David Braun
Author's posts
The Strategy Behind the AbbVie-Shire Acquisition
Here’s a quick thought about the Abbvie – Shire transaction that’s received so much recent attention because of the decision to reincorporate in Ireland once the deal is completed. Tax inversions are in vogue and a hot topic in the media. While the tax benefits of an inversion certainly are important in this acquisition, that’s …
Zillow, Dollar Tree Announce Acquisitions
It was a busy Monday for Mergers & Acquisitions with two big brands announcing consolidations: Zillow will buy Trulia and Dollar Tree will buy Family Dollar. Activity is getting frothy and as I’ve been saying, the sleeping dragon is starting to wake up. Here’s what you need to know about these transactions: Zillow to acquire …
So Many Choices, So Little Time!
Choosing the best option for growth. More often than not we find our clients have too many choices rather than too few. The difficulty lies in prioritizing options and determining which one is the best path forward. You may find yourself in a similar situation. With so many options how can you choose? Although it …
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 …
Employee Secondment: A Secret to Successful Integration
Integration is key area of concern for many involved in mergers and acquisitions. According to a survey by Deloitte, 37% of directors and 43% of CFOs named post-deal integration as their top concern. About 47% of executives believe “people problems” in M&A are more prominent now than 12 months ago. So how can we overcome …
M&A – The Route to Success?
The polyolefins industry, like so many others, is evolving significantly. Growth in emerging markets and Asia has skyrocketed while European and North American markets have matured. Last week I was invited to speak at the Future of Polyolefins Conference 2014 in Dusseldorf, Germany, where top executives from key industry players such as Borealis AG and …
Closing the Deal: Lessons Learned from the LA Clippers Sale
The ability to move quickly can be crucial in successfully closing a deal. A large part of that means having financing ready so you can swiftly respond to the seller’s decision. I was reading a post about Steve Ballmer’s $2 billion acquisition of the LA Clippers that illustrates why having your financial package prepared is …
Tyson Foods Wins Fight for Hillshire
Two of the largest chicken producers, Pilgrim’s Pride and Tyson Foods, have been fighting over Hillshire Farms. On Monday, Tyson Foods raised its offer to $63 a share in cash, which values Hillshire at $7.7 billion. Last week, Pilgrim’s Pride had raised its bid 22% to $55 a share; however Pilgrim’s Pride has withdrawn its …
Pharmaceuticals Refocus and Consolidate
Pharmaceutical companies are using acquisition to become “pointy,” or more focused. Two recent examples are Bayer and Merck. Bayer is focusing on over the counter medications by acquiring Merck’s consumer care business for $14.2 billion. On the other hand, Merck has become more streamlined through divestment. As I’ve mentioned before, although divestment means becoming smaller, …
