What to Look for in an M&A Advisor

Finding the right M&A advisor is key to successfully meeting your goals. The first step in establishing such a relationship is to understand the role that an advisor plays. While the term varies from region to region, the typical advisor positions their client – a selling company – as a strategic fit for target buyers, communicates the opportunity to various buyers, and manages the process in accordance with a detailed timeline in order to generate a sale.

Given all of these responsibilities, it is not recommended to try to sell a company without the help of an expert. The selling process can take several months to several years, so it is important to recruit an advisor who will work well with you and your company over the course the relationship.

These factors below are what you should look for in an M&A advisor.

Experience

Selling a company takes time and expertise. While it is easy to equate the number of years your advisor has been in the industry with success, this is not a straight-forward indicator. Yes, you should ensure that your advisor has a strong track record of successful deals, but you should also be certain that they have achieved premium valuations for other companies within your industry.

Reputation

Reputation matters. It is critical to do your research before making a selection. Look into past client testimonials and contact other professionals an advisor may work with, including attorneys, accountants, and bankers. It may also be helpful to ask about the advisor’s professional affiliations and participation in continuing education seminars to make sure that they are up-to-date with the latest M&A industry trends.

Strategy

As mentioned previously, you will be working with your advisor for an extended period of time. You want to find someone who is detailed, organized, and who has a results-oriented attitude. It’s a good idea to sit down with the advisor beforehand and have them walk you through their strategic rationales of pursuing international scale, filling portfolio gaps, or building a third leg of the portfolio. 

Communication

While the bulk of the work will be left to the M&A advisor, it is important that they provide high levels of communication and advice to you so that you can make informed decisions during the process. You should also be confident in how the advisor communicates with their own team to get the job done as seamlessly as possible.

M&A transactions can be complicated and overwhelming – but they don’t have to be. Symmetrical is here to help. Our team not only has years of experience in the industry, but a track record to prove our abilities. Contact us for more information about our M&A services.