I’m frequently asked about the “right” price to put in the letter of intent. As you will know, the LOI is an important milestone in the M&A process, because it establishes a “gentleman’s agreement” before the formal deal is settled. You have yet to compete due diligence at this stage, and figuring out the right …
Category: M&A and External Growth
Acquisitions: Every Company Is For Sale
Why actively pursuing not-for-sale companies can lead to a better acquisition than a for-sale opportunity. When searching for acquisition prospects, most people only consider for-sale acquisitions. Usually these are offered by investment bankers, who carry a “book” of candidate companies. Restricting your search to for-sale opportunities is usually a mistake. I encourage clients to actively …
Keeping Strategy in Sight When Pursuing Acquisitions
Deferring to advisors during the M&A process can be detrimental to a company, as evidenced by the back and forth over Valeant Pharmaceuticals’ unsolicited $53 billion bid to acquire Allergan, the maker of Botox. The maneuvering over the past several months has become heated and off-track. Or as the Deal Professor column puts it: “Some …
The Dangers of Getting Swept Away In the Excitement of a Deal
“The danger with a mergers-and-acquisitions boom is that chief executives could allow themselves to get carried away by the thrill of the hunt, reducing their focus on internal investment projects that might have a better chance of bearing fruit,” says the New York Time’s Dealbook column. M&A activity has reached record highs and shows no …
Staying Connected: 4 Ideas for Meeting with Your Acquisition Team
Team meetings are important in order to move forward confidently when it comes to due diligence. Ideally I would want everyone on your team to be physically together, but I understand in today’s environment that may be difficult to schedule, and you’ll have to be creative to maintain team cohesion. Here are a few suggestions …
Valeant Seeks More Acquisitions
Valeant Pharmaceuticals International is determined to grow through acquisitions. Already actively pursuing a deal with Allergan, the maker of Botox, Valeant is reportedly seeking another contact lens company. CEO Michael Pearson said the company “will not be content to remain the No. 4 global player in the contact lens industry.” Valeant has a history of …
M&A Update: 1H 2014
M&A activity was on the rise in the first six months of 2014. Global M&A increased 73 percent to $1.77 trillion and Midmarket M&A increased 18 percent to $399.4 billion. Check out our infographic for a snapshot on Global Mergers and Acquisitions in 1H 2014. Click on the image for a closer look. Feature Photo …
How to Manage Unrealistic Expectations of Value
How often do sellers have unrealistic expectations of their company’s value? What’s the best way for a buyer to approach them early in the process and address their concerns? Todd Nelson, Capstone Valuation Advisor, answers: This is a common issue where sellers hold high value expectations for their businesses. While price is not the only …
Beware of the Usual Suspects
“Insanity,” Albert Einstein said, “is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.” An executive once told me he unsuccessfully had been trying to grow his company through acquisition for the past five years. For one reason or another, the acquisition candidates brought to him weren’t right. Either they didn’t …
Top Posts from the First Half of 2014
It’s hard to believe we’re already half way through the year! I’ve had the opportunity to write about a variety of M&A topics from analyzing transactions and trends to developing your acquisition strategy. I’ve compiled a list of the most popular posts from the Successful Acquisitions blog in 2014. I hope you enjoy these posts …
