Ready to sell? Know your firm’s value first

WESTMINSTER — MatchLogic Inc., which sold to Excite Inc., an Internet search engine company for more than $100 million, is proof positive that things can go smoothly in a business valuation handled by the buyer and seller.

Still, circumstances have to line up exactly right.

While business owners usually look for buyers, MatchLogic, a company that provides a source for business ad campaigns on the Internet, was approached by Excite. The deal happened without any business brokers or other middlemen, said John Moinester, MatchLogic vice president of finance. The sale happened in…