Category: M&A and External Growth

M&A Update: 3Q 2017 – Middle Market Activity on the Rise

Overall deal value and volume remain flat, but middle market activity is on the rise. When compared to 2016, worldwide M&A value and volume remained relatively flat for the first nine months of 2017, rising only 2% and 0.4%, respectively. In the US, announced deal value dropped 12% while the number of deals rose 18%, …

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Are You Missing Out on the Best Growth Opportunities?

Many companies may miss out on growth opportunities, including acquisitions, if they do not reassess their strategy in light of today’s economic environment. According to an article in CFO Magazine, a number of companies are not executing acquisitions because they maintain a high hurdle rate, even though the cost of borrowing capital is relatively low …

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Capstone to Speak on Multiple Pathways of Growth at FABTECH 2017

Capstone Managing Director John Dearing has been selected to speak at FABTECH 2017 in Chicago on November 7, 2017. John’s presentation, “Multiple Pathways of Growth: Innovative Strategies Business Leaders,” will explore five key options for taking company growth to the next level and help leaders understand the power of external growth (acquisitions, joint ventures, and …

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Ikea Buys Freelance Platform TaskRabbit so You’ll Never Have to Assemble Their Furniture Again

If you have ever purchased Ikea furniture, you understand the struggle of trying to assemble it. The “simple” diagrams are not easy to follow, some of the screws or nails go missing, and sometimes the piece falls apart after you finish building it. Ikea is hoping to solve this problem for future buyers with its …

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Buy vs. Build? How to Know Which Solution is Best

Should you acquire a company or develop your own solution? This is a question many leaders wrestle with when considering the best path forward for their company; however, there’s no one answer since every company’s situation is unique and each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. Let’s take a moment to explore these two pathways …

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Developing a New Product or Service? Consider Acquisition

96 percent of businesses fail within 10 years. 80 percent of consumer products fail annually. Statistically, it’s obvious that launching a new product or service is challenging. Entrepreneurs pour their lives into starting their companies and while some of the lucky ones become the next Facebook, most struggle to succeed. Even large established corporations face …

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2 Foundational Questions You Should Ask Before Doing a Deal

Many executives don’t always give enough pause and thought to the foundational aspects of M&A. The focus is often on doing, not thinking. Of course, it’s natural to get excited about an acquisition, but before you jump into the action, take a step back and think about the “why” of a deal. Why are you …

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3 Ways You Can Find the Right Acquisition Target

36 percent of middle market companies struggle to find the right partner when it comes to pursuing deals. Most acquirers begin their search by looking at a list of for-sale companies only to come away from the process empty-handed and disappointed. Many for-sale companies are on the chopping block for a reason. They may be …

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The Biggest Mistakes Acquirers Make and How You Can Avoid Them

If you pursue acquisitions, there is a high chance of failure. That sound harsh, but about 70% of all mergers and acquisitions fail. Deals fall apart before the transaction closes, suffer integration issues post-closing, or simply do not yield the return on investment that was expected. Think about the disastrous “merger of equals” between AOL …

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What Every Manager Needs to Know About M&A – AMA Edgewise Podcast

Hollywood would have us believe that the bulk of M&A transactions are a ruse to split of up newly acquired firms, but the reality is most deals average $100 million in size and are not nearly as dramatic as the movies. In today’s environment, where the world is changing quickly, and customers are seeking additional …

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