Choosing the Right M&A Advisory Firm

Deciding to sell your business is one of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make. The second hardest might be picking the right M&A firm to help you through the process.

How do you differentiate between the various M&A firms and their promises? What questions should you be asking of firms? How do you ensure the right fit?

At Symmetrical, we’ve been on the receiving end of these questions more than a few times, and we have a pretty good sense of what businesses are looking for when they’re about to embark on a transaction. Read on to hear our perspective on how to find the best M&A firm for your business.

Consider Industry Experience

Mergers and acquisitions are all about relationships. The relationship between the buyer and seller is critically important, but don’t forget to consider the relationships your M&A firm has as well. An M&A firm that works with specific industries or specific kinds of businesses will not only have valuable experience in handling the type of transaction that’s relevant to your business, but they’ll also have considerable knowledge of all the players in the corporate landscape. This can be an extremely valuable asset when it comes time to search for prospective buyers.

Focus on Corporate Philosophy

Just as you’d seek a seller that aligns with your corporate identity, approach your conversations with potential M&A firms with the same key question: Are we a good fit?

Of course, that can be a tough question to answer directly, which is why it’s important to ask as many questions as possible to try to get to know the M&A firms you’re meeting with. How do they find prospective buyers? How do they ensure corporate synergy between the two parties in a deal? How do they handle common pitfalls during a deal? Are they after the first deal or the best deal?

The more questions you ask, the better sense you’ll have of a firm’s corporate philosophy. Just remember: It’s all about fit.

Other Important Questions to Ask

The questions you ask an M&A firm may depend on the specifics of your business, but from our side of things, there are a few general questions we always like being asked:

– What strategies do you use to come to an accurate valuation?

– What steps do you take to ensure privacy during negotiations?

– How many deals do you typically do in a year?

– How many team members from your firm can I expect to work with us on the deal?

– Are you open to providing referrals?

Now … Any Questions for Us?

At Symmetrical, we believe finding the right corporate fit between buyers and sellers is essential. You should feel the same way when selecting an M&A firm to help you with your transaction. If you can’t already tell, we’re happy to answer any questions you might have about the transaction process. What are you waiting for? Get in touch with us today to start a discussion.