Secrets of M&A success

As a long-time M&A advisor, I continue to hear variations on results and general impressions about buying or selling. Sometimes, there is significant gain; other times, it is a total disaster.

From the largest majors to smallest private companies, even those who have executed other successful deals make some devastating plays. Having steered numerous transactions over the last 30 years as either CEO or advisor, I have seen one single activity make the difference – planning.

You need to plan for your sale or your acquisition. Results are a combination of planning and timing, and the best results are those that draw upon a strategic plan that works to maximize your long-term objectives. You need to plan for the integration and resulting new enterprise from day one (or even better, from the day you start looking for the acquisition). The considerations that follow are a starting point.

Read the full article in L&L issue 3, 2016, and here