Bill Snow

Mergers and acquisitions (or M&A for short — the M&A world is rife with acronyms and initialisms) is a bit of a catchall phrase. For all intents and purposes, M&A simply means the buying and selling of companies. When you think about it, mergers and acquisitions aren’t different; they’re simply variations on the same theme.

A merger or acquisition is a huge deal for any business, so you want your mergers and acquisitions (M&A) transaction to be a success from start to finish. Understanding the keys to M&A success helps you see the process through from step one to closing and integration.Keys to successfully completing a M&B dealAn M&A deal is the biggest deal of your life, so completing a successful transaction is key.

Valuation is always the million-dollar question — well, often the multimillion-dollar question — in a merger and acquisition (M&A) negotiation. To get past the valuation impasse, here are a few ideas on ways Buyers and Sellers can settle valuation disagreements and move forward to a closing. Payments over Time If Seller wants a certain price for the company, Buyer may be willing to pay that price over a period of time.

All M&A deal-makers need some extra help, so these resources, advisors, and private equity firms may come in handy.M&A groups, associations, and networking organizations M&A, as with most industries, has some networking and professional associations. If you’re thinking about pursuing a career in M&A, acquaint yourself with the following groups: Alliance of Merger & Acquisitions Advisors Association for Corporate Growth Global M&A Network Institute of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Alliances DealStream M&A virtual data rooms M&A deal-makers today utilize online data rooms for due diligence.

Environmental concerns are an increasingly important part of due diligence in many M&A deals. A consulting firm or other business service company probably doesn’t have an environmental issue. Important environmental due diligence info may include the following: Copies of any environmental reviews or inspection reports relating to any of the company’s owned or leased properties Copies of any notices, complaints, suits, or similar documents sent to, received by, or served upon the company by the U.

Real estate, facilities, and other fixed assets are important considerations when making an M&A deal. The following information is a critical part of the Buyer’s due diligence: M&A due diligence: Real estate and facilities info A business isn’t a business unless it has a place to operate from. Providing Buyer with the following details on the business locations and the nature of those locations is another key responsibility of Seller during due diligence: Listing of all business locations Listing of all owned or leased real estate, including locations Copies of all real estate appraisals, leases, deeds, mortgages, title policies, surveys, zoning approvals, variances, or use permits Lease terms, including date signed, termination dates and rights, renewal rights, rent amount, and unusual provisions (such as purchase option), as well as any defaults or breaches Listing of current and pending construction in progress, including date commenced, expected completion date, and any additional financial commitment necessary to complete the project(s) Who owns the facility, and is it part of the deal?

Immediately following the signing of the M&A Letter of Intent (LOI), the Buyer will need access to information about all aspects of the company’s business to do her due diligence. In order to help the Seller get prepared to provide access to that information, here is a comprehensive list of the physical asset documents that could apply to your deal.

An M&A deal is the biggest deal of your life, so completing a successful transaction is key. Knowing a few key M&A tips — whether you're merging or acquiring — increases your odds of successfully completing an M&A deal. Secrets to success include the following: Retain capable and experienced M&A advisors. You can't complete this transaction alone, and a business owner who represents himself in a life-altering deal is asking for trouble.