Mergers
Mergers are combining (merging) two different companies. A merger is permanent with shared control of the company; it affects the entire populace of the companies and usually occurs between similar sized companies.
Watch Your Words When You are Updating a Strong Strategic Plan
It’s so exciting to work with high performing organizations.
I was recently invited to speak at an all staff event for a regional organization that is part of a national entity. National headquarters had required four locations to merge a few years ago. Everyone had to reapply for their jobs and/or express an interest in another role…even the people who had been with the organization for over 20 years!
The leader of the new combined regional organization had welcomed input and guidance from the national headquarters. They did pilot projects. They established new procedures. They embraced national’s updated vision and mission. This region is now the role model for others. WOW have they been busy!
The pre-merger regional strategic plan was exceptionally well done. And now it was time to “refresh” the strategic plan. So they created a few task forces. They brought in board members, employees, customers, and volunteers for a few full day Saturday sessions. And they utilized conference calls in between. Very impressive, huh? Clearly, this organization has proven that the people are capable, dedicated, team players who want things to turn out well.
When the board convened to report out on the conclusions reached by the task forces, there were tweaks to the mission statement and updated numbers for goals. And there were major initiatives proposed. It’s helpful that the “refreshed” strategic plan had been a participative process because the proposed new initiatives are very ambitious.
Before being a guest at that board meeting, I had just spent a day conducting back to back interviews with key employees and board members from various locations. They are bright, hard working…and tired.
I found myself speaking up at the board meeting asking the leadership to revise some of the wording on the refreshed strategic plan so they wouldn’t sound like the next wave of effort would be as difficult and stressful as the last. Instead of a big new initiative or asking MORE MORE MORE, it pays to use words that convey that they are building on success, can become more specific now, can realize better results if some details now develop. They built a great huge cake coming through that merger intact. A request now must sound like the addition of icing and not like a demand to bake tons of pies.
A few years living and experiencing a bold strategic plan surfaces insights, deeper details, and raises the bar. It’s important not to skip past the celebration of success before demanding bigger and better things from people who are already tired.
Aldonna R. Ambler, CMC, CSP has earned the right to be called THE GROWTH STRATEGIST®. She has won over 2 dozen national and statewide “entrepreneur of the year” awards for the resilient growth of her international businesses across 4 recessions. Her midsized BtoB clients get on…and then stay on…the published lists of the fastest growing privately held companies. She owns and operates a suite of companies that help privately held midsized companies achieving accelerated growth with sustained profitability® through opportunity & resource analysis, 4 approaches to strategic planning, executive advisory services, growth financing, and targeted search. 2012 is Ambler’s 8th year hosting a weekly peer-to-peer-to-peer syndicated on line talk show that features interviews with CEOs/Presidents of midsized companies (typically between $20 and 200 Mil/yr) sharing success tips about the growth strategy-of-the-week. An archive of over 300 interviews is available at www.GrowthStrategistShow.com. She can be reached toll free at 1-888-Aldonna or at Aldonna@AMBLER.com.
Keep an Open Mind during M&A Negotiations
A prominent competitor approached our consulting firm saying that they were potentially interested in acquiring us. At the time, we viewed ourselves as the acquirers rather than the acquired. But we saw the situation as a learning opportunity so we met with the leaders of the larger firm. The process shined a light on holes in our strategic and staffing plans. That didn’t feel very good at the time, but it was a huge favor. The process also helped us understand the value of our innovation and I.P. Very important partner level discussions were sparked for us by our interaction with the larger competitor. Although we turned down their acquisition offer we remained convinced that we hadn’t wasted one minute going through the process. It was very illuminating.
A few current clients are led by Baby Boomer aged owners. We are encouraging them to engage in exploratory conversations with their counterparts in related companies. Over the years we have discovered that a maximum of six conversations are needed to finalize a new relationship (merger, acquisition, joint venture, subcontracting, etc). And we encourage our clients to have a minimum of two discussions so they remain open minded. The conversations serve multiple purposes…learning, surfacing opportunities, imaging the future taking a different form, etc. The conversations often start with a meeting over breakfast at a diner in a neutral location. There is no reason to prematurely alert employees or customers to the fact that they are talking with one another.
For one of our clients, the initial diner conversations between complementary firms sounded like a merger might be possible, but the proposed terms that resulted looked more like an acquisition or asset purchase. The younger owners of one firm had jumped to the conclusion that the older owners of the other firm were ready to retire. Talk about illuminating! The acquisition won’t be happening this year, but the door has been left open to reconsider later. In the meantime the “older owners” came away from the negotiations with renewed commitment to their business and determination to raise their prices, upgrade their technology platform, and fill a job vacancy. The fact that a competitor viewed them as “ready to retire” and “no longer viable” was the wakeup call they needed.
Are you initiating conversations with the leaders of complementary businesses to explore strategic alliances, joint ventures, acquisitions, mergers, or roll ups? And when you do meet with peers, are you staying open minded enough (not focusing on the punch line) so you can learn? Surprisingly, the process can surface ways to improve profitability, candidates for key positions, client or project opportunities, or growth financing.
Aldonna R. Ambler, CMC, CSP has earned the right to be called THE GROWTH STRATEGIST®. She has won over 2 dozen national and statewide “entrepreneur of the year” awards for the resilient growth of her international businesses across 4 recessions. Her midsized BtoB clients get on…and then stay on…the published lists of the fastest growing privately held companies. She owns and operates a suite of companies that help privately held midsized companies achieve accelerated growth with sustained profitability® through opportunity & resource analysis, 4 approaches to strategic planning, executive advisory services, growth financing, and targeted search. 2012 is Ambler’s 8th year hosting a weekly peer-to-peer-to-peer syndicated on line talk show that features interviews with CEOs/Presidents of midsized companies (typically between $20 and 200 Mil/yr) sharing success tips about the growth strategy-of-the-week. An archive of over 300 interviews is available at www.GrowthStrategistShow.com. She can be reached toll free at 1-888-Aldonna or at Aldonna@AMBLER.com.
Mergers Become More Possible During Tough Economies
Maybe you have also heard a business attorney declare from a speaking platform that “There is no such thing as a merger! One company always ends up in the dominant position!” I can understand that viewpoint. After 40 years as a business growth strategist, I have concluded that the overwhelming majority of acquisitions can be traced back to a company being in search for a more effective CEO. Acquisitions and mergers are not just about the exchange of money. When there is clear leadership in one of the entities, that’s who ends up in control.
But mergers are more possible during difficult economic times, because comparable competitors may want to work with one another. Neither may want to dominate the other or step back and be told what to do. They may just need to share the risks, reduce their operating costs, benefit from shared marketing, be able to take vacation again, be ready to handle larger accounts, retain top performers or lay off “dead wood.” By working together, they may feel less isolated and worried. Today’s mergers can be as simple as a “stock swap and keep going.”
Lately, I’ve noticed more trucks with dual name businesses like “SMITH & JONES Electrical Contractors.” In my opinion, the enemy of entrepreneurship is isolation. If you are still interested in being in business, but scaling your company to an efficient size has become more and more difficult, it may be time to consider a merger with a competent competitor.
Aldonna R. Ambler, CMC, CSP has earned the right to be called THE GROWTH STRATEGIST™. She has won over 2 dozen national and statewide “entrepreneur of the year” awards for the resilient growth of her international businesses across 4 recessions. Her midsized BtoB service, technology, and distribution clients get on…and then stay on…the published lists of the fastest growing privately held companies. All of her own service businesses (strategic planning, executive advisory, growth financing, talk show, speaking, search) help privately held midsized companies achieve accelerated growth with sustained profitability™. Ambler is in her 7th year hosting a weekly peer-to-peer-to-peer on line talk show at www.Business.VoiceAmerica.com and www.growthstrategistshow.com that features interviews with CEOs/Presidents of midsized companies (typically between $20 and 200 Mil/yr) sharing success tips about the growth strategy-of-the-week. Family owned businesses are being emphasized in 2011. Ambler is in the process of launching her 8th enterprise. She can be reached toll free at 1-888-Aldonna or at Aldonna@AMBLER.com.
Everyone Is “In Play”
During a recent discussion with a prospective corporate sponsor, a very influential CEO shared that “these days, you can assume that EVERYONE is in play.” This guy would know.
Wow, what a profound observation!
Look around. Industry leaders who seemed firmly entrenched in their roles are becoming association Presidents. Previously very independent companies are quietly seeking affiliation with larger organizations. Regional CPA firms are launching new divisions by acquiring boutique consulting firms. Leaders of some family owned businesses who lost their retirement nest egg in 2008 and can no longer count on the next generation to want to take over are now contacting business brokers, considering mergers, and even weighing dissolution. Former football players are becoming Congressmen.
Everything being dynamic…in motion…is a symptom of this most recent recession’s extended period of uncertainty. But as confusing as these changes may seem, it is a very good sign. It means many people are tired of waiting. They are no longer hoping the government will magically bail them out. They are no longer defaulting to “just work harder” as the only possible strategy. They are no longer holding onto a pipe dream. These folks are getting on with it! YEAH!
Not all of the business model changes, consolidations, acquisitions, new divisions, and career shifts will work. But it is SO much better than staying stuck, waiting for someone else to do something, losing too much money, or becoming depressed.
There are several important implications to this shift in behavior…including how it impacts your sales force. Prospects may not be accepting your sales person’s calls and your buying cycle may be stretching. When the reasons for delays sound the same but your sales people can tell that they aren’t being told everything, they might be right. The prospective customers can’t tell your sales people that their companies may be sold. They can’t admit that their CEO is leaving the industry. They can’t reveal that they are in negotiations to become a division of a larger entity.
If you wonder if your prospects can’t be candid with your salespeople, it may be time for more executive-to-executive conversations. Or at least change your sales approach. Some firms (like outbound call centers that set real sales appointments for their customers) provide important services that can keep customers afloat during periods of uncertainty or flux. This may be the time to become more direct with stalling prospects rather than just wait for them to later tell you why they couldn’t talk more candidly.
Aldonna R. Ambler, CMC, CSP has earned the right to be called THE GROWTH STRATEGIST™. She has won over 2 dozen national and statewide “entrepreneur of the year” awards for the resilient growth of her international businesses across 4 recessions. Her midsized BtoB service, technology, and distribution clients get on…and then stay on…the published lists of the fastest growing privately held companies. All of her own service businesses (strategic planning, executive advisory, growth financing, radio show, speaking, search) help privately held midsized companies achieve accelerated growth with sustained profitability™. Ambler is in her 7th year hosting a weekly peer-to-peer-to-peer on line radio program at www.Business.VoiceAmerica.com and www.growthstrategistradioshow.com that features interviews with CEOs/Presidents of midsized companies (typically between $20 and 200 Mil/yr) sharing success tips about the growth strategy-of-the-week. Family owned businesses will be emphasized in 2011. Ambler can be reached toll free at 1-888-Aldonna or at Aldonna@AMBLER.com.
Is Your Product/Service Development Process Slower than the Economy?
There is so much emphasis these days on specialization, serving a niche, and improving what you do that some companies get in a horrible rut.
Imagine you ran a M&A (mergers and acquisitions) firm like Peter Colella does. He is the President of the Colmen Group. That’s complicated business, right? It’s a big dating game. They are always looking for buyers and sellers, evaluating compatibility, and facilitating deals. But one of the many reasons Colmen has been successful is that Colella continues to introduce new services to the mix in response to customer needs. They got into developing, staffing, financing, promoting, and integrating new offerings several years ago and more recently they added management advisory services as well.
“It may not sound sexy,” says Collela, “but our clients were really happy when they learned we could provide ‘spreadsheet jockeys’ for them while they were going through the various steps involved with deals.” (Click here to listen “When & How To Introduce New Services” with guest Peter Colella.)
Or imagine you are in the “personal image” business. Would you be one of the first firms to provide make overs? Did you pitch a television show to the cable networks? Would you have seen the cue to author a book? Would you use UTube and Facebook as ways to reach the public? Entrepreneurs like Mary Lou Andre and Karen Kauffman have found ways to update and expand their services in that highly competitive market. (Click here to listen to “DIFFERENTIATION” with guest Karen Kauffman.)
Or imagine that your company provides project management or marketing services? Those services can quickly become commodities, right? Greg LaLonde of TripleFin has stayed ahead of competitors in that space by focusing on the pharmaceutical and consumer products industries and investing in new services to become a one stop shop for their customers. (Click here to listen to “The Power of Committing to Vertical Integration…Especially during a Tight Economy” with guest Greg LaLonde.)
Thrity-eight years ago I did not know that my businesses would provide a range of services to help midsized companies keep growing. Expanding from strategic planning into services like growth financing and executive search has certainly helped my businesses achieve 93% repeat business and attract talented employees over the years.
When/if your business hits a plateau, consider the possibility that the plateau may not have been caused by the economy. Maybe your company’s product/service development process is FLAT!
Avoid Wishful Thinking and Presumed Conclusions During Deal Making
A deal is a sale with a non-customer.
Some deals help your company acquire new technologies or capabilities more quickly than trying to develop it yourselves. Some mergers and acquisitions are done between complementary companies to expand the product or service offering to better serve the best customers. Acquisitions can also be done to eliminate a competitor in an important market.
I noticed that the lingering recession has led some tired entrepreneurs to consider acquisitions and mergers as a way to get relief from their intense schedules. Unfortunately, this increases the vulnerability of the already tired entrepreneur. Wishful thinking takes over, and the entrepreneur convinces him/herself that an acquisition can solve their problems. Why not hire a strong “#2” and get centered again before considering any acquisition or merger?
I have become convinced that acquisitions are like marriage. When a tired single parent marries to “solve his/her problem,” new problems often develop. Acquisition, merger, and marriage negotiations all seem to go more smoothly when each participant is centered.
But what do you do when/if the two entities don’t seem “centered”? What if you thought you were negotiating a merger, and the other entity (key person) waffles, seems a bit too nervous, and withholds information? It pays to slow down and expand your view. Maybe the other person just wants to cash out and retire. Maybe he/she had become bored. Maybe the transaction will only involve the purchase of assets so you don’t take on their debt or “people” issues. Maybe you should only offer to pay a licensing fee and not purchase anything. I’ve seen acquisition negotiations end in simple subcontracting arrangements. We all know couples who concluded that they should just continue dating one another.
The best deals are when the leaders of two companies look for synergy (fit) and leave their options open…instead of starting the process assuming the answer will be an acquisition or merger. If there is not win/win fit, the title of the deal you don’t make won’t matter. It pays to leave the structure of the deal to attorneys. Whether it’s a strategic alliance, a joint venture, an acquisition, a merger, an asset purchase, or something else isn’t the most important question.
Stop Waiting for Teleseminars – Learn from Your Peers While on the Treadmill
Here’s a suggestion for busy Presidents/CEOs of midsized businesses (especially $20 – $200 Mil/yr) who
- feel that your time is STILL your scarcest resource
- recognize the need to feed your mind, learn, stretch, grow
- find relevant teleseminars but then can’t participate because they run at the same time you are involved in important meetings
- know you need to exercise but are going to the gym less often
- have been tempted to attend an Inc. Conference on Growth…
Why not download free online radio shows onto your iPod to take to the gym? Take shows featuring interviews with your peers on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest growing privately held companies who are sharing success tips about the growth strategy-of-the-week.
Most of you, the readers of my blog and Twitter tweets, know that I have been hosting a peer-to-peer-to-peer online radio show The Growth Strategist™ for 5 years now. We rotate through various geographic locations, industries, and growth strategies. One week, my show might feature an interview with the President of a Singapore-based retail company that has grown through franchising. The next show may be with the CEO of a Kansas City-based manufacturer sharing success tips about how they’ve grown through acquisitions.
Many of the guests on my show are on the Inc. 500 (or at least the Inc. 5000) list of the fastest growing privately held companies. They are bright, ambitious, somewhat intense, fabulous leaders….just like you. The show is #2 in its category and attracts over 180,000 listeners.
I have LOVED hosting the show. How can the discussion of growth strategies between people who actually live the journey EVER be boring?!
I open each show with some tips on the growth strategy-of-the-week gleaned from my 30+ years of experience as a growth strategist helping midsized companies earn and keep their spot on the Inc. 500 while increasing their profitability. Many of you know that I have also won over two dozen national and statewide “entrepreneur of the year” awards for the resilient growth across 3 recessions of my own midsized businesses. So I share examples from my own journey as well.
It’s been 5 years so my website, www.TheGrowthStrategist.com, and the station’s website (www.business.voiceamerica.com) now have over 200 downloadable shows (podcasts if you prefer) available for you to download onto your mp3 players and take to the gym. Our research shows that most listeners do that or they listen to the show between 11:00 pm and 1:00 am as they do their last round of email “after the spouse and the kids have gone to sleep for the night”. The only reason you would break from an important meeting to listen to the live broadcasts each Tuesday at 11:00 am EST would be if you wanted to ask a question. Most listeners send emails with questions to me and my guests following the shows. It’s NOT like traditional radio broadcasts where listening at the exact time of the live broadcast represents your only opportunity.
Why wait for teleseminars when you can download 5, 6, …sometimes as many as 10… timely peer level radio shows focused on a growth strategy you are using or have been considering, including
- specialization
- diversification
- acquisitions and mergers
- franchising and licensing
- new products/new markets
- joint ventures and strategic alliances
- equity deals and IPOs
- several others….
I did a series of shows earlier this year about ‘HOW TO CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS MODEL” and another on “THE CHANGING IMPACT OF REAL ESTATE ON STRATEGIC GROWTH DECISIONS”.
You can suggest topics, offer to be a guest, or recommend someone else you think might be an interesting guest. The toll free number is 1-888-Aldonna and the email is Aldonna@AMBLER.com.
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