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January 27, 2023
DealTalk: Blue Point Capital’s Acquisition of Water Lilies
Blue Point Capital has a lot of experience in the food and beverage space, so it was natural that the Cleveland-based PE firm would jump at the chance to acquire Water Lilies, a 27-year-old private label manufacturer of premium frozen Asian-inspired food....
By Adam Burroughs
January 27, 2023
The Shift In Diligence From Risk to Reward
West Monroe Senior Partner Keith Campbell is a co-author of the report, The Future of Diligence in Private Equity, which highlights survey findings from 100 U.S. PE companies to explore the shifts in diligence approach that move away from identifying risk to identifying opportunity. That shift is happening in part because of unique market factors. Campbell says 80 percent or more of diligence used to be on site pre-COVID. ...
By Adam Burroughs
January 6, 2023
Trust But Verify Is An Important M&A Lesson To Learn
Eliassen Group CEO David MacKeen on what he's learned as a buyer and how he's applied that the company's acquisition process moving forward. ...
By Adam Burroughs
December 16, 2022
The Importance To Buyers Of High Probability Of Close
Mereo Capital Partners Co-Founder Leo Helmers on the indicators of a high probability to close and why those matter to buyers. ...
By Adam Burroughs
December 1, 2022
Flexibility Has Advantages In Deal Negotiations
Brian Gale, Tucker Ellis' Jayne Juvan and Blue Point Capital's Chip Chaikin, share advice on how flexibility can win deals over price. ...
By Adam Burroughs
December 1, 2022
To Win The Deal, Get Creative
Hartwood Point's Ben Rizzo, Continuim Equity Partners’ George Pilafas and RDX/Navisite’s Buddy Flerl on best practices in winning the deal....
By Adam Burroughs
December 1, 2022
Michael Schreiber On Launching Playfly Sports
Playfly Sports Founder and CEO Michael Schreiber on launching Playfly, making acquisitions as well as advice for those leading disruptive forces into the market. ...
By Adam Burroughs
November 18, 2022
Understand Why Before You Buy
EPIC Systems CEO Michael Higgins on the elements of a deal to consider beyond price. ...
By Adam Burroughs
November 11, 2022
Stay-At-Home Moms Take The Pressure Off Park Place Technologies' M&A Processes
Park Place Technologies Kelly Greene on how she's developed her M&A process during the years. ...
By Adam Burroughs
October 28, 2022
Economic Conditions Drive Buyer Creativity
Ouroboros Group General Partner Samantha Ory on buyer-seller alignment, her firm’s growth from independent sponsor into its first fund, and how the current economic conditions are affecting the M&A landscape. ...
By Adam Burroughs
October 21, 2022
Refine Your Growth Strategy
Wolf Organization's Joe Person, Guardian Capital Partners' Peter Haabestad, RKL's Bryan Redding and JPMorgan Chase's Lisa Kopff, share their keys to developing and unlocking an acquisition plan that works....
By Adam Burroughs
October 14, 2022
How Jordan Hansell Is Applying Past Experiences To Lead Tradepost
Tradepost's Jordan Hansell on launching and growing TradePost, how his experience is shaping his approach in the new venture, as well as a series of recent investments he's made in the real estate space, a sector he says is poised for disruption....
By Adam Burroughs
October 14, 2022
When Acquiring an ESOP, Get ESOP Expert Help
Warren Equity Partners' Michael Ouyang on the process his firm takes when targeting companies that have an ESOP ownership structure....
By Adam Burroughs
September 30, 2022
Lessons learned from the supply chain turmoil
LFM Capital's Stephen Cook his view of the situation in middle-market manufacturing and how the firm is dealing with the economic pressures in that sector. ...
By Adam Burroughs
September 9, 2022
Family Business Succession is a Slow, Steady Process
The L’Herbier family was at a crossroads six years ago. The owners of Air Duct Maintenance, Kevin and Debbie L’Herbier, were looking to retire and had to decide what to do with the company they started back in 1996. They approached their children, Dan and Lauren L’Herbier, to see if they had interest in taking over leadership. After a brief period, the siblings decided to begin the succession process. It didn’t go as quickly as everyone had hoped, however. ...
By Dan Pender
September 9, 2022
Accelerating growth through private equity
Schill Grounds Management's Jerry Schill on the company's deal with Argonne and how it will help accelerate the business's growth....
By Adam Burroughs
August 19, 2022
Jonathan Kasen, Gordon Scott on buying Hilliards Chocolates
As investors, Gordon Scott and Jonathan Kasen were comfortable analyzing businesses. But to prepare to acquire a company, they went to textbooks....
By Adam Burroughs
July 29, 2022
Distinguish yourself in a deal
Tecum Capital's Stephen Gurgovits, Citizens M&A Advisory's David Dunstan, Matthews International Corp.'s Richard Beard and Aon's Bill Coleman on building a successful acquisition engine. ...
By Adam Burroughs
July 29, 2022
When to leave leadership behind
Carestream Health's David Westgate, Madison Dearborn Partners' Michael Nettesheim Executive Search Partners' Nick Curran and N2 Advantage Law's Timothy Nettesheim on how to know what you're buying....
By Adam Burroughs
July 22, 2022
How Relationships Brought Abatemaster and Plumb Line Capital Together
Plumb Line Capital's Matt Lindberg and Abatemaster's Jeff Chilton on the acquisition, growing a former family-operated business, and how relationships have played a role in every aspect of the deal. ...
By Adam Burroughs
July 22, 2022
Price Taker vs. Price Maker and the effect on value
BMO Harris Bank's John Chalus and Tecum Capital's Matt Harnett on the economic factors that are affecting deals and how buyers and sellers can adjust. ...
By Adam Burroughs
July 14, 2022
Making Deals with Unprepared Participants
Charlie Saponaro, CEO, Medical Record Associates, is a long-standing veteran of the Boston M&A world, with more than 30 deals to his credit. In several of those transactions, Saponaro had to make it happen even though the sellers were not quite as sophisticated in the common practices of the M&A world. ...
By Dan Pender
June 29, 2022
Relationships, communication smooth MedPilot, Vytalize deal
Vytalize Health's Kevin Murphy and Matt Buder Shapiro on the deal, how it came to be and where the combined companies go from here....
By Adam Burroughs
June 17, 2022
Overcoming Great Day's Early Challenges Hinged On The Team
Blue Olive Partners Executive Chairman Ed Weinfurtner on building the family of Great Day brands. ...
By Adam Burroughs
June 10, 2022
How Reps & Warranties Is Increasing Deal Efficiency
Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis' Tyson Bickley, LFM Capital's Chris Lin, Resource Label Group's Hunter Rost and LBMC's Brian Marynowitz on how to evolve your buy-side strategies in 2022 and beyond, and key mistakes you can avoid....
By Adam Burroughs
June 10, 2022
How labor challenges are affecting M&A
Calaway Habeck Talent Consulting's Jaynanne Calaway-Habeck, Denim Social's Douglas Wilber, CliftonLarsonAllen's Adrian Nohr, PFI Holding Co.'s John Dolan and BMO Harris' Robert Harrod on the factors impacting today's M&A transactions....
By Adam Burroughs
June 10, 2022
Edovo Divests to Improve Mission Focus
Edovo CEO Brian Hill on his venture, its recent acquisition and raising capital....
By Adam Burroughs
June 10, 2022
Franklin Foster on Essex Bay Capital's Launch
Essex Bay Capital Co-founder Franklin Foster talks about launching Essex Bay Capital and the investments the company has made so far. ...
By Adam Burroughs
June 2, 2022
Listening is key to uncovering overlooked opportunities
George J. Howe Co.'s Len Caric on why creating win-wins is critical for the acquisition process....
By Adam Burroughs
May 19, 2022
The rise of cyber diligence
Aon Risk Services' William Shortt, along with Ice Miller's Reena Bajowala, Guaranteed Rate's Darin Hurd, Chicago Bears' Justin Stahl and Aon Risk Services Che Bhatia, on the rising importance of cyber diligence in M&A transactions. ...
By Adam Burroughs
May 11, 2022
Macro issues change the M&A math
Little Mountain Industries' Jonathan Hatch on the lower-middle-market manufacturing scene and how broader macro issues are affecting the deal math for firms such as his. ...
By Adam Burroughs
May 11, 2022
For Stu Clark, Acquisitions Are All About The Team
Premise Health's Stu Clark on his acquisition philosophy, what he looks for in teams and cultures, and his post-deal integration process....
By Adam Burroughs
May 11, 2022
Compass Earns Multiple Returns in Less than a Year
Compass Group Equity Partners goes into every investment with a 100-day plan. They’re ready and prepared to move quickly, which they did when they purchased Sunpro Solar in 2020. Compass’ playbook includes augmenting the team and building a board deck with metrics and key performance indicators and having a written strategic plan. John Huhn, founder and managing partner of Compass Group Equity Partners, talks about how that plan enabled Compass Group sell Sunpro with multiple returns in less than a year. ...
By Dan Pender
May 6, 2022
Family Values Play Role in Acquisition
When A.O. Smith bought Canada's Giant Factories in the middle of the pandemic, it was the end of a decade-long process....
By Dan Pender
May 6, 2022
Tips on buying distressed assets
General Management Group's Emmett McNulty on what to keep in mind when buying distressed companies....
By Adam Burroughs
May 6, 2022
Airline Hydraulics Corp. stays in its acquisitional lane
Airline Hydraulics Corp.'s Mark Steffens talks about the company's acquisition strategy....
By Adam Burroughs
April 28, 2022
Using partnerships to set up an acquisition
Hickory Farms CEO Diane Pearse talks about the company's recent acquisitions, broadening its brand and how the Wicked Good Cupcakes deal came to be. ...
By Adam Burroughs
April 22, 2022
An acquisition based on shared interests, approach
Gibson Brand President Cesar Gueikian talks about the Mesa/Boogie acquisition, as well as the direction of the Gibson brand and the many ways it's working to connect with its community....
By Adam Burroughs
April 14, 2022
Akoya Capital Finds Success With New Platform
Akoya Capital's Bob May talks about the formation of Beacon, its acquisitions, and how macro challenges such as labor are affecting the platform's progress....
By Adam Burroughs
April 8, 2022
M&A Human Capital Strategies
Aquila Equity Partners' Gary Lewis, along with Purple Squirrel Advisors' Carrie Schochet, Lockton Companies' Quinn Damon, Mission Veterinary Partners' Matthew Davis, Industrial Opportunity Partners' Philip Fioravante talk about lessons learned and best practices from growing portfolio companies in a labor-challenged environment....
By Adam Burroughs
April 1, 2022
Perimeter Manages Merger in Virtual World
Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions, talks about securing $1.15 billion of development capital and, concurrently, merging with EverArc Holdings. ...
By Dan Pender
March 25, 2022
Don't lose yourself chasing a deal
RLXDatix's Jeff Surges, Entrinsic Bioscience's Stephen Gatto and Aon's Nick Surges talk about leveraging M&A, and the role of IP in value, in a hot deal market....
By Adam Burroughs
March 24, 2022
Athletico PT's Mark Kaufman on M&A lessons learned
Athletico PT Founder and Executive Chairman Mark Kaufman talks about the M&A lessons he's learned in his more than 30 years with the company....
By Adam Burroughs
March 11, 2022
Win The Deal Without Winning On Price
Coles Gray CEO David Cheney, along with Tucker Ellis' Jayne Juvan, Ampex Brands Family of Companies' Eric Easton, and Citizens' David Dunstan and James Irwin, talk about what truly differentiates winning buy-side transactions beyond the price....
By Adam Burroughs
March 4, 2022
Derek Nixon Talks Varel Energy Solutions' Sale to Bluewater Group
Varel Energy Solutions' Derek Nixon talks about the company's acquisition and how the deal sets it up to be the acquirer for years to come....
By Adam Burroughs
February 25, 2022
Ansir Junaid: Serial entrepreneur’s M&A lessons learned
SupplySide Group Chairman Ansir Junaid offers insights into his M&A experience and how the pandemic has affected dealmaking....
By Adam Burroughs
February 25, 2022
Paul Larson highlights real estate trends investors should watch in 2022
Larson Financial Holdings CEO Paul Larson talks about his company's 2021 in real estate, the trends that affected the market then, and how he sees real estate investment playing out in 2022. ...
By Adam Burroughs
February 25, 2022
How to address SALT in your deals
Clearview Group's Brian Davis, along with Calvert Street Capital Partners' Brian Guerin, Nemphos Braue LLC's George Nemphos, The Courtney Group's Alan Macksey and ICSG Holdings & Incorp Industries' Peter Vrettakos, spoke at last year's Baltimore Smart Business Dealmakers Conference about addressing SALT issues in deals, the current buy-side environment and best practices for closing acquisitions....
By Adam Burroughs
February 18, 2022
The material impact of ESG on M&A
Ancora's David Sowerby, MASCO's John Sznewajs and Cendrowski Corporate Advisors' Harry Cendrowski, talk about ESG, the M&A landscape, where corporations and private investors have made the biggest changes, and what to expect next. ...
By Adam Burroughs
February 18, 2022
The value and risk of relationships
BCD CEO Jeff Burgess, along with BMO Harris' John Chalus, BDO Consulting's Robert Berdanier and Tecum Capital's Matt Harnett, discuss the nuances of selling and buying a company, and how to conduct due diligence and successfully negotiate deal terms in this new normal. ...
By Adam Burroughs
