M&A Blog and News
January 24, 2017
Global M&A Roundup for Q1-Q4 of 2016
Submitted by Mergermarket, a Partner of M&A Leadership Council
Global dealmakers were forced to navigate a sea of change during 2016, as the populist vote swept across the global political stage. Despite a series of political shockwaves, global M&A activity (17,369 deals, US$ 3.2tn) managed to reach its third highest deal value since ...
January 18, 2017
During a client engagement a few years ago, we presented the company’s executive staff with the rationale and strategy for a comprehensive process for tracking and measuring integration results. After the meeting, the vice president in charge of merger integration teased us for “messing up a pretty comfortable arrangement.” “Until now,” he explained, “our executive team and I have had a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy between us….I don’t ask what the next deal will be and they don’t ask me how this one is going.” Here’s a toast to simpler times – may the memories be pleasant.
January 11, 2017
There’s an old saying in the M&A business, “Bad planning and execution will kill a good deal every time, but the best diligence and integration will never save a bad deal.” For valid reasons, there’s so much attention placed on failure factors in due diligence and integration that the role of deal strategy in overall M&A success or failure is easy to overlook. The reality is that there are just as many strategy-related failure factors. Here’s one of the most important to be vigilant about:
January 4, 2017
Trivia question: What’s the hardest type of transaction/integration you’ve been involved with? When we survey executives around the country with this question, very often the answers include: spin-offs, carve-outs and divestitures. This may surprise many, but not if you’ve done this type of deal before. The dynamics, risks and challenges of this type of deal are unique and among the more difficult we encounter.
Let me illustrate:
December 21, 2016
Today, I want to discuss some practical reminders of what everyone in the M&A integration community already knows to be the gospel truth, but often fails to execute as well as intended – communications.
December 21, 2016
Chairman's Message, December 2016
By Jim Jeffries, Chairman, M&A Leadership Council
I can’t believe that 2016 has already come and gone. I would like to thank the more than 250 M&A professionals who attended our training programs this year. Next year we are upping our game with ...
December 21, 2016
The “Trump Effect” on M&A: Seven Predictions for 2017
By Dr. Alexandra Reed Lajoux, Board of M&A Standards/Founding Principal at CapEx
The inauguration of President Donald J. Trump in January 2017 could go down in history as the beginning of a new era for the U.S. economy in general and for M&A. The fulfillment of Trump’s pro-business and pro-American campaign promises could well bring increased vitality through ...
December 21, 2016
EBITDA vs. Adjusted EBITDA and Why it Matters
By Tony Enlow, Managing Director, Transaction Advisory Services at BDO, a partner of M&A Leadership Council
Although compliant with US GAAP, the reported results of a potential acquisition target, often do not reflect the sustainable run rate of the company's cash flows. This article defines the difference between reported results and quality of earnings ...