CEO Advisor, Inc. works with CEOs and business owners to accelerate growth - both organically and through strategic, opportunistic acquisitions. As a mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisor with decades of experience, we guide you through every step of the detailed process.

For small and middle-market companies, finding a great acquisition target takes focus, commitment and expertise. Finding great acquisition targets also requires a disciplined approach, experience, time and finesse.

A proactive acquisition search identified through a strategic acquisition process has a high probability of success. Given some acquisitions are not successful long term, we will define success with respect to acquisitions as both A) Deal closure at a reasonable price/terms, and B) Achievement of effective post acquisition integration.

Implementing a Strategic Acquisition Process

Strategic acquisitions take a real commitment, but are doable by most any company given the right team in place. Most small and middle-market companies that pursue acquisitions on their own miss real opportunities due to a lack of a process and experience. Most companies tend to overpay so a defined, disciplined process with a seasoned M&A advisor is extremely important.

Here are the most important steps:

• Define your acquisition strategy
• Define your investment criteria and budget
• Build the acquisition target list
• Begin target outreach
• Gather information on interested parties
• Secure conference call and meetings
• Gain additional information to compose a Letter of Intent
• Negotiate the Letter of Intent
• Perform Due Diligence
• Draft and negotiate legal documents
• Close
• Post-acquisition integration

Focus on the Strategy

If you make the decision to focus on highly strategic, opportunistic acquisitions, you can greatly accelerate your growth and profits, so focusing on the strategy is a key aspect of the process. Here are some key issues to consider:

• What is the maximum size company you are comfortable acquiring? 
• What is the minimum size company you might acquire? Buy too small and you'll incur a high relative cost to getting the deal done.
• Do you have a minimum profitability hurdle in mind?
• What types of synergies do you expect from acquiring a company in this industry segment?
• What product or service area will be the primary focus of your first acquisition?
• What geographic expansion do you want to achieve from each acquisition?
• What technologies are compatible or incompatible as part of your acquisition search?What management positions, if any, do you seek out from an acquisition?
• Are you interested in eliminating a competitor, while acquiring customers for growth?
• What is the acquisition team (internally and outside advisors) that will be involved in an acquisition?

Negotiations in acquiring a company are extremely different from any other negotiations given the seller has built the business from the ground up and is typically a once in a life-time event. With the right M&A advisor, you will feel completely comfortable pursing strategic, opportunistic acquisitions.

CEO Advisor, Inc. has the expertise and experience to help you through this challenging process.

Contact Mark Hartsell, MBA, President of CEO Advisor, Inc. at (949) 629-2520, by email at MHartsell@CEOAdvisor.com or visit us at www.CEOAdvisor.com for more information.