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 30 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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Acquisition can be a powerful tool for accelerating your company’s growth. 2021 may be the year you build on your capabilities, add new services or products, or enter new markets. However, it is important not to get swept away in excitement of a potential deal and remain strategic in your thinking. As you consider growing […]
Due Diligence has always been a daunting task even for the best deal makers. With travel restrictions and closed borders, due diligence procedures for both the buyers and sellers have drastically changed. Here are four considerations for Due Diligence in the age of COVID-19: Leverage Virtual Tools – Due Diligence processes are sensitive and must […]
Doing the groundwork for the sale of a business can be a challenging process for owners. Although there is no one size fits all solution to help owners prepare for a sale, meticulous preparation is vital. Primarily there are four areas to focus on Valuation – A professional valuation will give the owner a realistic […]
A letter of intent (LOI) is far more than a legal document. It’s a key milestone in the M&A process and can be a powerful tool for getting the deal done. The LOI outlines the basic parameters for an acquisition including the period of exclusivity, purchase price and consideration, preferred deal structure, and expiration date. […]
Due Diligence is the most demanding phase of the acquisition process. Many companies start with a due diligence checklist in the public domain prepared by someone who has no knowledge of your organization or your deal. A prepared checklist such as this will likely not cover every aspect of the target company that is important […]
In my last 30 years of helping companies grow, one of the most common questions I have come across is “how much is my company worth?”. Bringing together the financial (valuation) and non-financial (evaluation) pieces of the puzzle will help you determine the value of a company. Valuation refers to the economic value you place […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
“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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
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, […]
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