Integration remains one of the most talked about aspects of M&A, yet successful integration still alludes many acquirers. This can be due in part to the limited views of cross-functional leaders, as well as the tendency to either oversimplify integrations (think running off of checklists) or overcomplicate integrations (i.e. creating a completely new integration plan … Read more
Introduction: Despite the complexity of Post-Merger Integration (PMI), the process often does not receive the attention it deserves. This neglect unfortunately can contribute to the commonly referenced statistics of deals failing to generate their predicted value. In order to avoid such disappointing outcomes, Virtas Partners has cultivated a set of best practices for PMI. Specifically, we break … Read more
In our recent M&A Chat interview with David Lewis, when reflecting on his extensive experience in the worlds of finance and M&A, he notes he would tell his former self, “know what success looks like before you get into due diligence.” This seemingly simple advice is, in fact, not always common practice — especially with the ever-increasing trend … Read more
Midaxo is proud to announce it is currently the top M&A platform on G2 based on user reviews, outranking M&A platform competitors such as Intralinks, DealRoom, and Ansarada. While at times online reviews can have questionable credibility, G2 prides itself on authenticity — real, timely reviews by actual users; in fact, it is known as “where you … Read more
Introduction: I recently participated in a M&A Leadership Council conference focused on realizing the return on investment (ROI) of M&A Software Solutions. The Council did not mince words; in fact, it boldly proclaimed at its latest webinar that if you are going to be an acquirer (corporate, PE, or any other kind), you need to … Read more
Introduction: The risks of not right sizing your integration span from stunted growth to missed opportunity and frustration. For instance, if you oversize your integration with resources and planning, you lose speed and agility; if you go too light, you can overlook critical aspects of culture and synergies. Given the complexity of right sizing integrations, … Read more
Introduction: Roll ups are predicted to be a significant part of M&A strategy in 2021. Historically, they have faced both praise and criticism from industry experts — at times dubbed fool-proof ways to generate value, while at other times called out for high failure rates. With these conflicting views in mind, below we clear some … Read more
Introduction: Before we dive into best practices and insights on global separations and integration programs, we must first set the scene. While no separation is the same, there are key threads that run through each one. In this piece, we will assume you are trying to separate a fully integrated business unit with eight functions … Read more
Introduction: So-called “soft skills,” those related to emotional and social intelligence, as well as leadership traits/styles, were deemed by employers to be some of the most vital and desirable skills for employees in 2020. This appreciation of “people” skills, which are in no way “soft,” is a trend the world of M&A has begun to … Read more
Introduction: In March 2020, as COVID-19 crippled our lives and the economy, M&A deal volume plummeted. Due to the pandemic’s uncharted territory, most deals halted. As a result, the first quarter of 2020 was far worse than the 2008 economic crisis. However, the ability to remain Agile and pivot, hallmarks of the best companies and … Read more