David Braun

https://www.successfulacquisitions.net

About

David Braun is the founder and CEO of Capstone Strategic and author of Successful Acquisitions: A Proven Plan for Growth. His specialty is helping companies grow through acquisition.

Through consistent focus on this one specialty, David has built up a formidable expertise that has led to an acquisition success rate way beyond the industry average.

David Braun is a sought-after educator who has been teaching senior executives and financial professionals for over 21 years. His live seminars and online webinars are in high demand, and his blog is widely read by M&A professionals, business owners and all who wish to understand the dynamics of growth through company acquisition.

Popular

Pathways to Growth

Five Pathways to Growth

As you focus your attention on the growth of your company, there are five key pathways to consider: Grow Organically Exit the Market Be the Low-Cost Provider Do Nothing Pursue External Growth Before you even start planning an acquisition, remember there are other growth options available. It is an important realization that you do have […]

Market Criteria, Market Research

Markets First

I always emphasize to my clients the critical value of painstaking market research and selection before considering individual prospects. Simply by conducting thorough research, you immediately separate yourself from the majority of company buyers and place yourself at an important competitive advantage. Choosing Market Criteria Choosing the correct market criteria may be tricky. Here are […]

Cultural Integration Publicis Omnicom

Publicis-Omnicom Merger May Face Cultural Integration Challenges

The merger between two advertising giants Publicis Groupe and Omnicom Group has caused quite a stir. The two companies combined to form Publicis Omnicom Group would have stock-market value of $35.1 billion, making this the largest advertising merger ever. Although Chief Executive Maurice Levy and CEO John Wren both stress this is a “merger of […]

Recent Posts

3 Top Reasons M&A Deals Fall Apart

When done right, an acquisition can dramatically accelerate the growth of a company. However, experience tells us that deals often fall apart. Each year thousands of dollars are spent by buyers and sellers on deals that go nowhere. Here are 3 top reasons M&A deals fall apart. 1. Lack of Strategy – Failing to have a […]

What to do when an owner says no - 3 tips for buyers

What Do You Do When an Owner Says “No” to Acquisition? 3 Tips for Buyers

One of the most challenging aspects of “not-for-sale” deal making is that more often than not owners initially are not interested in selling. Owners say “no” all the time and it can be discouraging, especially to first-time buyers who are unfamiliar with the M&A process. Here are three steps a buyer should take after hearing […]

Are You Ready to Beat the Odds? 10 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Company

Are You Ready to Beat the Odds? 10 Questions You Should Ask Before Buying a Company

About 70% of acquisitions fail. Either the deals don’t result in the expected synergies or worse – they detract from a company’s existing value. The good news is that you can beat these terrible odds by preparing before you begin pursuing deals. In our experience, here are ten questions we ask our clients before embarking […]

What makes a compelling acquisition offer

What Makes a Compelling Acquisition Offer?

“I have found that the most attractive offers from buyers go beyond a simple dollar figure.” I could not agree more with this statement from Frank Williamson’s article on Axial. This concept that price is not the ultimate selling point is something we talk about a lot on the Successful Acquisitions Blog. We call it […]

Fiat Renault Deal Collapses

Renault – Fiat Chrysler Merger Collapses: Lessons for Strategic Acquirers

It became clear discussions could go no further and so the Fiat Chrysler-Renault merger collapsed just barely a week and half after it was first announced. A peak behind the scenes reveal a number of lessons to learn from this failed merger. Pay attention to cross-border issues Many reports note that Fiat failed to win […]

Should You Acquire or Make a Minority Investment in a Startup?

Should You Acquire or Make a Minority Investment in a Startup?

Not every buyer will or should require complete control to invest in a company. Some buyers will look at a technology or product segment and invest in four to five startups or up and coming businesses at various minority interest levels with options in the future to increase their stakes once the technology is proven. […]

Global Payments to Buy TSYS for $21.5 Billion as Fintech Consolidation Continues

Global Payments to Buy TSYS for $21.5 Billion as Fintech Consolidation Continues

Global Payments is buying TSYS for $21.5 billion, bringing Global Payments’ annual transaction volume to $50 billion across the world. The deal will vertically integrate many of the steps required in payments processing by combining Global Payments’ core competency of helping merchants process card, mobile and online payments with TSYS’s capability of helping card issuers […]

A Merger of Equals? Fiat and Renault to Combine in Deal Worth $39 Billion

A Merger of Equals? Fiat and Renault Consider Combining in Deal Worth $39 Billion

As demand for electric and self-driving cars increasing, traditional automotive makers are starting to take notice. The latest are Fiat Chrysler and Renault who announced yesterday they are considering a “merger of equals” in which shareholders on each side would receive 50 percent of the combined company. The deal would create one of the largest […]

3 Ways to Mitigate Risk with International Expansion

3 Ways to Mitigate Risk with International Expansion

Many leaders shy away from international expansion because they are afraid of the risks associated with it, but going global can be an excellent opportunity for reaching new markets and achieving your company’s growth goals. If you’re considering new growth options, here are three steps to minimize these liabilities when expanding internationally. 1. Find the […]

Why Due Diligence Should be Forward Looking

Why Due Diligence Should Be Forward Looking

If you look at a due diligence check list, you’ll commonly find 3-5-year financial statements, employment agreements, leasing contracts, and past litigation on the list. While reviewing these documents is important, they only reveal part of the picture because they focus heavily on past performance. Thorough due diligence involves both looking backward and forward and […]

5 Due Diligence Questions to Help You Consider the Future Impact of an Acquisition Prospect

5 Due Diligence Questions to Help You Consider the Future Impact of an Acquisition Prospect

Reviewing a company’s past performance is only worthwhile when you apply your findings to future results post-acquisition. With this future perspective in mind, here are five questions to help you consider the impact acquiring a prospect may have on your company moving forward. What do the past 3-5-year financials tell you about the company’s growth […]

David Braun Chris Hagan AMA M&A

David Braun to Lead AMA’s Course on M&A in New York City May 15-17

Learn what can make or break a deal I’m excited to be leading the American Management Association’s Course on Mergers & Acquisitions on May 15-17 in New York. I have been teaching this course for 26 years (since 1993) and it is a comprehensive, three-day course designed especially for CEOs, CFOs, owners, and other senior-level […]

Uber to Buy Middle East Rival Careem in International Push

Uber plans to buy Dubai-based rival Careem for $3.1 billion, the largest acquisition for the ride-hailing company. The acquisition ends Uber’s costly rivalry with Careem over market share in the Middle East. In the past, Uber has taken similar action with rivals, most notably forming a joint venture with local rival Yandex in Russia in […]

Why Companies Buy (Rather than Build) New Technology

Why Companies Buy (Rather than Build) New Technology

It’s typically much quicker to acquire rather than build your own solution. When it comes to technology, acquiring can help you leapfrog the research and development cycle to purchase a solution that has already been developed, tested and not only proven to be superior, but is already widely used. Large tech companies like Google, Amazon, […]

David Braun William and Mary Alumni Webinar

David Braun Shares Keys to Integration Success with William & Mary’s EMBA Program

Did you know failing to move quickly during integration is one of the top reasons why deals are unsuccessful? Last week I had the opportunity to guest lecture on this topic at Professor Jeanne Wilson’s Executive MBA class at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business at the College of William & Mary. Many companies […]

3 Ways to Build Trust with Owners in Mergers & Acquisitions

3 Ways to Build Trust with Owners in Mergers & Acquisitions

“It’s the funny thing about all these deals, though. Yes, you can get a banker involved.  But a lot of it comes back to relationships.”

How to Find Qualified Acquisition Prospects

How to Find Qualified Acquisition Prospects

Generating a list of companies to acquire is easy. Simply call up an investment banker or visit a broker website like BizBuySell and you’ll find dozens of for-sale companies. The problem with this approach is although these owners are willing to sell, many of these companies may not be what you are looking for in […]

3 Phases to Successful Acquisitions

3 Phases to Successful Mergers and Acquisitions

In my last post I explained why following a process is critical to M&A success. If you haven’t had a chance to read it yet, please check it out. This post will further detail our systematic acquisition process, the Roadmap to AcquisitionsSM developed from first-hand experience working with strategic buyers. There are three main phases: […]

The Secret to Successful Mergers & Acquisitions

The Secret to Successful Mergers & Acquisitions

I’m often asked, “What is the key to a successful acquisition?” I have one simple answer: Have a process. You can compare the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) process to the hiring process. Before we even begin interviewing candidates, we develop a job description, whom the employee will report to, when they will start, performance metrics, […]

Why Do Owners Really Agree to Sell

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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