SUCCESSFUL ACQUISITIONS
M&A Insights from David Braun and Other Experts
Latest Articles
Looking to Acquire a Company? Start with Markets First
One of the first questions people ask me about M&A is, “Do you have a list of companies interesting in selling?” But this is the wrong question to be asking. By the nature of our role as third-party M&A advisors we do hear of for-sale companies, but from experience we have found using list is […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Is Your Credit Union Ready for the Next Recession?
2018 was a banner year for credit unions…but will a recession follow soon? Credit unions recorded a stellar performance in the first nine months of 2018, adding more than 4.2 million new members, the fastest pace in credit union history. Rising demand for loans driven by the low unemployment rate and strong economic growth underline […]
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 […]
M&A Update: Full Year 2018 – M&A Surpasses $4 Trillion
Despite economic and political instability throughout the year, global M&A value surpassed $4 trillion in announced deals in 2018, a 12% increase from 2017. M&A value in 2019 fell short of 2015’s record high of $4.3 trillion. The number of deals worldwide declined by 4% when compared to 2017 to 47,585 announced deals. Buyers and […]
How to Recession-Proof Your Credit Union – CUbroadcast Interview
If the recession hit tomorrow, would your organization be ready? While this may be a scary thought, rather than panicking or ignoring the issue, you should focus on proactively seizing opportunities today to ensure the success of your credit union and your members in the future. John Dearing, Managing Director at Capstone, discusses this important […]
Fintech M&A Heats Up in 2019
Fintech startups are disrupting traditional financial institutions as consumers rely more and more on technology for everyday activities, including banking. Robust M&A activity is expected to continue in this space. It’s not only banks and credit unions that are acquiring or investing in fintechs, established technology firms like Amazon are snapping up these startups in […]
Unlocking Your Company’s Potential for Growth
“At our last strategic planning session, we realized we needed to do something else in addition to organic growth to meet our company’s five-year goals,” Dan* recently shared with me on the phone. Like many middle market companies, organic growth was stagnant, and the company’s progress had plateaued. Dan saw the gap between where the […]
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 […]
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 […]
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. […]
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 […]
Capstone speaks at the Annual CUSO Conference
How can you take your CUSO’s growth to the next level? Proactively consider strategic M&A, joint ventures, investments, and partnerships. Last week Capstone Managing Director John Dearing escaped the wintry weather in Washington, DC to speak on this topic at the Annual CUSO Conference hosted by CU Conferences on December 12 in St. Petersburg, Florida. […]
Fintech Startups Pitch Cutting Edge Solutions to Credit Unions at VentureTech
On November 27 and 28, Capstone Vice President Matt Craft attended VentureTech in Dallas, Texas. The event brought together 11 different startups from the fintech space with investors from the credit union and CUSO space. These startups offered a wide range of products and services including, onboarding solutions to encourage new credit union members to sign up for products and services, […]
United Technologies Splits into 3 to Grow Long-term
M&A is not always about getting bigger. Often, it’s about recalibrating a business to focus on core competencies and long-term growth. On November 27, United Technologies announced it would split into three companies by 2020. United Technologies will focus on aerospace, Otis on elevators, and Carrier on air-conditioning and HVAC. United Technologies Chairman and CEO Gregory […]
Capstone Strategic Advises Immanuel in Acquisition of Senior Living Community The Shores at Pleasant Hill
Capstone Strategic announced today that Immanuel, a leader in the field of retirement living in the Midwest has acquired senior living community The Shores at Pleasant Hill. With this acquisition, Immanuel gains its first senior living community in Iowa and builds on its mission of serving seniors in the region. Capstone Strategic, Inc. (Capstone) announced today […]
Past Success Is No Guarantee of Future Success
Past success is no guarantee of future success. Just ask Shakey’s Pizza, Ground Round Grill & Bar or Frisch’s Big Boy. If you’re scratching your head wondering what these companies are, you have proven my point. A recent Wall Street Journal article highlighted the ways these three companies, which were once recognizable anywhere, have shrunk […]
