In this financial marketplace dominated by goliath banks, credit unions stand apart due to their collaborative nature and commitment to service. Credit Union Service Organizations (CUSOs) have the same spirit of credit unions. A CUSO is an organization that is owned by credit unions in whole or in part that provides permitted financial services and/or …
Category: Strategy and Company Growth
4 things credit unions need to know about strategic mergers & acquisitions
As the world adjusts to the new normal, some organizations are struggling to adapt whereas others are thriving. Credit unions are no different. COVID-19 has caused disruption to the normal credit union operations and has economically impacted many members and employees. Credit unions are weathering this pandemic by caring for the needs of their members and by embracing digital banking and additional lending …
It’s Always a Good Time to Consider M&A
The fact that M&A deals have continued to take place despite the ‘Great Lockdown’ (as UBS described the 2020 coronavirus developments) suggests that mergers and acquisitions and more broadly, external growth initiatives, should be part of a company’s strategic planning considerations regardless of broader circumstances. Companies that have a clear vision and are regularly evaluating …
4 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Company
While the world is adjusting to the new normal, some businesses are struggling to adapt whereas others are thriving. Due to COVID -19 related challenges, many owners are selling their businesses. We see an incredible opportunity for firms that have acquisitions on their radar. For those of you who want to grow through M&A, here are four mistakes to avoid: Lack of a concise strategy– Failing to have a concise strategy is the number one …
3 Major Components of the Deal Structure
The deal structure in an M&A transaction is the collection of terms and conditions that encompass the deal. Three traditional ways of structuring an M&A deal are through an asset purchase, a stock purchase, or a merger. The preferred deal structure is usually agreed to in the Letter of Intent. Once due diligence is complete, …
5 Tips on Conducting Primary Research
Quality research is essential to the success of any acquisition plan. Once you have identified a specific company as a prospective acquisition, it is essential that you perform primary research in addition to typical secondary (online or database) research. Primary research involves getting on the phone and talking to people who deal with the company on …
4 things to focus on, to prepare your business for sale
Doing the groundwork for the sale of a business can be a challenging process for owners. Although there is no one size fits all solution to help owners prepare for a sale, meticulous preparation is vital. Primarily there are four areas to focus on Valuation – A professional valuation will give the owner a realistic …
3 Business Valuation Methods for When You’re Ready to Sell
In my last 30 years of helping companies grow, one of the most common questions I have come across is “how much is my company worth?”. Bringing together the financial (valuation) and non-financial (evaluation) pieces of the puzzle will help you determine the value of a company. Valuation refers to the economic value you place …
4 Things Credit Unions Should Focus on to Attract Gen Z
“Generation Z” is the generation following Millennials. Pew Research has defined Gen Z as anyone who was born after 1996. They grew up with technology, supposedly tend to maintain shorter attention spans and are very different from Millennials. Gen Z has already started to enter the workforce and there is no denying the fact that …
3 Top Reasons M&A Deals Fall Apart
When done right, an acquisition can dramatically accelerate the growth of a company. However, experience tells us that deals often fall apart. Each year thousands of dollars are spent by buyers and sellers on deals that go nowhere. Here are 3 top reasons M&A deals fall apart. 1. Lack of Strategy – Failing to have a …