David Braun

Author's posts

3 Reasons Why Nordstrom May Go Private

Faced with slow sales, the Nordstrom family is exploring taking the iconic department store private. It’s no secret that despite the strong economy, the retail industry has been hit hard and the rise of ecommerce has impacted brick and mortar stores across the world. Department stores like Nordstrom, Macy’s, JCPenney, and Sears are struggling to …

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Deere Acquires Construction Equipment Company to Combat Falling Sales

Deere plans to acquire German road construction company Wirtgen Group for $4.88 billion in order to expand its road construction operations and reduce its dependence on farm equipment. Wirtgen’s products span the entire road construction sector including milling, processing, mixing, paving, compaction and rehabilitation. Deere, most famous for its John Deere tractors, is heavily reliant …

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3 Reasons Acquisitions Fail and How You Can Avoid Them

Done right, acquisitions create value and accelerate a company’s growth setting you up for long-term success. However, experience tells us about 77% of acquisitions fail. Deals often fall apart before they close or fail to generate their expected value. Here are three common reasons why acquisitions don’t work out and how you can avoid them. …

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Why Focus is Key to Successful Company Growth

Companies that grow in meaningful ways always take on a highly strategic approach to growth. This is because focus produces results. Lack of focus is like wandering around without any purpose or any clear direction of where you want to go. While you may walk for many miles, you’ll never reach your destination. On the …

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How to Grow Your Business – 5 Options for Business Leaders

Do you want to grow your business? Of course you do. After all, growth is the key to a successful company and, without it, a business is almost certainly declining. The real question isn’t if you want to grow your business, but how you will go about doing so. The natural trajectory of a new …

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What the Middle Market Can Learn from Big Mergers

Multi-million and billion dollar deals dominate the news, and sometimes it can be difficult to see how these transactions apply to your company. But if you look past the zeroes and dig down into the “why” of an acquisition, you’ll find there are many lessons for middle market executives looking to grow their companies through …

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3 Ways to Combat Rumors in Mergers and Acquisitions

From the somewhat plausible to the downright outrageous, rumors abound whenever a transaction is announced. While some rumors may be innocuous, unfortunately others may have lasting, damaging effects on your company and employee morale so it’s important to quickly put a stop to them. Here are three practical steps to kill gossip and reduce confusion. …

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Verizon to Acquire Straight Path to Build 5G Network

Verizon will acquire Straight Path Communications for $3.1 billion, beating out AT&T’s initial offer of $1.25 billion. The primary driver for the deal is accessing Straight Path’s millimeter wave spectrum which will be key to building a faster 5G network. Disruptive technology and evolving consumer habits are reshaping the telecommunications industry at a rapid pace …

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5 Things Middle Market Leaders Should Know About Today’s Market

Last week the Wall Street Journal hosted the Middle Market Network to discuss issues relevant to middle market firms in the US. The good news is that middle market companies are getting healthier. With an increase in M&A activity and a boom in the construction industry, middle market businesses are growing and CEO confidence is …

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How to Face the Pressures of Today’s Business Environment

All companies, even those that are profitable, face pressure from today’s economic environment.  Whether its regulatory hurdles, increased competition, geopolitical risk, or new technology, the world today is constantly changing. Unfortunately, many companies realize this too late and “suddenly” find themselves in an impossible situation that is incredibly difficult to reverse. The best way to …

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