Some might say the best time to pursue an acquisition is when the right opportunity comes along, but they’re wrong. The best time to pursue M&A is whenever you are ready. The best opportunities are those that you seek out proactively. If you wait around for opportunity to come to you, you may be missing out.
To many it’s a novel approach, but we advocate pursuing not-for-sale acquisitions: that is, companies that have not advertised themselves as potential acquisition prospects, and may have not even have considered the option. The truth is, every company is for sale…for the right equation. Especially in the privately-held world, when a company is “not-for-sale” it simply means the owner is not currently considering selling, but they may be open to it if a sufficiently attractive vision is presented. It’s possible that up till now, they haven’t found the right buyer, or simply have never really thought about M&A as an option. If you only look at companies that are for sale, you drastically limit your choices.
By being proactive you can search for a company that meets your ideal profile and fits in with your growth strategy rather than accepting whatever happens to be on the market. If you were planning to buy a car, you wouldn’t wait for s salesman to knock at your door and hope you like what he offers. You’d decide on exactly the features and look that you want, and go in search of the closest match you can find.
Pursuing acquisition on your own terms starts with a carefully developed M&A strategy. This should complement your company’s overall growth strategy. The most successful acquisitions aren’t about cost-savings or financial engineering; they are about setting your company up for long-term growth. Acquisitions can be one of the fastest ways to grow your business and help you reach new markets and customers.
It usually takes at least one year to develop your M&A strategy, create a step-by-step plan, identify the right companies and execute and close the deal. Keep this timeline in mind when you start thinking about a transaction. So if you’re anticipating any challenges to your current growth, the time to start on your acquisition plan is not some future date when you run into an eager seller — it’s today!
