The M&A Mini-Series: All the Same But Different In Their Own Way

When it comes to mergers or acquisitions, each transaction embodies both universal interoperable requirements and unique opportunities and pitfalls.

Understanding both the sameness and uniqueness of a transaction can help companies navigate this complex process more efficiently to complete the most successful deal.

Several recent engagements in the M&A area have required us at Blythe Global to provide the full spectrum of services necessary to bring about a successful transaction. And that has me thinking about sameness and uniqueness. Every M&A deal is the same in terms of interoperable requirements – a series of complex activities that need to work seamlessly for any organization to effect a winning merger or acquisition. At the same time, every transaction is unique in terms of the enterprises involved and what each brings (or doesn’t bring) to the table – thus presenting different opportunities and pitfalls that can determine the fortunes of the companies involved for years to come. With these recent engagements in mind, I thought I’d offer a four-part M&A “mini-series” – four brief scenarios illustrating how a client’s or their target company’s past activities posed a unique challenge to completing a successful transaction. I’ll lay out the issues, solutions and lessons learned. Here are the four interoperable requirements I’ll cover and the unique issue an engagement presented:

• Due Diligence – adjusted EBITDA
• Deal Structure Analysis – earn outs
• Integration, Planning and Implementation – carve outs
• Accounting Implications – purchase price allocation, opening balance sheet

In these scenarios, I’ll also examine the effects that increased documentation requirements, in-house skills and communications have on the entire process. So, watch this space throughout the next few weeks and months for some interesting dilemmas your peers have surmounted. That said, if you would like to discuss any aspect of mergers or acquisitions, please contact me. I’d be delighted to talk with you.

To discuss this important topic further or if you’re looking for general accounting advice and counsel, contact marc@blytheglobal.com