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 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.

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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 […]

Hi Karyn,

Thanks for your kind words. Great seeing you on yesterday's webinar.
Commented on Credit Unions Embrace Strategic Mergers and Acquisitions.

Recent Posts

4 Tips for Taking a Strategic Approach to M&A in 2021

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 […]

Top 4 Considerations for M&A Due Diligence in the age of COVID-19

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 […]

4 things to focus on, to prepare your business for sale

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 […]

3 Items that Should not be Included in the LOI

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 – Tips & Tricks

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 […]

3 Business Valuation Methods for When You’re Ready to Sell

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 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 […]

Common Misconceptions About M&A Part 3

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 Part 2

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 […]

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CAPSTONE The Growth Engineers®

8521 Leesburg Pike, Suite 230
Vienna VA 22182

T. 703-854-1910

Growth@CapstoneStrategic.com

David Braun is a widely acclaimed thought leader in the field of M&A. He is the Founder and CEO of Capstone Strategic, the leading M&A advisory firm focused on strategic growth for the middle market, and specializing in privately-held not-for-sale transactions. Learn more about David and Capstone CapstoneStrategic.com

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