David Braun
Author's posts
How to Address Price in the LOI
Although buyers usually prefer not to include price for fear of ramifications later, most sellers want to see a price mentioned in the LOI. If this is the case, I recommend inclusion. The key is to establish a narrow price range. If you believe the business is worth $35 million, then the LOI should propose …
Top Mistake Leaders Make When Pursuing M&A
Many leaders take a reactive rather than proactive approach when it comes to M&A. They often realize that their organic growth is stagnant and they’ve got some money they can leverage, so they decide to make an acquisition. What do they do? They go find for-sale companies or respond to those that have found them. …
What Consolidation Means for the Middle Market
Last week, Sysco announced it would buy rival US Foods for nearly $3.5 billion. Sysco is already a huge player in the food industry with customers ranging from the US military to schools to five-star restaurants. This deal brings together the two largest food distributors in the US, increasing Sysco’s share of the food distribution …
The Acquisition Librarian – Organizing Your Data
“Keep your pipeline full,” I often tell clients when speaking about their acquisition prospects. By this I mean that in pursuing M&A you should research 75 to 100 companies. That’s a lot of companies and research, which of course you must record in an appropriate manner. How can you keep track of all your data? …
Merger Madness: Three Tips for Success
In 2013, we saw interesting mergers & acquisitions across multiple industries, ranging from hot tech deals like Yahoo’s $1.1 billion acquisition of Tumblr to the rescue of favorite food brand Twinkies from bankruptcy by Metropolous & Co. and Apollo Global Management. While the potential synergies of the two companies are always laid out, not much is said …
New Healthcare Trend: Private Health Exchanges
Healthcare is a hot industry for both PE and strategic buyers as they navigate new regulatory issues posed by the Affordable Care Act. According to Reuters, healthcare was the second largest industry in the U.S. by deal value for the third quarter of 2013. The New York Times reports the number of private exchanges has …
Use Functional Leaders When Identifying Potential Transaction Synergies
Earlier this month, the Association for Corporate Growth hosted a webinar on “Identifying and Achieving Transaction Synergies and Impacts on the Acquisition Price.” One of the takeaways was the gulf between financial and strategic leaders: “We often see a disconnect between the financial modelers of synergies and the strategic & operational planners, particularly in large …
Due Diligence: The Three Buckets of Critical Information
In performing due diligence, I recommend you look not only for risks but also for opportunities. That’s how I approach due diligence for our Capstone clients. As we examine the seller’s operations and books, we place every new discovery in one of three color-coded “buckets:” Red Bucket: Deal Changers. This is information that materially alters …
5 Approaches to Risks Identified Through Due Diligence
During due diligence, you may uncover deal-changing issues, or what I like to call “red bucket items.” Identifying these risks doesn’t necessarily mean you walk away from a deal, but you will need to negotiate new terms with the seller. Among the ways to protect yourself as the buyer when you find major issues: 1. …
Signs You May Be Buying the Wrong Company
Buying the right company is essential, but it is difficult. It may be easier to eliminate the “wrong” companies – prospects with glaring due diligence issues such as theft or lawsuits, or even more subjective issues like a poor cultural fit. However, the decision is not always so black and white. How can you know …
