David Braun

Author's posts

Why Do Owners Really Agree to Sell?

How many of you would say your most recent hire agreed to join your organization purely for financial reasons? Most employees take other factors into consideration including benefits, location, job description, your company’s mission, and “fit” with your company’s culture. The financial side is certainly important, but leveraging these other factors is critical, especially when …

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Common Misconceptions About M&A Explained – Part 3

This post is part of a series on common misconceptions about acquisitions I’ve encountered over the years as an advisor. Read parts one and two. Misconception #3: Only the CEO and CFO Should Be Involved Because of the confidential nature of acquisitions, naturally most company owners do not disclose their acquisition plans to the entire …

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Common Misconceptions About M&A Explained – Part 2

This post is part of a series on common misconceptions about acquisitions I’ve encountered over the years as an advisor. To read the first post, please click here. Misconception #2: You Can Execute an Acquisition “On the Side” Many underestimate the level of effort required to complete a transaction. An acquisition is a significant undertaking …

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Common Misconceptions About M&A Explained

Throughout my over 25 years’ experience helping companies grow through strategic mergers and acquisitions, I have seen many different types of transactions and while each deal is unique, there are a few common themes that run through them all. In this series I will be answering some typical questions and clarifying a few common misconceptions …

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Be Specific About Price In the Letter of Intent

Don’t rush to get a signed letter of intent (LOI) by kicking the can down the road on price. A signed LOI is a significant milestone in the M&A process, indicating mutual interest in an acquisition. The document covers the basic parameters of the deal that both buyer and seller agree to including what will …

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Three Common Due Diligence Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

In October 2017, four months after closing its $4.48 billion acquisition of Yahoo, Verizon announced that all three billion Yahoo accounts had been hacked in 2013. On October 23, 2018, Yahoo agreed to pay $50 million in damages to affected users. As the acquirer, Verizon will shoulder half the costs. Obviously, most of us would …

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Happy New Year from Capstone – 2018 Charity Survey Results

Happy New Year! Last year we asked you to help us give back by voting for your favorite charity. We are very excited to announce the results from the survey and have made a contribution to each of the charities in proportion to your selection. Each of the charities noted above have made a significant …

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New Year, New Opportunities: 2 Ways to Reflect on Company Growth

Hello and Happy New Year! Welcome to the first post in 2019. I always love the new year because it’s a great time to take a step back, reflect and refocus. Far too often business leaders get caught up in the day-to-day of running a company, putting out fires, or jumping to the next big …

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M&A in Review: Top posts from 2018

While 2018 has been the highest year on record for mergers and acquisitions, dealmaking is slowing down. Geopolotical risk, trade issues, and stock market volatility all play a role in CEO confidence, one of the primary drivers of activity. Coming off three years of strong activity and favorable economic conditions the tide may be shifting. …

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Joint Ventures and Strategic Alliances Are on the Rise

The number of strategic alliances and joint ventures (JV) is growing. In 2017, joint ventures and strategic alliances grew 30% compared to the previous year and 49% of CEOs are planning a new strategic alliance or joint venture in 2019, according to a PWC CEO Survey. According to Strategy& executives are pursuing JVs and strategic …

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