Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 · M&A Advisor

◆Buyer research baselines

Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Data room audit

Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Exit readiness assessment

Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Financial reporting foundation

Dec 1, 2025 – Mar 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Internal initiative kickoff

Dec 1, 2025 – Feb 1, 2026 · M&A Advisor

Months 2–4 · Relationship development

3/4

◆Relationship development

Feb 1, 2026 – Apr 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Enterprise dealer group wins

Feb 1, 2026 – Jun 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Metric improvement

Feb 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Buyer intelligence monitoring

Feb 1, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026 · M&A Advisor

Months 4–6 · Strategic conversations

2/31 late

◆Quiet strategic conversations

Apr 1, 2026 – Jun 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Buyer-specific value creation

Apr 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · M&A Advisor

Management positioning

Apr 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · M&A Advisor

Months 6–8 · Buyer engagement

2/31 late

◆Top buyer engagement

Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Data room final

Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Management presentation ready

Jun 1, 2026 – Aug 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Months 8–10 · Formal process

1/54 late

◆Formal process launch

Aug 1, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆NDAs executed

Aug 1, 2026 – Sep 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Management meetings

Aug 1, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Diligence round one

Sep 1, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆IOIs received

Sep 1, 2026 – Oct 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Months 10–11 · LOI and selection

0/3

◆LOIs received

Oct 1, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Competitive bidding

Oct 1, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Buyer selection

Nov 1, 2026 – Nov 1, 2026 · The company Founder

Months 11–12 · Close

0/3

◆Confirmatory diligence

Nov 1, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Definitive agreement

Nov 1, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026 · The company Founder

◆Closing

Dec 1, 2026 – Dec 1, 2026 · The company Founder