Overview of Valuation Methods

Correctly valuing a business is central to any successful M&A transaction. As much art as science, valuation strives to quantify the financial benefits of owning the business today and in the future. Here we kick off a series of articles examining different valuation approaches, limitations, and best practices. This piece introduces the core principles of […]

Building a Strong Acquisition Pipeline

Pipeline over water

The last article looked at sources of target company value, and their importance based on the purpose of your acquisition. Continuing in the Search and Assessment stage of our framework, let’s now turn to the mechanics of building a strong pipeline. Figure 1. Stillwater Capital Acquisition Framework What is a pipeline? Your pipeline is a […]

Aligning Acquisitions With Corporate Strategy

Meeting

The last article shared a framework we use to guide clients through their acquisition decisions in a disciplined way, and explored the four questions every acquirer must be able to answer. Here we dig deeper into the first step in the framework, and the question of purpose, looking at the alignment of acquisitions with corporate […]

The Four Essential Questions – A Framework for Successful Acquisitions

“You don’t have to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.” Michael Dell (Founder, Dell Computers) Over two decades in the business, we have worked with several hundred midmarket acquirers. Their most common struggle is understanding the complex, interconnected decisions […]

Successful Acquisitions Require Successful Integration

Successful Acquisitions

The success or failure of an acquisition depends on how the target is integrated. Successful integration requires a clear understanding of what is being purchased.