Matthew Speed, MBA, PMP’s Post

It went unnoticed right before Labor Day, but take heed: DOJ’s new plan to enforce workers’ rights by way of merger approvals has major implications for bank mergers premised, as they often are, on economies of scope, scale thanks to operational integration. For more, see my memo: #banks, #merger, #bankmergers, #Operationalintegration, #CRA

Is the window opening or is it already open? In lower middle market M&A, the window is wide open. While megadeals may have faced stagnation, the lower middle market is bustling with activity, signaling a bright future for deals in this sector. This surge indicates ample opportunities for businesses aiming for strategic growth and expansion through acquisitions, despite uncertainties lingering around larger-scale transactions. https://lnkd.in/exSZZvnC #entrepreneur #REAG #mergers #business #acquisitions #lowermiddlemarket #investmentbank

Despite the slowdown in megadeals that dominate news cycles, the lower middle market (LMM) remains resilient, showing promising signs for a robust 2024. Fueled by strategic acquirers seeking growth avenues and private equity firms actively pursuing lucrative add-on ventures, the market exudes dynamism. With abundant investable capital heightening competition, the demand for top-tier LMM enterprises is insatiable, presenting a vivid landscape of opportunity and innovation in strategic transactions. https://lnkd.in/esTCTCEJ #entrepreneur #REAG #mergers #business #acquisitions #lowermiddlemarket #investmentbank

Will there be a resurgence of M&A activity in 2024? Amid recent stagnation in M&A activity due to economic uncertainty, political volatility, and market shifts, signs of a rebound are emerging with increased deal flow in the first quarter, notably in large deals, indicating renewed market confidence. Despite potential political impacts from the upcoming election, pent-up demand and a favorable outlook prevail, particularly in sectors such as tech, healthcare, data centers, and consumer healthcare. https://lnkd.in/g79FMd2d #PeakviewPartners #mergers #acquisitions #InvestmentBanking #entrepreneur

NEWS OF THE DAY! Capital One's Bold $35.3 Billion Merger: Boosting Competition and Stability in the Credit Card Market   1. Capital One Financial (COF) is acquiring Discover Financial Services (DFS) in a $35.3 billion all-stock deal. 2. The combined entity will represent approximately 13% of credit card purchasing volume. 3. Lawmakers have expressed concerns about reduced competition and potential increases in fees and credit costs for consumers. 4. Capital One argues that the acquisition will actually enhance competition and financial stability. 5. They claim that acquiring DFS will ensure responsible management and investment in strong risk-management practices. 6. Capital One's primary argument for the merger is to create a significant competitor to Visa and Mastercard, addressing concerns about the dominance of these two companies. =>Please follow Finplate and stay updated with the latest #mergersandacquisitions news. Thanks in advance. To read the news in detail, click below: https://lnkd.in/gFr4H_6T   To familiarize yourself with the context of this news, kindly click on the following link. https://lnkd.in/g5crA79E

This year, Q1 served as a bounce-back for #mergers and #acquisitions after a lackluster 2023. The return of mega deals helped kick off 2024 on the right note. “Total M&A volumes globally climbed 30% to about $755.1 billion” according to Dealogic. Additionally, “The number of transactions worth more than $10 billion jumped to 14, compared with five during the same period last year.” I will tell you Virtas Partners certainly felt this in our Q1 results with a noticeable increase in our #duediligence and #qualityofearnings assignments after a similarly lackluster 2023! Let's hope this is a trend that will continue over the coming quarters... Thank you to Jackson Trembley for passing on this intriguing resource from Reuters. Great news to see. #mergersandacquisitions #trends #Q1 #deals #officeofthefo

Bank Mergers: Then vs. Now – How Management Meetings Have Evolved 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁: In the past, management meetings during a bank merger often centered around one key individual—typically the CEO or a few top executives. Decision-making was more top-down, and the buyer’s assessment was often limited to what the leadership conveyed. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: Today, the strength of your entire team matters. Buyers want to hear directly from the people driving the day-to-day success of the bank. Empowering your team to lead conversations and answer in-depth questions is critical. It’s no longer just about you as the CEO—it’s about the team you’ve built and their ability to independently represent the bank’s future. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁: Debriefing after a management meeting often happened days later, if at all, leading to disjointed feedback and bias creeping into conversations. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: Now, debriefing happens immediately after the meeting, ideally on the same day. This allows for clear, unbiased feedback from the whole team while details are still fresh in their minds. Quick, team-wide reflection is essential to aligning perspectives before any side conversations take place. 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁: Buyers primarily focused on top leadership and financials, with less emphasis on customer-facing employees or operational teams. 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁: Buyers today focus heavily on key employees who directly manage customer relationships. They want to understand how those individuals fit into the post-merger picture. Operational strength and the readiness of your team to adapt are equally scrutinized. Any weaknesses will surface and can impact the value of the deal. The landscape has shifted. Empowering your team and preparing for these new dynamics will set you up for a successful management meeting—and ultimately, a successful merger. Yesterday, in my free weekly newsletter "The Savvy Banker" we went a little deeper on the topic of: "Bank M&A: How to navigate the grind of the merger agreement closing checklist" Missed it? Subscribe here: https://lnkd.in/gS8ZsFyc ===== I'm not a lawyer, an accountant, or an investment banker. I'm just a banker who has been in your shoes. You can catch my posts on LinkedIn at 7:10am and 4:10pm daily (weekends & holidays too!)

The Merger reforms are a targeted attack on corporate agility to create businesses which respond to intense overseas business giants competition. Mergers are already a strenuous exercise in regulatory acrobatics as it is. I would not be true to myself if I did not oppose such a huge regulatory impost that would have very likely resulted in poorer business outcomes for businesses that so many Australians have benefited from. The laggard and dismal Coles Group supermarkets & Kmart were bought out through a merger, transforming both into modern and performing retailers, Coles now spun out. This is one rule for all, when really it is Banking, Aviation, Insurance, Telecommunications, and Transport Infrastructure Businesses that present the most intense competition deficit risks.

Despite the challenges, M&A momentum continues to build. The increase may lead to pressure for faster completion of transactions, which requires efficient planning and a clear focus on the #HRstrategy to ensure the business objectives are met. Thanks for sharing Craig Keller and for your insights David Dean. #MergersAcquisitionsDivestitures

I'm with you Ancin Cooley, CIA, CISA so many of these credit union mergers feel icky. I focus my spare time on helping groups that want to start new credit unions and that is the opposite of icky. But guess what they lack? Sufficient capital to open their doors...and yet.....what if credit unions in the US were like cooperatives in Italy and we were required to contribute 3% of earnings to use as capital to start new cooperatives (credit unions). . . .hmmm....that's the credit union difference. #peoplehelpingpeople