David Braun
Author's posts
Technology and Media Consolidation Fuels M&A Activity
As expected, mergers and acquisitions activity in 2018 is off to a strong start with deal value already reaching $2 trillion this year. Tax reform, which lowered the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% has certainly impacted activity as many companies are already putting their tax savings to work in deals. One interesting trend we’ve seen …
Why Strategic Alignment is Paramount to Acquisition Success
“It can be the best financial deal on the planet, but if it doesn’t fit our strategy…we’re not interested.” This quote from Gary Norcross, President and CEO of Fidelity National Information Services, expresses a simple principle: In order to be successful, an acquisition must be strategic in nature. One of the primary reasons acquisitions fail …
Competing by Acquiring – Lessons from the Walmart-Flipkart and Nestlé-Starbucks Deals
There are many reasons to execute an acquisition from entering a new market to adding a new capability to increasing your bottom line. One of the most common reasons to buy another company is to prevent your competitor from owning it. Acquiring out of a defensive position to prevent a competitor from owning a key …
The Wrong Way to Approach M&A – Singing “We’re in the Money”
By now, many of you have heard the clip of Sainsbury’s CEO caught singing “We’re in the Money” into a hot mic prior to his interview about the merger between Sainsbury and Asda. For all the corporate, flowery language touting the benefits of the merger, this unguarded moment seemed to reveal the truth to the …
Does the Highest Bidder Always Win the Deal?
The short answer to this question is no. Some owners may sell to the highest bidder, but this is not always the case. Differentiating by price alone is problematic for a number of reasons, the most obvious being that someone can always outbid you. In addition, when it comes to privately-held transactions, especially, we find …
David Braun Speaks on Growth through M&A on Texas Business Radio
I was recently interviewed on the syndicated radio program Texas Business Radio. On the show, I share why companies pursue growth through M&A and how you can be successful. It all starts with painting a picture and having a vision for the direction of your company. The most successful acquirers are those that spend the time …
5 Ways to Rethink Strategic Growth – #5 Make Objective Decisions
While a leader’s years of experience may be invaluable, companies should not make decisions based on instinct alone. We are human and biases can influence the judgement of even the most “objective” leader. In today’s information world it is important to pair real-time data with analytical skills in order to arrive at the best decision. …
5 Ways to Rethink Strategic Growth – #4 Get Input from Your Team
Developing and implementing a strategy requires multiple skills and successful growth requires multiple perspectives. Other people in the company have a different level of skillset or expertise that can be beneficial. A leader’s team should be a brain trust or a mastermind forum for decision making that develops a collective understanding of the strategic plan. …
5 Ways to Rethink Strategic Growth – #3 External Growth
When it comes to strategic growth, most leaders tend to focus on organic growth – hiring more sales staff, building a new branch or internally developing a new product. While there are many benefits to organic growth, there are times when relying on organic growth alone will not move the needle. When markets are saturated …
5 Ways to Rethink Strategic Growth – #2 Be Proactive
How many of you have ever purchased a home? Thinking back on your experience, did you sit around waiting for a seller to come to you or did you spend time looking for just the right house? My guess is that most of our experiences fall into the second scenario. In fact, if I waited …
