mergers and acquisitions cover letter

5 Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist Cover Letter Examples

Mergers and acquisitions specialist cover letter examples.

A well-tailored cover letter can make all the difference when applying for a job as a mergers and acquisitions specialist. In a competitive job market, it is essential to stand out from the crowd and showcase your unique qualifications and skills. A cover letter allows you to introduce yourself to potential employers and highlight why you are the ideal candidate for the position.

The role of a mergers and acquisitions specialist requires a strong understanding of financial analysis, business valuation, and negotiation skills. It is important to convey these skills and experiences effectively in your cover letter to demonstrate your suitability for the job. Additionally, a well-crafted cover letter can provide insight into your personality, work ethic, and motivation, which can further impress hiring managers.

In this article, we will provide you with examples of cover letters for mergers and acquisitions specialists. These examples will highlight different approaches and content to help you create a compelling cover letter. By following these examples, you can develop a cover letter that effectively showcases your qualifications and increases your chances of securing an interview.

Example 1: Investment Banking Cover Letter Example

Key takeaways.

Emily's cover letter effectively demonstrates her strong background in mergers and acquisitions and her passion for financial markets, positioning her as an ideal candidate for the Investment Banking Analyst position at Goldman Sachs.

When applying for an investment banking role, it is crucial to highlight your relevant experience in mergers and acquisitions, financial analysis, and deal execution. This demonstrates your understanding of the industry and your ability to contribute to the firm's success.

She emphasizes her experience at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America Merrill Lynch, showcasing her progression and expertise in the field.

Highlight your experience at reputable financial institutions to strengthen your application. This demonstrates your ability to thrive in a competitive and fast-paced environment.

Emily's mention of her strong work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to thrive in high-pressure environments further emphasizes her suitability for the investment banking industry.

Highlight your key skills, such as attention to detail, analytical abilities, and ability to work under pressure. These qualities are highly valued in investment banking and can set you apart from other candidates.

The cover letter could further highlight specific achievements or deals that Emily has worked on to showcase her contributions and impact.

Consider including specific examples of deals or projects you have worked on to highlight your accomplishments and demonstrate your ability to add value to the firm's clients.

Overall, Emily's cover letter effectively positions her as a qualified and motivated candidate for the Investment Banking Analyst position at Goldman Sachs.

Example 2: Private Equity Cover Letter

Benjamin's cover letter effectively positions him as a strong candidate for the Private Equity position at The Carlyle Group, showcasing his relevant experience and aligning it with the firm's values.

When applying for a private equity role, it is crucial to highlight your experience in financial analysis, deal execution, and portfolio management. This demonstrates your ability to evaluate investment opportunities and drive value creation.

He provides specific examples of his accomplishments, such as closing a $500 million acquisition in the technology sector, which demonstrates his ability to execute complex transactions successfully.

Quantify your achievements in terms of deal size, investment returns, or other relevant metrics. This showcases your track record and highlights your ability to generate positive outcomes for the firm.

Benjamin also emphasizes his alignment with The Carlyle Group's values, particularly its focus on long-term value creation and partnering with management teams.

Research the firm's investment philosophy and culture to understand their key priorities and values. Highlight how your experience and skills align with these values, demonstrating your potential to contribute strategically to the firm's success.

Overall, Benjamin's cover letter effectively communicates his qualifications, experience, and alignment with The Carlyle Group, making him a strong candidate for the Private Equity position.

Example 3: Corporate Development Cover Letter Example

Samantha's cover letter effectively conveys her experience and qualifications for the Corporate Development position at General Electric.

When applying for a corporate development role, it is crucial to showcase your experience in executing complex transactions and driving strategic growth initiatives. This demonstrates your ability to contribute to the company's long-term success.

She highlights her achievements in leading the due diligence process for multiple high-value deals and identifying synergies that resulted in cost savings and operational efficiencies.

Emphasize your track record of delivering tangible results through successful M&A transactions. This showcases your ability to drive value creation and generate positive outcomes for the organization.

Samantha also mentions her experience in evaluating investment opportunities and conducting market research, demonstrating her strategic thinking and business acumen.

Highlight your skills in conducting thorough market analysis and identifying emerging trends. This shows your ability to make informed investment decisions and contribute to the company's growth strategy.

To further strengthen her cover letter, Samantha could have included specific examples of her contributions to General Electric's growth initiatives during her tenure as a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist.

Don't forget to showcase your specific contributions to the company's growth and success. This helps the hiring manager understand the unique value you can bring to the organization.

Example 4: Due Diligence Cover Letter Example

Matthew's cover letter effectively positions him as an ideal candidate for the Due Diligence position at PricewaterhouseCoopers by highlighting his relevant experience and skills in mergers and acquisitions.

When applying for a specialized role like Due Diligence, it is crucial to showcase your expertise and understanding of the industry. Highlighting your experience in conducting due diligence and financial analysis demonstrates your ability to assess risks and opportunities effectively.

He emphasizes his experience working at top consulting firms such as Deloitte and EY, which further strengthens his credibility and demonstrates his ability to excel in a fast-paced and demanding environment.

Don't shy away from showcasing your experience at reputable companies. This can help build trust with the hiring manager and emphasize your ability to work at a high level.

Matthew also showcases his ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex projects, and deliver high-quality work within tight deadlines. These skills are essential in the due diligence process, where attention to detail and strong organizational skills are crucial.

Highlight your project management and leadership skills to demonstrate your ability to handle complex due diligence projects successfully. This will show that you can effectively coordinate with various stakeholders and deliver results under pressure.

The cover letter could benefit from explicitly mentioning any specific achievements or successful due diligence projects that Matthew has worked on. This would provide additional evidence of his expertise in the field.

Consider including specific examples of successful due diligence projects you have worked on. This will demonstrate your ability to deliver tangible results and showcase your contributions to previous organizations.

Example 5: Venture Capital Cover Letter Example

Jessica's cover letter effectively highlights her relevant experience and demonstrates her passion for venture capital, positioning her as an ideal candidate for the Venture Capital position at Sequoia Capital.

When applying for a venture capital role, it's crucial to showcase your experience in investment analysis, deal sourcing, and portfolio management. This demonstrates your understanding of the industry and your ability to identify and nurture successful startups.

She emphasizes her accomplishments and contributions in previous roles, such as identifying and analyzing startups, executing successful transactions, and providing strategic guidance to entrepreneurs. These tangible achievements showcase her ability to deliver results and create value.

Highlight your track record of successful investments, acquisitions, and portfolio management in your cover letter. This demonstrates your ability to make informed investment decisions and contribute to the growth of the firm's portfolio.

Jessica's cover letter could further strengthen her application by mentioning any specific investments or acquisitions she has been involved in, as well as any notable startups she has worked with.

Don't hesitate to mention specific startups or investments you have worked on. This not only adds credibility to your application but also shows your familiarity with the industry and your ability to identify promising opportunities.

Skills To Highlight

As a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist, your cover letter should highlight the unique skills that make you a strong candidate for the role. These key skills include:

Financial Analysis : Mergers and acquisitions involve complex financial transactions and decisions. Highlight your expertise in financial analysis, including your ability to interpret financial statements, perform valuation analysis, and analyze financial projections. Emphasize your experience in assessing the financial health and performance of companies involved in M&A deals.

Due Diligence : Conducting thorough due diligence is crucial in the M&A process. Showcase your ability to research and gather information about target companies, including their financial, legal, operational, and market data. Demonstrate your experience in evaluating potential risks and opportunities associated with M&A transactions.

Valuation : Valuation is a critical aspect of M&A deals. Highlight your proficiency in various valuation techniques, such as discounted cash flow (DCF) analysis, comparable company analysis, and precedent transactions analysis. Discuss your experience in determining the fair value of target companies and assessing the synergies and potential benefits of the proposed deal.

Negotiation : Strong negotiation skills are essential for M&A Specialists. Showcase your ability to negotiate deal terms and conditions, including purchase price, payment structure, earn-outs, and post-transaction agreements. Highlight your experience in resolving conflicts and reaching mutually beneficial agreements.

Deal Structuring : M&A transactions often require complex deal structures to achieve strategic objectives and optimize value. Demonstrate your expertise in designing and implementing deal structures that align with the goals of the parties involved. Discuss your experience in considering tax implications, regulatory requirements, and other factors when structuring M&A deals.

Project Management : M&A transactions involve multiple stakeholders and require effective project management. Highlight your ability to manage and coordinate teams, set timelines, and ensure the smooth execution of the M&A process. Discuss your experience in handling multiple projects simultaneously and delivering results within tight deadlines.

By showcasing these skills in your cover letter, you can demonstrate your qualifications and suitability for a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist role. Tailor your examples and achievements to align with the specific requirements of the position and the company you are applying to.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

When crafting your cover letter for a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist position, it's important to avoid these common mistakes:

Failing to Showcase Financial Analysis Abilities : One of the key responsibilities of a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist is to analyze financial data and perform valuation assessments. It's crucial to highlight your proficiency in financial analysis, including your knowledge of financial modeling techniques, financial statement analysis, and valuation methodologies. Failing to emphasize your analytical skills can make it difficult for hiring managers to assess your suitability for the role.

Not Highlighting Experience in Due Diligence and Deal Execution : Mergers and Acquisitions Specialists are involved in conducting due diligence and executing deals. It's essential to showcase your experience in these areas, including your ability to conduct comprehensive due diligence investigations, identify potential risks and opportunities, and effectively negotiate and close deals. Neglecting to highlight your expertise in due diligence and deal execution can make your application appear less relevant to the hiring manager.

Not Demonstrating the Ability to Work Under Pressure and Meet Tight Deadlines : The world of mergers and acquisitions can be fast-paced and demanding. It's important to demonstrate your ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines. Highlight any experiences where you successfully managed time-sensitive projects or worked in high-pressure environments. Failing to showcase your ability to handle the demands of the role can make it harder for hiring managers to assess your suitability for the position.

Lacking Knowledge of Regulatory and Legal Requirements : Mergers and acquisitions involve navigating complex regulatory and legal frameworks. It's crucial to demonstrate your understanding of these requirements in your cover letter. Highlight any relevant experience you have in conducting legal due diligence, ensuring compliance with regulatory guidelines, and managing legal documentation. Neglecting to showcase your knowledge of regulatory and legal requirements can make it difficult for hiring managers to see you as a qualified candidate.

Ignoring the Importance of Communication and Interpersonal Skills : Mergers and Acquisitions Specialists often work with various stakeholders, including senior executives, legal teams, and external advisors. It's essential to highlight your strong communication and interpersonal skills in your cover letter. Emphasize your ability to collaborate effectively, build relationships, and present complex information in a clear and concise manner. Failing to showcase your communication and interpersonal skills can make it challenging for hiring managers to assess your fit for the role.

By avoiding these common mistakes, you can craft a strong cover letter that highlights your qualifications and increases your chances of landing a Mergers and Acquisitions Specialist position.

In conclusion, a well-crafted cover letter can greatly enhance your chances of landing a rewarding position as a mergers and acquisitions specialist. By highlighting your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you are the ideal candidate for the job.

Throughout the article, we have provided you with three examples of cover letters for mergers and acquisitions specialists. These examples showcase different approaches and strategies that you can use to create your own compelling cover letter.

Key takeaways from these examples include:

• Clearly stating your interest in the position and the company.
• Highlighting your relevant skills, experiences, and achievements.
• Customizing your cover letter to match the specific requirements of the job.
• Showcasing your knowledge of the industry and the company.
• Using a professional and concise writing style.

By incorporating these key takeaways into your own cover letter, you can create a strong and persuasive application that will impress potential employers.

Remember, a cover letter is your opportunity to make a great first impression and stand out from other applicants. Take the time to tailor your cover letter to each position you apply for, and don't be afraid to showcase your unique skills and experiences.

We hope these examples and tips have been helpful to you in crafting your own cover letter. Good luck with your job search!

The perfect cover letter template for getting a job in M&A

So you want an M&A job in an investment bank? Maybe you're already working in M&A and are looking for a new role as an analyst or associate ? Maybe you're trying to get in as a graduate? Either way, you'll need to apply. And in most cases, you'll need to write a cover letter.

What should go into your cover letter? We suggest a standard banking cover letter here.  Your M&A cover letter will need to be similar to this, but different.

Keep it short 

If you're applying for a student job in an investment bank you might be compelled to write a set number of words for your cover letter. Goldman Sachs requires that student applicants write 300 word cover letters, for example. That's not a lot of words, but it's enough to say something meaningful.

If you're not applying for a graduate role, you still need to keep your cover letter short. M&A recruiters told us they rarely read cover letters - especially if they're sent as an attachment rather than added into the body of an email.

Matan Feldman of Wall Street prep, a firm that helps get people into global investment banks, says cover letters should be no longer than three or four short paragraphs. "Most bulge brackets, who are inundated with resumes do not read the cover letters and dive straight into the resume," he says. "That said, a cover letter can be helpful for non-traditional applications (career transition, off-cycle) as well as applications to smaller banks."

Start by introducing yourself

You need to start with an introductory paragraph about yourself, says Feldman. This needs to be brief: distill who you are into a few short sentences. "Provide a high level background of your academic and relevant job experience," says Feldman.

"You can say that you are a top rated analyst who has worked on the healthcare team of X bank and that you have Y years of experience working on deals worth between $Am-$Bm," says Andy Pringle at Circle Square Recruitment in London.

The second-paragraph is the all-important one. Here, you need to persuade the bank you're applying to that you're the right person for the job.

If you're a graduate who's never worked in M&A before, Pringle says you'll need to use this section to emphasize your mathematical skills and academic achievements. If you've worked in M&A already, this is where you can summarize the deals you've worked on.

"With an M&A cover letter, include a figure that demonstrates total amount of deals involved in, combined notional value, role served and cumulative fees received," says Mary De Luca at Preferred Resume, a Wall Street application specialist. "I don't recommend including names of deals to protect proprietary information," she adds.

What if you've worked on a lot of deals that came to nothing? Clearly you can't mention the names of companies involved, but Pringle says you can still allude to them. "There's nothing wrong with saying that you worked on a deal involving a US conglomerate with $10bn of turnover which was looking to acquire a US conglomerate with $5bn of turnover, but the deal fell at the final stage."

Why this job?

In the third paragraph you need to explain why you're particularly interested in the role.

If you're a student, this is where you'll need to emphasize your interest in M&A as opposed to sales and trading. Victoria MacLean of London-based City CV, says it helps to emphasize your interest in a role that involves client interaction as opposed to playing the markets. "Talk about previous customer/client service experience and why you want a client facing role," she suggests.

Feldman says it helps to add something that demonstrates a real interest in and familiarity with the firm you're applying to. That way, it seems like you really want that job at that bank. "This can be anything - a call/meeting you had with someone at the firm, a presentation you saw by the firm, or a firm focus that resonates with your academic work," says Feldman.

The call to action 

All cover letters should end with a 'call to action.'

McLean suggests all cover letters should end with the following sentence: “The prospect of joining X is extremely attractive. I am confident that my long history of top performance will be of value. I am available for interview and contactable by X.’

Feldman adds a cautionary note. "The danger with cover letters is that they do more harm than good – bad grammar, spelling mistakes, and references to other companies are shockingly prevalent and are often deal breakers.  If there’s one universal piece of advice with M&A cover letters is that they need to be thoroughly proofed," he warns.

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Resume Worded   |  Career Strategy

14 mergers & acquisitions specialist cover letters.

Approved by real hiring managers, these Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist cover letters have been proven to get people hired in 2024. A hiring manager explains why.

Table of contents

• Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist
• Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist
• Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor
• Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst
• Mergers & Acquisitions Associate
• Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Associate
• Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst
• Alternative introductions for your cover letter
• Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist resume examples

Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist Cover Letter Example

Why this cover letter works in 2024, highlighting m&a expertise.

This sentence concisely showcases the candidate's relevant experience in driving successful M&A deals, which is directly applicable to the role they're applying for. Be sure to highlight your own specific skills and accomplishments that align with the job requirements.

Linking Skills to Company Needs

By connecting their experience in analyzing target companies and developing integration strategies to Goldman Sachs' M&A success, the candidate demonstrates how their skills will benefit the company. Tailor your cover letter to address the specific needs of the role and company you're applying to.

Conversational and Appreciative Closing

The closing sentence expresses gratitude without being overly formal or generic. It leaves a positive impression and makes the reader more likely to consider the candidate's application. Ensure your closing is concise and genuine.

Connect personal anecdotes to professional aspirations

Hook your reader in with a personal story that directly relates to your career journey. This connection adds authenticity and shows a long-standing commitment to the industry. It also gives you an opportunity to share a bit about who you are, making your cover letter more memorable.

Highlight strategic contributions and their impact

Showcase your ability to make strategic decisions and highlight how they've resulted in tangible positive outcomes. This tells the recruiter that you're not only capable of doing the job, but you're also capable of driving improvements and producing results.

Show admiration for the company's innovative approach

Expressing enthusiasm for the company’s innovation in its field hints that you share the same values. This is an effective way to show a cultural fit and your alignment with the company's direction.

Express eagerness to apply skills to the new role

Summarize your value by reiterating your key strengths. This tells the hiring manager, in no uncertain terms, that you're eager to apply these skills to benefit their team and the company.

Highlight Specific Achievements

Demonstrating your success with concrete details, like how you increased market share by 30% after a strategic acquisition, is very effective. This shows me that you not only talk the talk, but you can walk the walk. It provides tangible proof of your capabilities, which can be very persuasive for hiring managers.

Emphasize Versatility and Global Reach

By sharing that you successfully led negotiations for a cross-border acquisition, you're illustrating your versatility and ability to operate globally. This gives me confidence in your ability to handle diverse settings and scenarios.

Show That You Understand the Company

By expressing your excitement about Goldman Sachs' innovative approach to M&A, it shows me that you've done your homework about the company. It's reassuring to know that you're not only skilled but also genuinely interested in our operation style.

Express Genuine Enthusiasm

When you express how thrilled you are about the prospect of working here, it shows me that you're genuinely enthusiastic. This can make you an engaging and motivated addition to the team.

Close Strong

Ending your letter with "Best Regards" is a nice touch. It's both professional and polite, which leaves a good impression.

Show your passion for mergers and acquisitions

Starting with your enthusiasm for the field can catch a hiring manager's attention. It sets the tone that you're not just looking for any job, but you are genuinely interested in this specific area.

Demonstrate your expertise in financial analysis

Highlighting your skills in key areas like financial modeling and due diligence shows that you have the technical ability needed for a mergers and acquisitions specialist role.

Highlight leadership and teamwork skills

Mentioning your experience in leading a team during crucial projects proves that you have the leadership qualities and can work well with others, which is vital in any role.

Express excitement for diverse industry impact

Showing eagerness to work on deals across various industries demonstrates your adaptability and willingness to learn, traits highly valued in dynamic fields.

Close with a strong call to action

Ending your cover letter by inviting further discussion shows confidence in your ability to contribute value, encouraging the hiring manager to take the next step.

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Show excitement for the M&A field

Your enthusiasm for dealmaking and admiration for the firm's work makes your application stand out. It shows you're not only qualified but also passionate about this career path.

Detail your M&A expertise

Explaining how you've sharpened your skills in critical areas of M&A reassures me of your capability. It paints a clear picture of your experience and what you bring to the table.

Introduce improvements you've made

Discussing how you developed a standard due diligence checklist shows innovation and leadership. It suggests you're not just a participant but someone who enhances processes.

Emphasize your readiness for complex deals

Stating your excitement for tackling challenging transactions signals you're up for tough tasks. It shows you're someone who seeks growth opportunities and can handle pressure well.

Invite further discussion

Ending with an invitation to discuss how you fit with the firm's needs is strategic. It demonstrates your eagerness to engage and learn more about how you can contribute to their success.

Connect personal interests to professional ambitions

Sharing a personal story about puzzles not only shows your long-standing interest in bringing pieces together but also cleverly relates it to the mergers and acquisitions field. This approach makes your introduction memorable and engaging.

Highlight specific achievements

Detailing your experience with deals of significant amounts across various sectors demonstrates both the breadth and depth of your expertise. It's effective to mention a specific success story, as it provides concrete evidence of your capabilities.

Show the impact of your work

Explaining how your financial model influenced the buyer's decision underlines the real-world value of your skills. It's a strong way to prove your ability to contribute to successful outcomes.

Demonstrate attention to detail

Emphasizing your focus on details, especially in financials and operations, suggests you are thorough and diligent. This trait is highly valued in the complex field of mergers and acquisitions.

Express enthusiasm for the role

Stating your excitement to join the team not only shows your genuine interest in the position but also suggests you are motivated to contribute to the company's success.

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist Cover Letter Example

Share career-defining moments.

Sharing the moment when your career direction crystallized helps to build a narrative around your professional journey. It demonstrates a clear focus and shows you are driven by passion and commitment in your chosen field.

Prove leadership skills with tangible results

When discussing leadership experience, always pair it with the results you achieved. This shows that you not only have the ability to lead a team, but also the skills to lead them towards success.

Showcase alignment with company's mission

Expressing admiration for the company's business approach shows you've done your homework, and it also suggests you're a good fit with their mission and culture. This kind of alignment can be a strong selling point for hiring managers.

Communicate enthusiasm about bringing value

Reiterate your eagerness to bring your skills and experiences to the new role. This shows the hiring manager that you are ready to hit the ground running and are excited about the prospect of contributing to their team's success.

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor Cover Letter Example

Align yourself with the company.

By saying that it's the blend of ambition and teamwork at J.P. Morgan that you value, you're showing that you align with the company's ethos. This tells me that you would fit well within our culture.

Quantify Your Impact

Mentioning that your relationships and negotiation skills have led to over $5 billion in transactions over the past five years is super impressive. It's a testament to your skills and impact, which makes you an attractive candidate.

Demonstrate Industry Awareness

By highlighting your experience with AI in due diligence, you're showing that you're aware of and have experience with the latest tools and technologies in the industry. This shows that you're not just experienced but also forward-thinking.

Express Enthusiasm for Learning and Growth

When you express your eagerness to learn from the best and further hone your skills, it's evident that you have a growth mindset. That's an attractive quality in a candidate as it suggests that you're open to learning and improving.

End with a Note of Gratitude

Ending your cover letter by expressing your thanks for considering your application is a nice, respectful touch. It shows you value the reader's time and leaves a positive impression.

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst Cover Letter Example

Use analogies to describe your view on m&a.

Comparing mergers and acquisitions to a puzzle not only shows your understanding of the complexity involved but also your problem-solving mindset.

Showcase your analytical skills

Demonstrating your ability to identify and evaluate M&A opportunities indicates that you have a strong analytical foundation, critical for a senior analyst role.

Quantify your achievements

When you specify how your analysis contributed to a significant increase in a deal's IRR projection, it provides concrete evidence of your impact, making your accomplishments more tangible to the reader.

Emphasize the importance of trust and collaboration

Stressing the value you place on building relationships highlights your interpersonal skills, essential for navigating the complexities of M&A transactions.

End with confidence in your fit for the role

Concluding your cover letter by expressing your belief in your ability to contribute meaningfully suggests a strong alignment between your skills and the job requirements.

Telling me about your followship of our work shows you're not just looking for any job. You want this one.

Detail your direct experience in M&A

Discussing the variety and scale of transactions you've worked on makes it easy for me to see your experience level.

Highlight efficiency and teamwork skills

Automating processes to save time demonstrates you're always looking for ways to improve teamwork and efficiency.

Express eagerness to contribute

Your excitement about joining our team and confidence in your ability to contribute is compelling.

Show appreciation and openness

A simple thank you and expressing a desire to discuss further shows good manners and eagerness to engage.

Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Cover Letter Example

Share your passion for m&a work.

It's great when you talk about your love for the job. It shows you are not just looking for any job, but you are focused on M&A roles. This makes me believe you will enjoy and stay committed to the work.

Demonstrate your M&A skills

Detailing your experience in financial modeling and deal execution is key. It assures me you have the skills needed for an M&A associate role. Knowing you've successfully managed significant transactions gives me confidence in your abilities.

Highlight your achievements

Mentioning a specific deal where you added value, like achieving a 25% premium, is impressive. It suggests you can drive good outcomes and have a strong impact on transactions.

Value teamwork in M&A processes

Expressing your belief in diverse perspectives solving complex problems tells me you're a team player. It hints you know the importance of collaboration in achieving successful M&A deals.

Express your eagerness to contribute

Concluding by stating your confidence in making a meaningful contribution shows your motivation. It also opens the door for further discussions, which is a smart move.

Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the field

Highlighting your fascination with M&A right off the bat connects your personal interests with the job.

Illustrate your role in successful deals

Talking about your involvement in a significant transaction shows you're capable of handling important responsibilities.

Emphasize your contributions to efficiency and insights

Creating tools that become widely used proves you're innovative and add real value to your team.

Communicate your passion and excellence

Stating your excitement to bring your skills to the team conveys a strong dedication to your work.

Invite further conversation

Asking to discuss how you can fit into the team shows you're proactive and genuinely interested.

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Cover Letter Example

Use hobbies to illustrate your fit.

Beginning with a mention of puzzles and challenges indicates a natural inclination towards solving complex problems, setting the stage for your suitability in the mergers and acquisitions field.

Quantify your contributions

Describing your role in a major merger, especially detailing the financial benefits you identified, showcases your ability to handle high-stakes projects and make a tangible impact.

Emphasize creative problem-solving

Mentioning your creative approach to overcoming transaction obstacles paints you as an innovative thinker, a critical skill for navigating the complexities of mergers and acquisitions.

Show admiration for the company

Expressing your desire to join a firm because of its outstanding reputation indicates you've done your research and are passionate about being part of a leading team.

Assert your value to the team

Concluding by highlighting how your specific skills would benefit the firm directly speaks to your understanding of the role and confidence in your ability to contribute meaningfully.

Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst Cover Letter Example

Make your passion for mergers and acquisitions clear.

Talking about your early experiences and enthusiasm for the field shows me you're not just looking for any job – you're in it because you love the work. This kind of passion is infectious and highly valued in a mergers and acquisitions analyst.

Detail your relevant experience

When you describe specific transactions you've worked on, including valuable details like the deal size and your role, it not only showcases your capability but also your direct relevance to the mergers and acquisitions field. This tells me you're not starting from zero.

Highlight your project management skills

Managing multiple aspects of a deal is crucial in mergers and acquisitions. By sharing how you've successfully coordinated efforts across different teams, you're demonstrating your ability to keep complex projects on track, a key skill for an analyst in this industry.

Connect with the company's culture

Expressing how a company's values align with your own suggests that you've done your homework and see yourself fitting in. It's a good sign to a recruiter that you're likely to be a committed and engaged team member.

Show eagerness to grow and contribute

Your enthusiasm for learning from others and adding value to the team stands out as a strong finish. It tells me you're not just seeking a job, but a place where you can make a meaningful impact.

Alternative Introductions

If you're struggling to start your cover letter, here are 6 different variations that have worked for others, along with why they worked. Use them as inspiration for your introductory paragraph.

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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Merger And Acquisition Analyst Cover Letter Examples & Writing Tips

Use these Merger And Acquisition Analyst cover letter examples and writing tips to help you write a powerful cover letter that will separate you from the competition.

Table Of Contents

• Merger And Acquisition Analyst Example 1
• Merger And Acquisition Analyst Example 2
• Merger And Acquisition Analyst Example 3
• Cover Letter Writing Tips

Merger and acquisition (M&A) analysts help companies to identify, evaluate, and execute mergers and acquisitions. They also provide support during the post-merger integration process.

M&A analysts must have a strong understanding of financial analysis and accounting principles. They must also be able to work independently and be able to handle a high level of stress.

To show hiring managers that you’re the right person for the job, you need a well-written cover letter. Follow these examples and tips to learn how to write an M&A analyst cover letter that will get you noticed.

Merger And Acquisition Analyst Cover Letter Example 1

I am excited to be applying for the Merger and Acquisition Analyst position at Topdown Consulting. I have a degree in business administration and three years of experience working in the accounting and finance field. I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to excel in this role.

Most recently, I was a Financial Analyst at ABC Corporation. In this role, I was responsible for conducting market research, preparing financial models, and providing insights and recommendations to management. I have experience working in a fast-paced environment and am comfortable managing multiple projects simultaneously.

I am excited about the opportunity to join Topdown Consulting and contribute my skills and experience to your team. I believe that my background and skills would be a valuable addition to your organization, and I look forward to discussing this opportunity further with you. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Merger And Acquisition Analyst Cover Letter Example 2

I am writing to apply for the Merger and Acquisition Analyst position that was recently advertised on your company website. I am confident that I have the skills and qualifications that you are looking for, and I believe that I would be a valuable asset to your team.

I have over three years of experience working in the Merger and Acquisition field. In that time, I have gained a deep understanding of the process and the skills necessary to be successful in this role. I am well-versed in financial analysis, due diligence, and market research. I am also confident in my ability to communicate effectively with clients and colleagues.

I am excited about the opportunity to join your company and contribute to your success. I believe that my skills and experience would be a valuable addition to your team, and I look forward to the chance to discuss this opportunity further with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Merger And Acquisition Analyst Cover Letter Example 3

I am writing to express my interest in the Merger and Acquisition Analyst position that you have posted. I believe that my experience as a mergers and acquisitions analyst, coupled with my academic background, makes me an ideal candidate for this position.

I have been working as a mergers and acquisitions analyst for the past three years at XYZ Corporation. My primary responsibilities include analyzing potential acquisition targets, performing due diligence on those targets, and providing recommendations to senior management on whether or not to proceed with the acquisition. I also work closely with the legal department to ensure that all necessary contracts are drafted and executed properly.

My experience has given me a solid understanding of how mergers and acquisitions work in practice. I have worked on several different deals, ranging from small-scale corporate acquisitions to large-scale international joint ventures. I have gained valuable insight into what makes a deal successful or unsuccessful, and I have learned how to identify potential problems before they become serious issues.

I believe that my skills as a mergers and acquisitions analyst would be an asset to your company. I am confident that I can quickly learn any new software programs that you may require me to use, and I am always willing to go above and beyond what is required of me in order to meet your needs. I am also very comfortable working independently or as part of a team, depending on what you need from me.

I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss this position with you in person. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Merger And Acquisition Analyst Cover Letter Writing Tips

1. highlight your skills.

When applying for a job as a merger and acquisition analyst, you need to show employers how well you communicate with people from all walks of life. You’ll be communicating with clients, opposing counsel, expert witnesses and your team on a regular basis. So it’s important that you show your strong communication skills to the hiring manager in the cover letter.

To do this, talk about how effective you are at verbal and written communication. The more examples of each type of communication (written and verbal) that you can provide in your cover letter the better!

2. Customize your cover letter

Law firms are used to receiving cover letters—so many of them in fact, that they’re often just skimmed over and not given the attention they deserve. To get noticed, you need a killer opening line and customized content outlining why you want to work for their firm.

To write an effective opening line for a law firm cover letter:

• Reach out to people working at the agency through LinkedIn and ask for advice or help in crafting your resume/cover letter.
• Use specific examples from past work experiences that highlight how you can contribute to this particular company’s goals.
• Ask someone who works there what aspect of the job they found most interesting/challenging. Use this information as inspiration when writing about why you want this position.

3. Highlight intellectual curiosity and motivation

Lawyers are always looking for candidates who have a strong track record of success, but they also want to make sure they’re hiring individuals with the drive to keep learning.

To show that you have what it takes to be successful as an attorney, highlight your intellectual curiosity and motivation in your cover letter. For example, explain how you prepared for exams by reading recent case precedent or how you regularly attend networking events hosted at local law firms.

4. Proofread your cover letter

When applying for a position as an attorney, it is crucial to have a strong understanding of grammar and proper sentence structure. In your cover letter, you’ll want to avoid any mistakes in spelling or grammar. Remember that employers will look at your writing style and see if you have the necessary skills needed for the job before inviting you for an interview.

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Mergers and Acquisitions Manager cover letter template

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Acquisition Specialist Cover Letter Example (Free Guide)

Create an acquisition specialist cover letter that lands you the interview with our free examples and writing tips. use and customize our template and land an interview today..

Do you want to land your dream job as an Acquisition Specialist? A well-written cover letter can give you the edge over the competition. Our Acquisition Specialist Cover Letter Guide will provide you with all the advice and tips you need to make a great first impression with a potential employer.

We will cover:

• How to write a cover letter, no matter your industry or job title.
• What to put on a cover letter to stand out.
• The top skills employers from every industry want to see.
• How to build a cover letter fast with our professional Cover Letter Builder .
• What a cover letter template is, and why you should use it.

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Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Acquisition Specialist position at ABC Company. I am confident that my expertise in acquisitions and negotiations, combined with my strong communication skills, make me the perfect candidate for this role.

I have a proven track record of success in the acquisition of goods and services. I have extensive experience in researching supplier markets, drafting Request for Proposals (RFPs) and Requests for Quotes (RFQs) and negotiating contract terms. I am comfortable working with a range of suppliers, from large multinationals to small local providers, and I have a deep understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements of the procurement process. I am also very organized and have a meticulous attention to detail, which is essential for this role.

I have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, and I am able to build strong relationships with suppliers. I am adept at negotiating and am always looking for win-win solutions. I am also very proactive in finding ways to improve processes and streamline workflows. In my current role, I have successfully reduced procurement costs by 15% through effective negotiation and supplier management.

I am confident that I have the skills and experience necessary to be a successful Acquisition Specialist at ABC Company. I am excited to learn more about this opportunity and look forward to discussing my candidacy in more detail.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Why Do you Need a Acquisition Specialist Cover Letter?

Writing a Acquisition Specialist cover letter is an important part of the job application process. It is an opportunity to show potential employers why you are the best candidate for the job. A well-crafted cover letter can make the difference between being invited for an interview and missing out on the opportunity. Here are some reasons why you need a Acquisition Specialist cover letter:

• It allows you to stand out from the competition and showcase your qualifications and skills.
• It gives you the chance to highlight the value that you will bring to the role.
• It helps you to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the job and your commitment to the company.
• It allows you to show your unique personality and provide insight into who you are and why you are the right person for the job.
• It provides the opportunity to explain any gaps in your CV or any other relevant information that is not included on your CV.

A Few Important Rules To Keep In Mind

• Research the company and use specific language to demonstrate your knowledge of their work.
• Include relevant accomplishments and experiences that demonstrate your qualifications.
• Keep your cover letter to one page in length.
• Focus on the most important qualifications that the employer is looking for.
• Express enthusiasm for the position and company.
• Be sure to proofread your cover letter for grammar and spelling mistakes.
• Include contact information in your signature.
• Mention any connections you have to the company or industry.
• Keep your tone professional and avoid using slang.

What's The Best Structure For Acquisition Specialist Cover Letters?

After creating an impressive Acquisition Specialist resume , the next step is crafting a compelling cover letter to accompany your job applications. It's essential to remember that your cover letter should maintain a formal tone and follow a recommended structure. But what exactly does this structure entail, and what key elements should be included in a Acquisition Specialist cover letter? Let's explore the guidelines and components that will make your cover letter stand out.

Key Components For Acquisition Specialist Cover Letters:

• Your contact information, including the date of writing
• The recipient's details, such as the company's name and the name of the addressee
• A professional greeting or salutation, like "Dear Mr. Levi,"
• An attention-grabbing opening statement to captivate the reader's interest
• A concise paragraph explaining why you are an excellent fit for the role
• Another paragraph highlighting why the position aligns with your career goals and aspirations
• A closing statement that reinforces your enthusiasm and suitability for the role
• A complimentary closing, such as "Regards" or "Sincerely," followed by your name
• An optional postscript (P.S.) to add a brief, impactful note or mention any additional relevant information.

Cover Letter Header

A header in a cover letter should typically include the following information:

• Your Full Name: Begin with your first and last name, written in a clear and legible format.
• Contact Information: Include your phone number, email address, and optionally, your mailing address. Providing multiple methods of contact ensures that the hiring manager can reach you easily.
• Date: Add the date on which you are writing the cover letter. This helps establish the timeline of your application.

It's important to place the header at the top of the cover letter, aligning it to the left or center of the page. This ensures that the reader can quickly identify your contact details and know when the cover letter was written.

Cover Letter Greeting / Salutation

A greeting in a cover letter should contain the following elements:

• Personalized Salutation: Address the hiring manager or the specific recipient of the cover letter by their name. If the name is not mentioned in the job posting or you are unsure about the recipient's name, it's acceptable to use a general salutation such as "Dear Hiring Manager" or "Dear [Company Name] Recruiting Team."
• Professional Tone: Maintain a formal and respectful tone throughout the greeting. Avoid using overly casual language or informal expressions.
• Correct Spelling and Title: Double-check the spelling of the recipient's name and ensure that you use the appropriate title (e.g., Mr., Ms., Dr., or Professor) if applicable. This shows attention to detail and professionalism.

For example, a suitable greeting could be "Dear Ms. Johnson," or "Dear Hiring Manager," depending on the information available. It's important to tailor the greeting to the specific recipient to create a personalized and professional tone for your cover letter.

Cover Letter Introduction

An introduction for a cover letter should capture the reader's attention and provide a brief overview of your background and interest in the position. Here's how an effective introduction should look:

• Opening Statement: Start with a strong opening sentence that immediately grabs the reader's attention. Consider mentioning your enthusiasm for the job opportunity or any specific aspect of the company or organization that sparked your interest.
• Brief Introduction: Provide a concise introduction of yourself and mention the specific position you are applying for. Include any relevant background information, such as your current role, educational background, or notable achievements that are directly related to the position.
• Connection to the Company: Demonstrate your knowledge of the company or organization and establish a connection between your skills and experiences with their mission, values, or industry. Showcasing your understanding and alignment with their goals helps to emphasize your fit for the role.
• Engaging Hook: Consider including a compelling sentence or two that highlights your unique selling points or key qualifications that make you stand out from other candidates. This can be a specific accomplishment, a relevant skill, or an experience that demonstrates your value as a potential employee.
• Transition to the Body: Conclude the introduction by smoothly transitioning to the main body of the cover letter, where you will provide more detailed information about your qualifications, experiences, and how they align with the requirements of the position.

By following these guidelines, your cover letter introduction will make a strong first impression and set the stage for the rest of your application.

Cover Letter Body

As an experienced Acquisition Specialist with more than a decade of experience in the field, I am confident that I can provide a great deal of value to your organization. I have a proven track record of success in acquisition planning, contract negotiation, and compliance management. Additionally, I have extensive experience in reviewing contracts, developing solicitation documents, and managing multiple projects concurrently.

In my current role as an Acquisition Specialist, I have developed a reputation as a reliable partner who consistently meets deadlines and exceeds expectations. I have extensive experience in conducting cost/benefit analyses, preparing acquisition packages, and ensuring compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other applicable regulations. I am also highly knowledgeable in the use of financial analysis tools, such as Microsoft Excel, and I have a strong understanding of procurement processes and risk management.

I am an effective communicator who is able to clearly explain complex concepts to colleagues and customers alike. I have a knack for forging strong relationships with internal stakeholders, vendors, and customers. My organizational and problem-solving skills have allowed me to assist in the successful completion of many complex projects, and I am confident that I could do the same for your organization.

I am eager to apply my experience and knowledge to your organization, and I am confident that I would be an excellent addition to your team. Thank you for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you.

Complimentary Close

The conclusion and signature of a cover letter provide a final opportunity to leave a positive impression and invite further action. Here's how the conclusion and signature of a cover letter should look:

• Summary of Interest: In the conclusion paragraph, summarize your interest in the position and reiterate your enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute to the organization or school. Emphasize the value you can bring to the role and briefly mention your key qualifications or unique selling points.
• Appreciation and Gratitude: Express appreciation for the reader's time and consideration in reviewing your application. Thank them for the opportunity to be considered for the position and acknowledge any additional materials or documents you have included, such as references or a portfolio.
• Call to Action: Conclude the cover letter with a clear call to action. Indicate your availability for an interview or express your interest in discussing the opportunity further. Encourage the reader to contact you to schedule a meeting or provide any additional information they may require.
• Complimentary Closing: Choose a professional and appropriate complimentary closing to end your cover letter, such as "Sincerely," "Best Regards," or "Thank you." Ensure the closing reflects the overall tone and formality of the letter.
• Signature: Below the complimentary closing, leave space for your handwritten signature. Sign your name in ink using a legible and professional style. If you are submitting a digital or typed cover letter, you can simply type your full name.
• Typed Name: Beneath your signature, type your full name in a clear and readable font. This allows for easy identification and ensures clarity in case the handwritten signature is not clear.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Writing an Acquisition Specialist Cover Letter

When crafting a cover letter, it's essential to present yourself in the best possible light to potential employers. However, there are common mistakes that can hinder your chances of making a strong impression. By being aware of these pitfalls and avoiding them, you can ensure that your cover letter effectively highlights your qualifications and stands out from the competition. In this article, we will explore some of the most common mistakes to avoid when writing a cover letter, providing you with valuable insights and practical tips to help you create a compelling and impactful introduction that captures the attention of hiring managers. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting your career journey, understanding these mistakes will greatly enhance your chances of success in the job application process. So, let's dive in and discover how to steer clear of these common missteps and create a standout cover letter that gets you noticed by potential employers.

• Not including a professional greeting
• Writing a generic cover letter
• Failing to mention the job title
• Not tailoring the letter to the hiring organization
• Not emphasizing key skills or experience
• Exceeding one page
• Including irrelevant information
• Having typos and grammatical mistakes
• Using an unprofessional email address
• Not including a call-to-action

Key Takeaways For an Acquisition Specialist Cover Letter

• Highlight your experience in managing the acquisition process from start to finish.
• Demonstrate your ability to negotiate pricing and terms with vendors.
• Showcase your ability to research and analyze market trends and pricing.
• Stress your attention to detail and excellent organizational skills.
• Outline your understanding of the legal and regulatory aspects of the acquisition process.
• Demonstrate your strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Emphasize your ability to develop strong relationships with vendors.
• Highlight your experience in developing and using metrics to measure performance.
• Showcase your knowledge of budgeting and financial management.
• Mention your proficiency in using ERP and other procurement systems.

2 Acquisition Manager Cover Letter Examples

Acquisition Managers excel at identifying and securing valuable assets, strategically negotiating deals that drive growth and profitability. Similarly, your cover letter is your tool to strategically showcase your skills and experiences, negotiating your way into the recruiter's interest. In this guide, we'll delve into the best cover letter examples for Acquisition Managers, helping you secure your most valuable asset yet - your next job.

Cover Letter Examples

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The best way to start an Acquisition Manager cover letter is with a compelling opening line that captures attention and directly relates to the role. Begin by addressing the hiring manager by name, if possible, and quickly establish your relevant experience or a key achievement that demonstrates your suitability for the position. For example: "Dear [Hiring Manager's Name], with over 10 years of experience in driving successful acquisitions and a proven track record of enhancing portfolio value, I am excited to apply for the Acquisition Manager position at [Company Name]." This approach is effective as it immediately showcases your expertise and shows that you've tailored the cover letter to the specific company and role.

Acquisition Managers should end a cover letter by summarizing their interest in the role, reiterating their relevant skills and experiences, and expressing enthusiasm for potential next steps. It's important to be confident, but not arrogant. A closing might look like this: "I am excited about the opportunity to bring my unique blend of skills and experience to your team, and I am confident that I can help drive successful acquisitions for your company. I look forward to the possibility of discussing my qualifications further." Always thank the reader for their time and consideration. It's also crucial to include your contact information, even if it's already on your resume. This makes it as easy as possible for the hiring manager to get in touch with you.

An Acquisition Manager's cover letter should ideally be one page long. This length is sufficient to concisely present your skills, experiences, and achievements relevant to the role without overwhelming the reader. It's important to keep in mind that hiring managers often have numerous applications to review, so a succinct, well-structured cover letter can help your application stand out. As an Acquisition Manager, your cover letter should highlight your ability to identify and negotiate profitable acquisitions, manage relationships, and strategize business growth, all while demonstrating your communication and decision-making skills.

Writing a cover letter with no experience as an Acquisition Manager can seem challenging, but it's definitely possible. Here's how you can approach it: 1. Start with a Strong Introduction: Begin your cover letter by introducing yourself and stating the position you're applying for. Mention where you found the job posting and if you were referred by someone within the company. 2. Highlight Relevant Skills: Even if you haven't worked as an Acquisition Manager before, you may have relevant skills from other jobs or educational experiences. Highlight these skills and explain how they would be beneficial in an Acquisition Manager role. For example, if you have experience in negotiation, project management, or financial analysis, these are all relevant to the role of an Acquisition Manager. 3. Showcase Your Knowledge: Show that you understand the role of an Acquisition Manager and the industry you're applying to. This could involve discussing industry trends, challenges, or opportunities. This shows that you're passionate and knowledgeable about the field, even if you don't have direct experience. 4. Use Specific Examples: Use examples from your past experiences to demonstrate your skills and abilities. For instance, if you have experience in a sales role, you might discuss a time when you successfully negotiated a deal or managed a complex project. 5. Show Enthusiasm: Employers want to hire people who are enthusiastic about the role and the company. Show your enthusiasm by discussing why you're interested in the role and what you admire about the company. 6. Close with a Strong Conclusion: In your conclusion, reiterate your interest in the role and your eagerness to contribute to the company. Also, mention your availability for an interview and thank the hiring manager for considering your application. Remember, the goal of the cover letter is to convince the hiring manager that you have the skills and passion to succeed in the role, even if you don't have direct experience as an Acquisition Manager.

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Mergers and Acquisition (M&A)

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Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney Cover Letter Example

Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney jobs are in high demand, and a well-written cover letter can help you stand out from the competition. Here is a high quality Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney cover letter that you can use as a blueprint to write your own.   As a Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney, your responsibilities would encompass providing legal counsel to clients involved in corporate mergers and acquisitions, conducting due diligence, negotiating contracts, and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. In this role, you would typically report to a Managing Partner or the Head of the Corporate Law Department, and collaborate closely with internal stakeholders such as executives, finance teams, and external legal advisors.

Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney Cover Letter:

Dear Hiring Manager,

I am writing to apply for the Mergers and Acquisitions Attorney position at your esteemed firm, as advertised on [Company’s Name] website. With significant experience in corporate law and a strong background in guiding clients through complex merger and acquisition transactions, I believe I would be an excellent fit for your team.

In my current role as a Corporate Associate at [Law Firm’s Name], I have had the opportunity to advise both domestic and international clients on a wide range of mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures. I have successfully assisted clients in conducting due diligence, negotiating and drafting transactional documents, and securing regulatory approvals. Furthermore, I have played a central role in coordinating with cross-functional teams, including tax and finance professionals, to ensure seamless execution of deals and mitigate potential risks.

Beyond my transactional experience, I possess exceptional legal research and writing skills, which I have honed throughout my academic and professional career. I am adept at analyzing complex legal issues and providing practical and creative solutions to my clients. Additionally, my strong interpersonal and communication skills enable me to effectively communicate with clients, opposing counsel, and other stakeholders.

I am particularly drawn to your firm due to its reputation for handling high-profile and complex mergers and acquisitions in a diverse range of industries. Your commitment to excellence aligns perfectly with my own professional values. I am confident that I can contribute to and thrive in your dynamic and collaborative work environment.

Please find attached my resume and academic transcripts for your review. I would welcome the opportunity to further discuss how my skills and experience align with your firm’s needs. Thank you for considering my application, and I look forward to the possibility of contributing to your firm’s continued success.

[Your Name] [Your Contact Information]

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Professional M&A Lawyer Cover Letter Examples for 2024

Your M&A lawyer cover letter must highlight your expertise in managing complex transactions. Demonstrate your ability to navigate mergers, acquisitions, and the intricacies of corporate law. Showcase specific deals where your skills made a tangible impact. Provide examples that reflect your diligence, strategic thinking, and negotiation prowess.

Cover Letter Guide

M&A Lawyer Cover Letter Sample

Cover Letter Format

Cover Letter Salutation

Cover Letter Introduction

Cover Letter Body

Cover Letter Closing

No Experience M&A Lawyer Cover Letter

Key Takeaways

Embarking on your quest for a challenging M&A lawyer position, you've meticulously polished your resume only to realize that the accompanying cover letter presents a new set of puzzles. This isn't merely a resume echo; it's your chance to shine, to narrate the triumph you're most proud of in a formal, yet original voice. Steer clear of worn-out phrases and keep it concise—your story, packed with impact, must unfold within the confines of a single page.

• Writing the essential m&a lawyer cover letter sections: balancing your professionalism and personality;
• Mixing storytelling, your unique skill set, and your greatest achievement;
• Providing relevant (and interesting) information with your m&a lawyer cover letter, despite your lack of professional experience;
• Finding the perfect format for your[ m&a lawyer cover letter, using templates from industry experts.

Leverage the power of Enhancv's AI: upload your resume and our platform will map out how your m&a lawyer cover letter should look, in mere moments.

If the m&a lawyer isn't exactly the one you're looking for we have a plethora of cover letter examples for jobs like this one:

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M&A Lawyer cover letter example

Ava Johnson

Fort Worth, Texas

+1-(234)-555-1234

[email protected]

• Highlighting past successful experiences in relevant high-stakes transactions, such as managing the negotiation and closure of a multi-million-dollar merger, emphasizes the candidate’s capability and relevant experience in Mergers & Acquisitions law.
• Recognizing the candidate's achievements, such as increased portfolio growth by a notable percentage and recognition as a Lead Attorney, provides concrete evidence of their expertise and contribution to their previous firm’s success.
• Expressing a desire to contribute to the firm's transactional legacy signals the candidate's awareness of the company’s objectives and demonstrates a readiness to align personal goals with the organizational goals.
• Mentioning the candidate's commitment to ethical standards alongside growth initiatives aligns with the firm's values, which may be pivotal in the decision-making process for roles in sensitive industries such as law.

The format of your m&a lawyer cover letter: structure, fonts, margins, and more

Your m&a lawyer cover letter should include a header (with your name, position, and date); a greeting and introductory paragraph; a body and closing paragraphs; and an optional signature.

Remember that you're writing your m&a lawyer cover letter for recruiters - as the Applicant Tracker System won't scan this content.

Here are a few more tips and tricks to keep in mind when formatting your m&a lawyer cover letter:

• Use the same font in your m&a lawyer cover letter and resume . We recommend modern fonts, e.g. Lato and Rubik, to help you stand out, instead of the stereotypical Arial and Times New Roman.
• Each paragraph should have single spacing, which is already set up for you in our cover letter templates .
• Our cover letter builder follows industry standards for your m&a lawyer cover letter formatting - with a one-inch margin, surrounding your content.
• Always export your m&a lawyer cover letter in PDF to ensure the image or text quality stays the same and your writing isn't moved about.

The top sections on a m&a lawyer cover letter

• Header : This should include your name, address, contact information, and the date, ensuring the recruiter knows who you are and how to reach you immediately.
• Greeting : Address the hiring manager or recruiter by name if possible to personalize the letter and show attention to detail, a crucial skill in M&A transactions.
• Introduction : Open with a brief but compelling statement about your interest in M&A law, your relevant experience, and why you are attracted to this particular firm or role, setting the tone for why you are a strong candidate.
• Experience and Skills Body : Highlight your expertise in due diligence, negotiation, and drafting of merger agreements, as well as your understanding of relevant legal frameworks, demonstrating your direct qualifications for the unique demands of an M&A lawyer role.
• Closing and Call to Action : Reiterate your enthusiasm for the position, invite the recruiter to review your attached resume, and express your desire for a personal interview, leaving with a proactive and determined impression.

Key qualities recruiters search for in a candidate’s cover letter

• Demonstrated understanding of M&A processes: Recruiters look for candidates who are familiar with the complexities of mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures, including due diligence, valuation, and integration strategies.
• Experience with regulatory and compliance issues: Knowledge of antitrust laws, securities regulations, and corporate governance is crucial as these directly relate to M&A transactions.
• Detail-oriented with strong analytical skills: Attention to detail is essential in reviewing and drafting transaction documents and performing due diligence to identify potential risks and issues.
• Proven negotiation skills: The ability to negotiate effectively is critical in securing favorable terms and conditions in M&A deals for clients.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: Building relationships with various stakeholders and the capacity to clearly convey complex information are pivotal for successful M&A transactions.
• Cross-border transaction experience: Many M&A deals have international components, so experience with cross-border transactions and familiarity with different legal systems and cultures can be a significant advantage.

What matters most when tailoring your m&a lawyer cover letter salutation

Your m&a lawyer cover letter greeting should feel welcoming to recruiters.

Use their first name (e.g. "Dear Marshall" or "Dear Sara"), if you've previously been in touch with the hiring manager and are on a more friendly basis.

If this is the first time you're contacting the recruiters, start your m&a lawyer cover letter with:

• their last name (e.g. "Dear Ms. Ali" or "Dear Mr. Stevens") - look up who's the hiring manager for the role on social media or the company website;
• generalized greeting (e.g. "Dear HR Team") - just don't use "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir/Madam".

List of salutations you can use

• Dear Hiring Manager,
• Dear [Name of the Partner/Recruiter],
• Dear [Law Firm Name] Hiring Committee,
• Dear Ms./Mr. [Last Name],
• Dear [Law Firm Name] Recruitment Team,
• Dear [Law Firm Name] Partners,

Get creative with your m&a lawyer cover letter introduction

Recruiters are going to assess plenty of candidate profiles for the role. Thus, anything you do to stand out will win you brownie points.

Use your m&a lawyer cover letter introduction to share something memorable about your experience .

But before you go down the rabbit hole of creativity and humor, align your message with the company culture.

For example, if you are applying for a role in some startup, use those first two sentences to tell a funny story (about your experience) to quickly connect with the recruiter.

What to write in the middle or body of your m&a lawyer cover letter

Here's where it gets tricky.

Your m&a lawyer cover letter body should present you in the best light possible and, at the same time, differ from your resume.

Don't be stuck in making up new things or copy-pasting from your resume. Instead, select just one achievement from your experience.

Use it to succinctly tell a story of the job-crucial skills and knowledge this taught you.

Your m&a lawyer cover letter is the magic card you need to further show how any organization or team would benefit from working with you.

Ending your m&a lawyer cover letter to avoid "Sincerely yours"

Yes, this sort of closing statement may work best before your signature.

But you want to give recruiters something more with your m&a lawyer cover letter ending .

Some professionals choose to go down the path of promises. In a single sentence, they map out what they'd bring about to the role (whether that's a particular technical skill set or personal traits).

Others, decide to be more concrete by thanking recruiters for their time and prompting for their next interview.

Whatever path you choose, remember to always be polite and respectful of the opportunity you've had. Good manners go a long way.

Addressing limited to no experience in the m&a lawyer cover letter

There's nothing to worry about if you lack professional experience .

Your m&a lawyer cover letter could bridge the gaps in your professional history by focusing on what matters most to recruiters, that's either:

• skills - focusing on transferable ones you've gained, thanks to your life experience (e.g. volunteering, certificates, etc.);
• achievements - select the most relevant and noteworthy one from your history (e.g. education, projects, etc.);
• motivation - describe how you envision your professional growth in the next up to five years, thanks to this opportunity.

Key takeaways

Writing your m&a lawyer cover letter doesn't need to turn into an endless quest, but instead:

• Create an individual m&a lawyer cover letter for each role you apply to, based on job criteria (use our builder to transform your resume into a cover letter, which you could edit to match the job);
• Stick with the same font you've used in your resume (e.g. Raleway) and ensure your m&a lawyer cover letter is single-spaced and has a one-inch margin all around;
• Introduce your enthusiasm for the role or the company at the beginning of your m&a lawyer cover letter to make a good first impression;
• Align what matters most to the company by selecting just one achievement from your experience, that has taught you valuable skills and knowledge for the job;
• End your m&a lawyer cover letter like any good story - with a promise for greatness or follow-up for an interview.

Cover letter examples by industry

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How to Answer "Are You a Risk Taker?" Interview Question

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Home » Blog » Mergers and Acquisitions » How to Write a Letter...

How to Write a Letter of Intent M&A (Sample Included)

July 10, 2024 by rebecca ahn, request pricing.

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Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) can be some of the most exciting and pivotal times at an organization. With so much at stake in M&A deals, it’s important that your organization be prepared to handle the process thoroughly and correctly. This includes drafting and delivering a well-written letter of intent M&A.

In this article, we’ll cover what a good M&A letter of intent example looks like, what it should include, why you need one, and how to customize and compose your own version for your organization’s M&A needs.

Letter of Intent M&A Sample

We’ll start with an M&A letter of intent example that you can copy and customize for your own letter of intent M&A needs. You’ll notice that there isn’t a lot of fluff or small talk in this template. Just as with other important M&A documentation, such as the client announcement letter , you want to get right to the point in your letter of intent to clearly and succinctly convey all of the proposed M&A deal details. So let’s illustrate how you might best put all of this into a letter of intent M&A sample.

Before we break down this M&A letter of intent example into the nitty gritty of what purpose it serves and what to include in your own letter of intent M&A, you can click below to download a free PDF version of this M&A letter of intent example and our complete guide to smoothly navigate the merger and acquisition process from start to finish.

What Is an LOI in Business Acquisition?

In a merger or acquisition, an M&A letter of intent is used to determine the terms and the timing of the deal, as well as make sure that the seller will stop talking with other buyers. If the next part of the process goes smoothly, wherein the seller goes through due diligence and the buyer acquires capital to make the purchase, then the transaction will be complete.

However, it’s also important to remember that a letter of intent is not a guarantee. Some parts of the letter—such as confidentiality clauses—may be more enforceable than others, but the overall document isn’t a final agreement for the M&A sale. If the deal falls through or goes to court, the letter of intent will not serve as any sort of enforceable contract. 

Instead, the letter of intent M&A language is designed to be a non-binding proposal for the final deal agreement, outlining the proposed price and terms for the buyer to purchase the seller’s business. It signals the start of the M&A process, so the overall deal will not be finalized through this document.

Why Is It Important to Have a Letter of Intent M&A?

A letter of intent in M&A is essential as it lays out the foundation for the final deal that will be struck. Think about when you go to a car dealership, and you see the numbers listed on the cars. That number lays the foundation for where you will start the negotiation process. It is the starting point for where the final deal will end up. 

An M&A letter of intent works in a similar fashion. Not only does it provide a starting place as far as pricing and timing, but it also allows both the buyer and seller to create stipulations that protect themselves throughout the remainder of the merger and acquisition process.

For buyers, the letter of intent M&A is important because it allows them to have an exclusivity period where the seller won’t talk to any other buyers on the market. This is the equivalent to taking your house off the market while someone does a final check of the property before signing on the dotted line.

For sellers, the letter of intent M&A is equally important. It can provide confidentiality protection for both parties when discussing sensitive information. If this particular deal was to fall through, you wouldn’t want the old buyers to give information to new buyers that could ruin your negotiation. It also protects against leaked information about the inner workings of your company that could hurt your public image and brand, and decrease your valuation in future attempts to sell.

What Should Be Included in a Letter of Intent M&A?

There are standard things that most companies always include in a letter of intent. However, you will want to check with your legal counsel to ensure that the specific items on your M&A letter of intent make sense for your situation. We aren’t attorneys, and there is a great deal of capital and jobs on the line with a merger or acquisition . So it is extremely important that you review any M&A documentation with a legal professional.

Here are the key sections that a letter of intent in M&A commonly includes:

1. Purchased assets

2. Assumed liabilities

3. Purchase price

4. Pre-closing covenants

5. Conditions to obligations

6. Due diligence

7. Confidentiality and non-competition

8. Employees

9. exclusivity.

10. Public announcement

11. Expenses

12. indemnification.

Let’s dig into each of these components a bit deeper to understand their purpose, as well as how they will apply specifically to your organization.

1. Purchased Assets

This section of the letter of intent in M&A refers to the purchaser’s intent to acquire all of the assets belonging to the seller’s company at the point of transaction. This means that the purchaser can’t only buy a part of the organization, such as only the intellectual property, but rather must purchase all of the organization’s assets as part of the deal. This includes equipment, intellectual property, records, office locations, etc.

This is typically standard, though there are of course situations where the purchaser and seller might agree to a purchase of only certain select assets. In that case, it’s especially important to have your legal counsel draft this section of the letter to thoroughly and correctly lay out those details.

2. Assumed Liabilities

This part of the letter determines how liabilities will be handled according to the M&A transaction. Generally, the purchaser agrees to assume all liabilities and obligations of the seller’s business after the purchasing date. This is to protect the purchaser from taking on any costly liabilities or obligations that occurred before the actual purchase of the organization which they may have been unaware of at the time.

Again, the above language is standard, but there may be situations in which the purchaser agrees to take on any and all liabilities or obligations that occur as part of the M&A agreement. If so, you will want your legal counsel to help you take this into consideration when drafting the M&A letter of intent.

3. Purchase Price

This part of the letter of intent M&A sample is fairly straightforward. It states the proposed purchase price for the seller’s business based on the valuation process and negotiations, and how and when that amount should be paid out by the purchaser. Some deals will stipulate a full cash amount payable at the time of transaction, while other deals might have a two-year payment plan, or not require the funds to be entirely in cash.

4. Pre-Closing Covenants

This segment of the letter contains promises that the purchaser and seller make to each other before the M&A transaction is complete. This can include a promise on both sides of the deal to obtain all necessary licenses and government certificates, as well as a promise by the seller to continue to run the business in accordance with how it has been run in the past.

5. Conditions to Obligation

This section of the letter is also fairly short and simple, describing the obligations of the purchaser and seller to finalize the M&A deal, except in the event that certain factors have not been met, such as the purchaser failing to obtain necessary government approval, licenses, or certificates.

6. Due Diligence

The due diligence process is very important to the success of a merger or acquisition. During this process, the purchaser audits every aspect of the seller’s business to ensure that the deal will be successful in the long run. In this part of the M&A letter of intent, the seller agrees to cooperate with the purchaser’s auditors and due diligence process.

7. Confidentiality and Non-Competition

This is an especially important part of a letter of intent in M&A. Its purpose is to ensure the confidentiality of any and all information that the purchaser finds during their due diligence process, and keep it so either until the deal is finalized or in perpetuity if the deal doesn’t go through. This confidentiality can be further protected with an additional non-disclosure agreement , but it’s good to lay the groundwork for this in the letter of intent. This section can also require that the purchaser does not use such due diligence information to compete with the seller in the event the deal doesn’t go through.

This segment of the M&A letter of intent is also pretty straightforward and similar to the confidentiality/non-compete section. It essentially states that the purchasing organization will not try to poach any employees away from the selling organization under any circumstance, either leading up to the transaction or afterwards if the deal falls through. Obviously, this won’t matter if the M&A deal is finalized and the post-merger integration process begins.

This section of the letter guarantees that the seller will not entertain any other purchasers while the due diligence and final negotiations of the M&A deal are taking place. In exchange for this exclusivity, the purchaser will generally need to agree to some sort of financial incentive that they would owe to the seller if they ultimately back out of the deal.

10. Public Announcement

Since mergers and acquisitions are generally announced to the press at some point during the finalization of the deal, this portion of the letter proposes how the deal will be announced, and who will be responsible for the creation of the announcement. Generally, both parties will collaborate on this announcement together.

This section of the M&A letter of intent states that both parties will be responsible for all of their own expenses and fees associated with the merger or acquisition, except as otherwise stated in other provisions of the letter.

This section states that the seller of the business understands that the purchaser will not have any liability in paying any third parties that helped assist the seller throughout the M&A deal, such as legal expenses or auditors.

M&A Letter of Intent: Final Takeaways

If you cover all of these letter of intent M&A sample sections, you’ll be well on your way to having your own great letter of intent for your merger or acquisition. Now, it’s important to mention that M&As are very tricky events. You will need to work closely with your M&A deal team , as well as with the other company’s team and management, and—perhaps most importantly—your legal counsel as you prepare all of the necessary documentation and details of the deal.

At Careerminds, we believe that you can never be too prepared for your next major business event, especially any that might result in workforce reductions. Our arsenal of resources, templates, guides, and industry-leading outplacement services can help you navigate the delicate integration or reduction process. Click below to speak with one of our experts and see if we are the right partner for your organization.

Rebecca Ahn

Rebecca is a writer, editor, and business consultant with over 10 years of experience launching, managing, and coaching small to midsize companies on their business, marketing, and HR operations. She is a passionate people advocate who believes in building strong people, teams, and companies with empowering culture, content, and communication that facilitates meaningful results at every level and touchpoint. In her spare time, Rebecca is an avid traveler and nomad who also enjoys writing about travel safety and savvy. Learn more on her LinkedIn page.

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Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Samples

The guide to resume tailoring.

Guide the recruiter to the conclusion that you are the best candidate for the mergers & acquisitions job. It’s actually very simple. Tailor your resume by picking relevant responsibilities from the examples below and then add your accomplishments. This way, you can position yourself in the best way to get hired.

Craft your perfect resume by picking job responsibilities written by professional recruiters

Pick from the thousands of curated job responsibilities used by the leading companies, tailor your resume & cover letter with wording that best fits for each job you apply.

Create a Resume in Minutes with Professional Resume Templates

• Prepare client reports advising on fund-raising, restructuring, acquisitions and disposals
• Reporting to various areas throughout the firm (e.g. Front Office, Financial Accounting, Line PC, etc.)
• Liaise with a target company's finance/accounting departments and advisors to gather pertinent accounting support
• Manage accounting due diligence pertaining to targets for acquisition
• Collaborate with Learning to provide the right content, tools and levels of training to create new M&A product experts (sales, and technical support)
• Keep the team informed of progress, drawing issues to their attention and discussing conclusions with them
• Proven success at influencing and leading resources across multiple functions, workgroups, and management levels
• Working directly with client senior management teams, board members and stakeholders throughout all phases of transaction advisory and execution
• Assist in developing proposals to clients and potential clients for mergers, asset or company divestitures or acquisitions and related advisory services
• Performing company, industry, market and competitor research and due diligence
• Drafting pitch books, selling memoranda and management presentations
• Mentoring and developing junior staff
• Draft board memos and presentations for senior management and other key stakeholders as part of transactions and strategic reviews
• Monitor trends in publishing and media including peer performance
• Coordinating and supporting integration planning, tracking and processes for new acquisitions
• Developing and maintaining relationships with potential targets from initial stage to deal closing
• Supporting and facilitating negotiations of transaction terms and legal documentation
• Proficient in Word and Excel; familiarity with Access, including running queries for large amounts of data
• Coordinating and implementing due diligence for potential transactions
• Creating investment proposals, along with supporting analysis and findings, for review by SEC’s Executive Management team
• Stay abreast of current financial and operational issues impacting Time Warner consolidated and divisional performance
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Strong PC skills including Excel, Peoplesoft Financials, and Essbase as well as comfort with manipulation and presentation of financial data
• Securing new business development and project extensions, including client lead maturation, proposal development, and closing new business opportunities
• Team player, proactive, self starter, who can be dynamic and implement process changes
• Building solid and collaborative relationships with team members, foster a productive teamwork environment, lead teams to generate a vision, leverage diverse views, and help develop and grow team members throughout the course of every engagement
• 1 - 4 years of financial service, banking, or accounting experience
• Managing and delivering significant business results that reflects strategic and creative thinking, individual initiative and the following abilities
• Developing a business vision and leading complex projects while functioning as a trusted advisor at the highest levels of client organizations
• Communicating complex material effectively in written and oral formats to various audiences
• Directing and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses of complex data

15 Mergers & Acquisitions resume templates

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• Create, maintain and review complex financial models and valuation analyses, including DCF, trading comparables, precedent transactions, LBO analyses, merger models and transaction impact analyses
• Manage day-to-day deal execution, interacting with senior deal team members, client management teams, transaction counterparties and other advisors
• Assist clients in due diligence by coordinating the information flow, supervising calls and meetings between the parties, as well as reviewing and analyzing company information
• Work independently, producing high-quality deliverables such as descriptive memorandums, management presentations, Board materials and other presentation materials for use in M&A transactions or strategic client dialog
• Design and analyze M&A transaction structures
• Leverage and coordinate the bank's resources on behalf of the client, including industry knowledge from partners in industry coverage groups and expertise from product partners in debt and equity capital markets and corporate finance advisory
• Provide leadership, mentorship and supervision to Analysts
• MBA from a leading business school is required for candidates that were not directly promoted from Analyst to Associate within a leading Investment Bank
• Current or past experience at a leading Investment Bank. Experience in M&A is highly preferred, but will consider banking experience in an industry coverage group, private equity or similar field
• Very strong financial modeling/valuation and analytical skills, including DCF, LBO, trading comparables, precedent transactions, accretion/dilution, value creation analysis, three-statement models and combined pro forma models
• Thorough knowledge of corporate finance and accounting, as well as understanding of legal and tax aspects related to M&A transactions
• Experience managing the day-to-day execution of different types of M&A processes (sell-side, buy-side, structured transactions, fairness opinions)
• Ability to comfortably interact with clients in a professional and mature manner
• Outstanding ethics, integrity and judgment
• Intellectual curiosity, strong work ethics and desire to learn
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, handling multiple projects with different deal teams
• Highly organized, detail oriented and proactive
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with specific ability to communicate concepts and ideas concisely and defend their validity
• Excellent technology skills with superior Excel and PowerPoint skills and ability to quickly learn new software applications

IBD, Classic, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Outstanding academic record
• Exceptional communication skills, both verbal and written
• Demonstrated ability to manage diverse workload and be effective on multiple projects
• Strong team orientation and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with team members in multiple groups and regions
• At least five years of experience in investment banking, corporate law, or a related field

CIB Investment Banking Mergers & Acquisitions VP Resume Examples & Samples

• Detailed valuation analysis, including DCF, trading comparables, transaction comparables and LBO analyses
• Detailed combination and other financial analyses in the context of M&A transactions
• Tax and transaction structuring analysis
• Daily deal execution and project management of clients, prospective purchasers or other advisors to facilitate accounting, legal and business due diligence
• Prepare presentation materials for use in M&A transactions or strategic client dialog
• Interact with senior team members and client management teams on a daily basis to execute transactions and discuss strategic alternatives
• Provide leadership, mentorship and supervision to Associates and Analysts

Associate, Mid Market Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Part of a national Mid Market M&A team, supporting directors based in Vancouver and other offices
• Conduct thorough research on companies and industries and delivery of concise summaries
• Assist Directors in preparation of internal and external marketing materials
• Support Directors in the preparation and presentation of marketing pitches to existing and potential clients
• Prepare integrated financial models to support analysis in proposals and transaction documents
• Under direction of team members, follow up and engage with RBC partners including Commercial Banking, Capital Markets, and Wealth Management
• Undergraduate degree with a focus in Business, Economics, Mathematics or other quantitative fields
• Relevant work experience in financial services – accounting, commercial banking, or investment banking
• Solid understanding of cash flow, financial modelling, and valuation
• Strong computer literacy with emphasis on PowerPoint and Excel presentation skills
• Strong ability to prepare integrated financial models including discounted cash flow and valuation analysis
• Thorough understanding of the inter-relation of net income, cash flow, working capital
• Ability to use research tools to extract relevant background material for business development and transaction support
• Strong personal skills and the ability to work effectively within a team environment under time constraints
• Comprehensive financial and accounting skills

Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Month End Balance Sheet Reconciliation
• Providing analysis and information in response to ad hoc requests from various areas throughout the firm

Tax Manager National Tax Human Capital Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Mapping organizations together or separating organizations
• Developing process for position and employee tracking
• Developing HR approach to support business with organization structure and workforce planning/transition
• Developing HR approach to support business with talent selection
• Creating / evaluating job descriptions
• Coordinating with the compensation team to determine grading of job positions and salary
• Managing the Talent selection and Workforce transition of the employee base
• Determining client needs by supplementing the standard assessment techniques and tools with innovative approaches
• Evaluating and validating analysis and developing recommendations for the client in the context of the overall engagement

Tax Manager National Tax Human Capital Mergers & Acquisitions Communications Resume Examples & Samples

• Develop and manage an internal communications strategy to gain support for an M&A transaction
• Providing superior client service by identifying key client business issues
• A minimum of 5 years consulting and/or industry experience

Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Analysis and valuation of potential transactions, including coordination of all appropriate Corporate functions
• Monitor, evaluate and maintain business, valuation and other information on potential transaction opportunities
• Prepare and / or review transaction assessments and recommendations for discussion with senior management and the Corporate Investment Committee
• Create, maintain and review financial models and analysis (recurring and ad-hoc)
• Organize and participate in due diligence efforts
• Review, understand, negotiate and execute legal documentation related to transaction opportunities
• Review and supervise activities of junior resources
• Hire, train, develop, coach junior resources
• Demonstrated history of analysis, valuation and documentation experience in acquisitions/divestitures, private equity, or other similar types of transactions (typically 6-9+ years experience)
• Experience working on complex projects concurrently
• Broad knowledge of financial services businesses and products as well as related functional areas (accounting, tax, legal, etc.)
• Strong leadership and communication skills

Managing Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Business development through networking and direct marketing with prospective clients
• Overseeing the creation of marketing materials for your clients
• Qualifying and managing potential buyers/sellers
• Assisting in negotiations with buyers/sellers on behalf of clients
• Managing the due diligence process for the client
• Previous investment banking experience with a business development focus
• MBA from an accredited university
• 5+ years of investment banking experience in the lower middle-market

Big Tax Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Strong technical ability and analytical skills
• Previous corporate tax experience
• Good networking skills and the ability to work under time pressure is also important in the M&A environment

Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Conduct and oversee financial analyses, including the development of detailed financial and operating models, valuations and ad hoc analyses as required by management
• Manage interaction with Time Warner business units and corporate groups including Tax, Accounting, Legal, Treasury, Financial Planning & Analysis and Investor Relations on transactions
• Work closely with, and mentor, junior team members to develop their analytical skills, industry knowledge and leadership abilities
• Other duties as may be required by the business

Director Corporate Strategy Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Understand and analyze businesses of all kinds (e.g., early-mid stage & mature)
• Analyze historical and projected financial performance of HSNi and targeted investment / acquisition targets
• Prepare comprehensive valuation analyses on targets and HSNi
• Prepare comprehensive comparative company analyses on targets and HSNi
• Compile thoughtful, comprehensive industry analysis and identify key trends with implications on HSNi
• Assess optimal financing structures and financial impact on HSNi
• Translate analysis into clear, concise verbiage and presentations
• Mentor, train, and assist Corporate Strategy and M&A intern(s)

Associate, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Financial analyses including valuation, pro forma merger scenarios, cash flow and liquidity analyses, returns analyses, etc. through development of detailed financial and operating models
• Manage the due diligence process for acquisitions and investments including reviewing and analyzing information received
• Draft of board memos and presentations to senior management as part of transactions and strategic reviews
• Close interaction with Time Warner divisions and business units (including Tax, Accounting, Legal, Treasury and Investor Relations) on transactions
• Competitive benchmarking analyses including research and internal data gathering - Monitoring trends in the media sector including peer performance

Director, Bpe Mergers Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Develops and manages an HR MA program management structure to drive integration success, minimize execution risks and drive efficiencies
• Assess organizational, people and HR functional implications of a deal and assists with developing the HR approach and initial strategy
• Identifies and engages HR resources to conduct due diligence, assigning roles and responsibilities appropriately
• Informs and engages appropriate stakeholders regarding the deal
• Identifies potential employment and HR program risks and liabilities to the business
• Develops and executes detailed HR work stream integration plans
• Manages and executes project integration plans to achieve End State including transitioning staff members to company benefits, payroll, policies, etc., onboarding, developing processes and training in partnership with HR Business Partners to ensure a successful transfer of capabilities and achievement of desired business objectives
• Supporting the broader enterprise-wide integration efforts, including change management, organization design, and workforce transition
• Reduces variation from processes so that simplification is obtained and operational efficiencies are gained
• Creates clearly defined and mutually agreeable success metrics for each new system or process and establishes a plan to track, monitor, and measure the success of those metrics
• Uses a methodical yet collaborative approach to each project by: 1) Measuring the process and questioning the capability and quality, 2) Defining the problem statement, 3) Performing a gap analysis between the customers expectation and current process performance, 4) Standardizing solutions around best practices, and 5) Repeating the steps for continuous improvement
• Develops repeatable, and thus scalable, plans and processes in order to speed time to market and improve operational efficiency
• Interacts closely with a matrixed cross-functional team (both field and corporate) in order to secure alignment and solution excellence
• Fosters an environment of empowerment, openness, inclusion, and objectivity all while striving to deliver solutions that benefit the entire organization
• Works with our HR counterparts and identifies plans for change management, communication, and training needs
• Responsible for all commitments within assigned organization and dependencies across the department
• Generally requires 10+ years related experience
• Expert project management skills
• Ability to build partnerships with executive level leadership, mid-level managers, and front-line employees
• A solid understanding of Mergers, Acquisitions and Divestitures
• Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, influencing, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong problem solving and troubleshooting skills with the ability to exercise mature judgment
• Strong oral and written communication skills as well
• Highly effective presentation skills
• Strong skills in Excel, MS Project, Visio and PowerPoint
• Understanding of all HR disciplines, including the HR business partner role, organization development, compensation, benefits, talent acquisition, and operations is preferred but not required

Global Revenue Mergers & Acquisitions Deal Lead Resume Examples & Samples

• Lead the entire acquisition lifecycle for Cisco’s Global Revenue team from due diligence through integration
• Review and document revenue related contracts in accordance with US GAAP
• Solve challenging problems and design new operational processes as it relates to the integration of the acquired entity into Cisco
• Collaborate with a broad set of business partners including Corporate Development Finance, Sales and Sales Finance, Business Unit Finance, etc
• Drive ongoing internal process improvement
• Bachelor’s degree (required) with minimum 8 years of related work experience, at least 3-5 years in a technical revenue capacity
• Strong technical knowledge of ASC 605 (formerly SAB 104 & EITF 00-21) and ASC 985-605 (formerly SOP 97-2)
• Solid communication skills including the ability to explain complex revenue subject matter to non-accounting/finance business partners
• Big 4 audit experience and CPA required
• Ability to build trust and strong relationships with business partners
• Ability to problem solve within a fast-moving environment with limited information a must
• Skilled in the interpretation of revenue recognition accounting pronouncements as well as applicability to specific transactions in the context of a large US high-tech public company
• Ability to effectively partner cross-functionally with finance and non-finance organizations (including but not limited to Sales, Sales Finance, Deals Desk, customer advocacy, legal, business units/technology groups) in providing revenue recognition input
• High degree of partnering skills: Personal integrity; drive for results; forward thinker; performance-oriented, proactive and cross functional thinker
• Strong and effective communications across multiple levels of the Company and across multiple functional organizations
• Ability to participate / leverage cross-functional and global teams

Financial Analyst Wpr Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Support activities related to Mergers and Acquisitions and WPR ensuring allocation alignment and facility integration activities
• Support activities related Office of the Chairman and CEO, including John Chambers, Gary Moore, Rob Lloyd such as Cloud initiative, Corporate donations and other initiatives
• Enabling the Annual Budget and Quarterly Commit submissions
• Driving the monthly/quarterly Financial Review processes
• Review PRs ensuring it aligns to budgeted spend
• Engage with business partners in process mapping and improvements which may involve other cross functional finance teams
• Ensuring the financial processes align with GAAP principles, in applicable areas like
• Lease Accounting, Fixed Assets , Corporate donations
• Be able to support ad hoc projects
• Very strong business partnering skills, with ability to influence and drive positive spending behavior
• Strong financial analytical skills in managing budgets and month end process
• Ability to take assigned projects and tasks from conception to completion
• To be a team player and at the same time take lead in appraising on financial acumen
• Ability to deep dive and at the same time work effectively under time management
• Skilled in Excel, and in-house tools like Hyperion Fetch, Planit
• Ability to work in a “virtual” organization and cross functional team
• Accounting knowledge
• Skilled in Business Objects

Mgr, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Create and maintain a pipeline of organizations for acquisition
• Provide target screening & pre-deal assessment/valuation
• Perform financial Due Diligence
• Liaise with internal stakeholders and external due diligence teams (legal/financial)
• Assist in the negotiation of the principal legal documents of the acquisition
• Undertake risk analysis
• Develop post-merger integration plan
• Business Development
• Commerical and Industry Relations
• General Management
• Supply Chain Management

Ibd Mergers & Acquisitions Administrative Assistant Resume Examples & Samples

• Provides administrative support in a complex team environment to a senior group or Executive
• Coordinates complex, senior-level internal/ external meetings and conference calls
• Handles a high volume of phone calls and interacts with high level business leaders in a professional and effective manner
• Supports internal and external managers or clients
• Responds and follows up on client requests
• Maintains complex and extremely detailed calendars and prioritizes meeting requests and related logistics
• Coordinates a high volume of domestic and international travel arrangements and processes expense reports
• Maintains understanding of firm policies and handles certain issues independently
• Responsible for participation in general administrative duties (copying, filing, faxing, archiving), ad-hoc projects, committees and or group events
• Requires excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to maintain high standards despite pressing deadlines
• Ability to solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Strong knowledge of general business, corporate and government cultures
• Ability to handle highly sensitive, confidential and non-routine information
• Self-starter with excellent anticipation skills; problem solving; follow up
• Demonstrated dependability and sense of urgency about getting results
• Demonstrates high degree of integrity and confidentiality
• Comfortable working with people at all organizational levels
• Comfortable working in a sometimes hectic, high pressure environment
• Ability to display a consistent, professional degree of communication
• Ability to work well under pressure, adapt to unexpected events, and prioritize and multi- task in a deadline driven environment
• Must be able to prioritize a variety of time-sensitive tasks
• Must have excellent judgment; independent thinker and resourceful
• Strong proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
• Team player with a positive attitude
• Highest degree of integrity, professionalism, diplomacy and discretion required
• Prefer 5+ years of experience

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate Attorney Resume Examples & Samples

• Negotiating and drafting corporate agreements
• Negotiating and drafting documents related to complex business transactions
• Advising clients on cross border transactions
• Advising clients on general corporate governance matters
• At least six years of substantive firm experience
• Top academic credentials and writing skills
• Experience in mergers and acquisitions and healthcare, venture capital and/or private equity
• Sophisticated experience

Senior Financial Analyst Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Valuation, due diligence, pricing analysis for targeted businesses
• Compiling and analysis of data from companies
• Financial forecasting
• Projections on revenue, expenses, and profitability
• Communication with executive leaders on risks involved
• MBA + >one year of experience or Undergraduate Degree in Business (Accounting, Finance, Econ) or Technical Sciences (Engineering, Physics) + three of Ibanking experience
• Strong quantitative skills, including financial modeling and financial statement analysis
• Quantitatively and financially-oriented, possessing the ability to succinctly express ideas
• Exceptional critical thinking and problem solving ability
• Excellent organization, communication and research skills
• Strong team player; motivated self-starter
• Desire to be part of close-knit group operating in an intensive environment
• Strong Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint and Word)
• MBA, MA in Accounting, CFA, CPA, JD or equivalent
• 3+ years investment banking experience in an industry group
• Previous investment banking experience. Series 7/79 & 63 (within six months of employment)
• Financial modeling
• Analytical acumen
• Analyzing and synthesizing data
• Strong communication skills (verbal and written)
• Team player with competitive drive to win

Internship Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Market and company research
• Financial analysis and valuation of companies
• Conceptual tasks
• As possible output of your work: presentation to the board or top management, focusing on the company within its competitive environment, its operational and financial performance and outlook, its valuation and finally a strategic recommendation for Bertelsmann
• Assurance of M&A transition and integration management within WWSS
• Partner with the Corporate development and other M&A team leaders to integrate businesses and enhance for unique situations
• Create and maintain detailed M&A transition plans, working with the Integration Management Office to create the WWSS M&A Playbook and assess status of each transition with a view to maximizing readiness; learn from current activity to improve playbook requirements, due diligence and to increase success of future M&A activity. Provide bi-weekly summary to management with status on deliverables and dependencies and recommendations in alignment with Sales and Services
• Support in data analysis e.g. customer install base, customer migration plans, channel transition etc. that adds value to the overall plan
• Track and analyze Sales & Services GTM success metrics with a Global Sales and Services M&A dashboard/scorecard and escalate any deviation from established plan
• Manage the plan to on-board existing acquired sales, technical support teams and partners to drive continued billing and revenue flow short and long term
• Participate in the validation of the initial strategy and provide constructive feedback around potential internal and external issues
• Collaborate with Learning to provide the right content, tools and levels of training to create new M&A product experts (sales, and technical support)
• Assist in supporting relationships with acquired Customers and potential Channel partners
• Strong focus on internal and external awareness around the GTM strategy of acquired businesses
• Prepare reports as needed for management requests
• BS/BA required
• 8+ years experience in business planning, project management, sales operations, channel management
• Excellent understanding of our market space, including key business issues and marketing trends
• Excellent communication skills and confidence in working with a broad range of colleagues and executives
• Ability to work and lead change cross-functionally
• Presentation, Communication, understanding of audience and concise provision of value-added information
• Attention to detail and recognizing of potential risks
• Strategic thinking & stong analytic skills

VP-mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics or related field or foreign equivalent and at least three (3) years of investment banking experience within a Mergers and Acquisitions group providing strategic advice to and executing strategic transactions for U.S. and multinational corporate clients
• Series 79 and 63 licensing required
• Preference for background to include accounting and law

Mergers & Acquisitions Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Sourcing acquisition opportunities
• Valuation, including DCF, comparable transaction, comparable trading
• Development of presentation materials for executives and board of directors discussions
• Maintaining comparable transactions database
• Managing integration activities
• Developing and maintaining industry relationships with emerging education companies
• BA/BS Degree in Business or Finance
• 5+ business experience with minimum of 2 years investment banking experience
• Professional demeanor and ability to effectively communicate with senior leaders and external counterparts
• Strong work ethic including attention to detail
• Strong excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong ability to build collaborative internal and external business relationships
• Strong analytical skills; ability to think creatively about problem solving and opportunity evaluation
• Possesses a solid understanding of Company's markets, products, players, and technologies
• Team player with the ability to build consensus across various internal and external stakeholders
• Proactive approach to responsibilities
• Ability to manage multiple competing priorities
• Outstanding financial modeling skills

Senior Consultant, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Contribute to strong client relationships through interactions with client personnel
• Participate in industry research / market mapping to assist in identifying potential acquisition targets – for both private equity investors and corporate strategic buyers: and leading companies that should be targeted by the firm as potential clients
• Be involved in financial modelling
• Prepare business development / marketing documents including presentations and pitch books
• Prepare key selling documents
• Understand engagement as it relates to client’s business
• Assume responsibility for certain components of engagements
• Contribute to engagement planning and ensure that deliverables meet the project timetable
• A degree qualification and approximately 2-3 years of related work experience within a large organisation
• An efficient use of research databases
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
• A dedication to teamwork

Executive Assistant, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Handle heavy phone call volume – answer calls with proper phone etiquette, screen and redirect calls and manage incoming inquires. Relay messages in a timely manner and have the ability to prioritize urgent and competing messages
• Manage and maintain frequently changing calendars via Outlook, including detailed meeting and appointment scheduling, coordination of departmental meetings, cross-functional meetings and cross-divisional meetings. Handle all logistics associated with in-person meetings, conference calls, webinars, appointments, and/or conferences; reserve conference room(s) and coordinate any meeting needs
• Assist with meeting preparation – accurately preparing meeting materials and correspondence, testing technology (webinar, video-conference, etc.), confirming conference room availability and tidiness, ordering meals as needed
• Greet external visitors and escort guests to meeting location
• Arrange and confirm complex travel arrangements, both international and domestic; adjust and update travel itinerary as needed, in a timely manner
• Prepare, submit and track expense reports; ensure reports are consistent and within company policies and completed in a timely manner
• Manage and update contact information for the M&A team, senior executives and other key clients
• Create, format and edit documents in Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Assist in various ad-hoc projects as needed
• Highly proficient in Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel
• Knowledge of Concur is a plus
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to draft correspondence with minimal direction
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and strong team orientation
• Excellent and professional phone etiquette
• Ability to interact with senior-level and C-suite executives professionally
• Expert in multi-tasking, organizing, and prioritizing a must
• Strong attention to detail and follow-up skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and discretion for highly sensitive information
• Excellent judgment and demonstrated problem solving capabilities
• Willingness to learn, take initiative, and adapt to new responsibilities
• Flexibility to work overtime, as requested/needed
• Takes initiative, anticipates the needs of the team and adapts to new responsibilities
• Ability to build strong networks and relationships across Time Warner

Associate Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• At least 5 years experience in executing M&A transactions
• A high level of commercial acumen and strong financial analytical skills
• Ability to build relationships internally and externally which will assist you in creating opportunities for our clients
• Have strong communication skills and be able to work within a team environment
• A desire to perform at the highest level and develop your career
• Tertiary qualifications in Finance, Commerce or similar disciplines

Mergers & Acquisitions Professional Resume Examples & Samples

• Active involvement in client interaction at a senior level
• Help buyers or sellers manage the transaction process from beginning to end
• Analyse company financial statements
• Peparing pitch documents, market analyses, information memorandums, management presentations, datarooms,.
• Manage a team

VP, Mergers & Acquisitions, Europe Resume Examples & Samples

• Lead day-to-day execution of transactions
• Provide sector teams with M&A support
• Support senior members of M&A team
• Proactively identify operational risks/ control deficiencies in the business
• Review and comply with Firm Policies applicable to your business activities
• Escalate operational risk loss events, control deficiencies and risks that you identify to your line manager and the relevant risk and control functions promptly. Failure to do so may subject you to disciplinary action, up to and including termination
• Lead day-to-day execution of M&A transactions, including: developing deal structure, leading day-to-day client interaction, managing project responsibilities and deliverables, developing financial and strategic advice, overall project management
• Developing existing client relationships and continuing to build client network to assist in deal origination
• Developing valuation and strategic advice and proposals for clients across a broad range of sectors
• Provide sector teams with M&A support on pitches, on-going client matters and deal execution
• Mentoring and support of junior members of the M&A and sector teams
• Proactively identify operational risks / control deficiencies in the business
• Undergraduate university degree
• Solid experience in investment banking / financial advisory
• Strong public and private M&A transaction experience across both buy-side and sell-side
• Committed to a career in M&A
• Team player as you will be working across a variety of sector groups and expected to manage junior bankers in both a developmental and strategic sense

BA&S Associate Partner Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work with IBM Account Partners to establish account-specific programs to position M&A integration services to address specific Client M&A activity
• Provide thought leadership around M&A integration services combined with deep hands-on experience
• Work with CFO organization of external clients to develop finance vision and blueprints around M&A aligned to the Client's strategy
• Work closely with clients to align market needs with M&A integration services in conjunction with organizational redesign, operating model and shared services optimization solutions
• Drive business case and deliverable development through to execution, measurement and benefits realization
• Be accountable for the delivery and success of M&A integration service engagements and Service Line financials
• Develop and maintain key CFO relationships at clients to generate and build business
• Identify and lead new business opportunities, within existing and new accounts, creatively participating in the development of sales and related solutions
• Provide overall leadership in the quality and execution of consulting engagements
• Manage multiple, complex sales and delivery engagements simultaneously, oversee large program teams, and collaborate cross-functionally
• Estimate complex program/projects - from a solution, resource needs, and budget perspective
• Be a proven communicator with the ability to motivate teams (both internal and external) and build alignment around goals and objectives
• Establish strong, trusted relationship with clients to understand needs and provide guidance and leadership for M&A integrations solutions
• Bring knowledge and expertise of finance transformation related to mergers and acquisitions as well as industry knowledge
• Serve as an integral team member of the BA&S Distribution Leadership team
• Executing and supporting the origination of M&A transactions including public and private sell-sides, buy-sides, etc
• Building and maintaining complex financial/valuation models, including DCF, accretion/dilution, LBO, comparable trading and transaction analyses
• Analyzing companies in the industry and working directly with the coverage team
• Managing several projects at once and working effectively as an individual and as part of a team
• Recent MBA graduate
• Experience in M&A investment banking preferred
• Strong quantitative/analytical skills
• Track record of superior performance in extracurricular and professional activities
• Ability to learn quickly and take on new responsibilities
• Mastery of software applications, primarily Excel and PowerPoint

Analyst Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Gathering and analyzing financial and operating information related to companies in diverse sectors
• Gathering market data to analyze trends and help value companies and transactions
• Creating, drafting and taking ownership of presentations and other documents to be used for internal purposes or at client meetings
• Undergraduate education with strong academic standing- Bachelor of Arts in Economics / Finance is a plus
• Strong analytical and modeling skills
• Fluent in English is required
• Commitment to deliver the highest quality work product; strong attention to detail
• Knowledge of accounting and financial concepts; ability to analyze and value businesses
• Ability to effectively prioritize and handle multiple tasks under tight deadlines
• Strong team player able to work effectively individually and in a team environment
• A positive, highly motivated attitude with strong leadership and management qualities
• Demonstrate best in class professional integrity
• Proactive and positive, self motivated and goal oriented
• Strong work ethic and demonstrated commitment to excellence
• 3 – 5 years of previous corporate accounting/finance/investment banking experience combined with completion of an MBA, CA and/or CFA, is preferred
• Extremely dedicated and motivated individual with high career aspirations. Must be capable of assuming significant levels of responsibility for assignments to be completed within short time frames
• Excellent analytical ability including demonstrated knowledge of valuation techniques and practices, including financial modelling
• Well-developed verbal and written communication skills and ability to effectively distill and succinctly communicate the results and implications of complex analyses to internal and client representatives
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of accounting principles relating to financial statement preparation and business combinations
• Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills, to actively participate in developing and maintaining productive internal and external relationships
• Demonstrated job commitment including a willingness to work, as well as personal flexibility and adaptability in order to meet client deliverables and timelines
• Ability to mentor and train junior professionals
• 5-7 years of previous investment banking or corporate finance experience, preferably with direct Mergers & Acquisitions experience
• MBA, CA and/or CFA is preferred
• Extremely dedicated and motivated individual with high career aspirations. Must be capable of assuming high levels of responsibility for assignments to be completed within short time frames
• Well-developed analytical skills evidenced by an ability to define what drives outcomes, to surface potential alternative hypotheses and to test alternatives using insightful analysis
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills and ability to effectively distill and succinctly communicate the results and implications of complex analyses to internal and client representatives
• Well-developed presentation skills evidenced by ability to be a focused, confident and persuasive presenter
• Well-developed interpersonal, teamwork and relationship building skills in order to develop, manage and leverage relationships with clients, and internal and/or external business partners
• Detailed working knowledge of the financial markets to assess impact of market conditions
• Working knowledge of all related securities rules and regulatory requirements in order to either advise clients effectively
• Strong technical skills as it relates to basic computer applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), industry technology (Bloomberg) and applicable software
• Unquestioned professionalism, ethics and reputation and proven ability to exercise strong independent judgment when making business decisions and/or representing CIBC Capital Markets

Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Works with verticals, geographies and industries to identify and research potential global acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, joint ventures and related strategic transactions in support of corporate strategy. Performs evaluations including company analysis, market and industry analysis, impact to the business model and evaluation of commercial strategy and operational execution
• Performs and/or leads due diligence activities to ensure the consistency of information provided by potential acquisition targets. Performs integrated revenue and expense analysis and projections. Coordinates efforts and collaborates with multiple functional teams such as Financial, Legal, Human Resources, Sales and Operations to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the business, risks and opportunities
• Analyzes and develops financial models for business valuations to support decision making. Identifies trends and developments in competitive environments and presents findings to management
• Identifies risks and issues related to integration planning, timeliness and functional areas. Formulates mitigation plans for integration. Works with integration team involving representatives from across the organization
• Interacts and collaborates with senior internal and external functional personnel on significant matters in converting strategic interest intent into the identification, engagement, diligence and execution of transactions. Prepares and presents management findings that clearly articulate deal aspects. Participates in negotiations as appropriate
• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, economics or related field preferred
• Ten or more years experience in financial analysis, strategic planning, corporate development, analytical or related role
• Experience working with a global organization of size, scope and complexity
• Experience working with technology and/or services intensive business
• Experience working with industry services and offerings as well as emerging markets
• Experience working with international best market practices and global trends in represented entity
• Experience working with government contracting and associated accounting requirements (as appropriate)
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills to frame analysis, identify insights from complex data and synthesize how those insights might impact business strategy
• Strong problem solving skills to identify, structure, analyze and develop actionable recommendations
• Strong communication skills to deliver clearly complex information, issues and recommendations
• Strong interpersonal and influence skills to cultivate relationships and interact across all levels within and outside of the corporation
• Ability to work effectively in teams, across geographies; communicate ideas clearly and confidently, articulate issues and recommend solutions
• Ability to formulate insights around complex business problems
• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects
• Analytical orientation with ability to develop and use metrics to make business case and align to corporate strategy
• Transaction execution: manage due diligence, document preparation, negotiation etc and liaising with relevant counterpart at the client/other advisers (accounting, legal, etc)
• Lead on presentation materials, management presentations, Board materials, Memorandums, and other presentation materials for use in M&A and capital markets transactions or strategic client dialogue
• Key topics/areas of focus: Inversions (impact of new rules), Public offers, Defence, Activism, Break-fee and reverse break & regulatory fees, Post-offer squeeze-out mechanisms, Treatment of convertibles in public offers, walk-away rights, Reverse take-overs, Dual-listed stock structures and JV governance and exit mechanism
• Leading analysts and associates and performing quality control on their work will also be part of the role, as will be liaising with other corporate finance / capital markets teams within the bank
• Keeping abreast of key market developments and establishing knowledge of the target client base and relevant market dynamics
• Significant Investment Banking experience (ALF, ECM, IB coverage, etc.)
• Proficient in mainstream IT investment banking / capital market software (Bloomberg, Datastream, Dealogic…)
• Strong interest and focus on deal execution
• Solid communication and project management skills
• In-depth understanding of investment banking products is preferable (can be enhanced and further built via training)
• Experience in dealing with clients and other transactional advisers is preferable (can be enhanced and further built via training)
• Strong team player
• Proficient in MS office applications
• Conducting research and analysis to support the team in evaluating potential acquisitions, investments and other strategic growth opportunities
• Managing the due diligence process for acquisitions and investments including reviewing and analyzing information received
• Drafting of board memos and presentations to senior management as part of transactions and strategic reviews
• Close interaction with Time Warner divisions and business units (including tax, accounting, legal, treasury and investor relations) on transactions
• Competitive benchmarking analyses including research and internal data gathering
• Monitoring trends in the media sector including peer performance
• Evaluating past investments and acquisitions
• Potential travels (domestic and international) to attend internal or external meetings

Mergers & Acquisitions Lawyer Resume Examples & Samples

• Admission to practice law in Hong Kong, US, England or other common law jurisdictions
• At least 6-8 years post-qualification experience in M&A
• Candidates with good working knowledge of public takeover regimes in Asia will be viewed favourably
• Candidates with relevant in-house experience with comparable banking institutions will be viewed favourably
• Fluent in English and Chinese, both written and oral
• Ability to read simplified Chinese is essential Ability to “own” projects, take initiative, and ability to find solutions that balance legal and commercial requirements
• Strong drafting, negotiation and legal analytical skills
• Able to communicate well and work in a cross-functional team to achieve common goals
• Ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders including Investment Banking professionals, risk and control functions as well as external counsel
• Ability to identify and escalate issues timely and appropriately
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritize and respond to business needs and goals
• Participate in substantial day-to-day deal/engagement execution
• Build long-term relationships with clients and prospects
• Developing new ideas for client activity
• Work independently, producing high quality work
• Invest expertise to further develop Associates professionally
• Interest in active calling in conjunction with senior bankers
• Very strong financial modeling/valuation and analytical skills
• Hands on, roll-up your sleeves mentality
• Strong organizational, communication and leadership skills
• Strong financial analysis skills, experience in the execution of M&A transactions, knowledge of the Financial Services industry, strong project management and interpersonal skills, negotiation skills preferred.   
• Minimum 3+ years of experience in investment banking in M&A transactions or Financial Institutions Group; 6+ years of overall experience in the finance industry
• Financial Services Experience, highly desirable
• Bachelor's degree required, Master’s in Business Administration, or similar Finance degree preferred

Management Consulting Mergers & Acquisitions Senior Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Leading teams that foster a productive teamwork environment, as well as coaching staff including providing timely meaningful written and verbal feedback
• Participating actively in client or management discussions to gather data and understand issues
• Managing and conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses of complex dat

Associate, Mid-market Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Corporate Finance Division Lines of Business
• BMO Capital Markets
• Personal & Commercial Client Group Partners
• Corporate Audit
• Business Acumen (in-depth)
• Business Valuation (in-depth)
• Conflict Management & Resolution (in-depth)
• Consulting (in-depth)
• Environmental Understanding (in-depth)
• Financial Understanding (in-depth)
• Negotiation (in-depth)
• Problem Solving (in-depth)
• Relationship Management (in-depth)
• Risk Management (in-depth)
• Sales & Service Processes (in-depth)
• University undergraduate business degree with an outstanding level of academic achievement
• CA, CMA, CBV, MBA or CFA designation are considered a strong asset, but not essential
• 3 to 5 years related business experience with at least 2 years of M&A experience with a relevant boutique M&A advisory firm, a Financial Advisory group within a large national or multinational accounting firm or within an M&A division of an Investment Banking Group
• Knowledge of and experience in sophisticated financial analysis and evaluation techniques including discounted cash flow analysis, leveraged buyout analysis, comparable trading analysis, and comparable precedent transaction analysis
• Broad M&A business and/or industry knowledge
• Well- developed relationship management skills
• Must be highly proficient in analyzing complex financial information
• Understanding and demonstrated knowledge of public and private equity markets
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, in order to deal effectively with both internal and external customers
• PC skills including PowerPoint, Word and Excel (high level of fluency required)
• Understanding of Capital IQ, is required. Knowledge of other industry databases is preferred
• Must have a good and demonstrated understanding of lending and financing principles to assist in M&A advisory assignments
• Must be able to work independently, on a number of concurrent transactions and with limited high-level direction
• Exposure to a wide variety of industries and types of transactions
• Business acumen
• Superior project management skills
• Mature and self-confident; able to defend own point of view, able to sell
• Ambitious, self-starter; high energy level and action-oriented
• Naturally curious, interested in others
• Creative lateral thinker with superior intellect
• Committed to achieving established goals

Management Consulting Mergers & Acquisitions Director Resume Examples & Samples

Senior analyst, mergers & acquisitions resume examples & samples.

• Conducts analysis on prospects for profitable organizational growth including analysis of expansion activities (investments, acquisitions, corporate alliances, etc.), new revenue sources
• Leads and conducts analysis on new lines of business which includes performing primary and secondary research that supports comparison of options, building competitive landscape scenarios, and performing ROI analysis
• Continually tracks the digital/mobile landscape, creating proposals for new or existing digital products that align with Tronc business strategy and creating actionable recommendations to review with management
• Develops benchmarks and ongoing monthly reporting to measure progress of initiatives
• Approaches projects methodically, surfacing both quantitative and qualitative factors related to potential partnerships
• Summarizes and presents results to cross-functional teams
• Negotiates complex contracts with legal and financial implications as well as structuring and closing business development deals
• Bachelor’s degree required in a business related field and an MBA is preferred
• Must have five years to seven years of business development, corporate development and/or analytic experience
• Must be a self-starter with ability and confidence to determine best course to analyze and model results for initiatives
• Must possess strong relationship-building skills, both with external partners and internal stakeholders
• Able to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to prioritize tasks, work on multiple engagements and manage rapidly changing assignments in a team environment
• A critical thinker who can quickly evaluate and analyze companies and financial information
• Excellent analytical and quantitative skills, as well as strong writing and communication skills
• Strong working knowledge of Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Ability to work effectively with senior professionals in an engagement team
• Ability to master new tasks quickly
• Demonstrated commitment to obtaining outstanding results

Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Tax consulting and planning--e.g. analyzing proposed transactions for unusual tax risks for undetermined tax benefits
• Strategy formulation and financial modeling--e.g. performing financial analyses to assess the tax consequences of specific transactions
• Applying and interpreting U.S. federal income tax law as it relates to tax due diligence exercises, including Subchapter C corporations, partnerships, consolidated groups, corporate bankruptcies and insolvencies, tax efficient structuring and use of debt, the reorganization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and technical writing and reviewing of opinion letters and memoranda
• Identifying and addressing client needs: building, maintaining, and utilizing networks of client relationships and community involvement; communicating value propositions; managing resource requirements, project workflow, budgets, billing and collections; and preparing and/or coordinating complex written and verbal materials; and,
• Leading teams: supervising teams to create an atmosphere of trust; seeking diverse views to encourage improvement and innovation; and coaching staff including providing timely meaningful written and verbal feedback

Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Transaction structuring for tax issues and corporate restructuring--e.g. advising clients on tax-efficient restructuring
• Due diligence--e.g. interpreting complex legislative and regulatory actions relating to corporate and partnership transactions, assisting clients with regulatory and legislative initiatives, and preparing for client review submission requests for private letter rulings and technical advice from the IRS; and,
• Applying and interpreting U.S. federal income tax law as it relates to tax due diligence exercises, emphasizing Subchapter C corporations, partnerships, consolidated groups, corporate bankruptcies and insolvencies, tax efficient structuring and use of debt, the reorganization provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, and technical writing and reviewing of opinion letters and memoranda

Senior Legal Counsel Mergers & Acquisitions & Strategic Transactions Resume Examples & Samples

• Provide expert legal, transactional, structuring, strategic and tactical advice and counsel to Scotiabank’s senior executive management team, each of its principal business lines, its strategic transactions and review team and various key support functions in connection with domestic and international M&A Transactions with a view to the Bank's values and objectives and an awareness of the need to minimize reputational, legal, financial and regulatory risk
• Provide sophisticated advice and counsel to Scotiabank’s senior executive management team and its business lines with respect to complex commercial arrangements, financial advisory mandates, commercial disputes and regulatory matters
• Negotiate contractual terms and protections with CEOs, CFOs, CLOs and other senior executive officers of transactional counterparties, senior partners at leading law firms in Canada, the United States and internationally and prominent investment bankers at leading global investment banks
• Make strategically important decisions in the context of a demanding, time sensitive, often hostile and complex transactional environment, including with respect to deal strategy and tactics, transactional terms and conditions and legal and structural significance, which have the potential to significantly impact Scotiabank’s position
• Review, draft and negotiate complex legal documentation that protects Scotiabank’s interests and has the potential to generate significant revenue and avoid significant financial loss
• Perform complex evaluations of acquisition candidates in high volume due diligence exercises to identify and assess legal, commercial and reputational risks and contingencies that impact valuation, pricing, the ability to complete a transaction and ensure Bank objectives are met
• Lead sell-side transactions involving Scotiabank subsidiaries and assets (including portfolio sales)
• Conduct complex, highly sophisticated legal research and analysis in connection with M&A Transactions and commercial arrangements
• Engage, direct and manage teams of external legal counsel, which often include specialists in the areas of corporate/commercial, securities, regulatory, competition, tax, real estate, employment and labor, pensions and benefits, intellectual property, litigation and information technology
• Develop and maintain subject matter expertise in multiple jurisdictions in the complex fields of mergers and acquisitions, corporate and commercial law and other specialty areas relevant to Scotiabank’s M&A Transactions
• Assist with the settlement and resolution of legal disputes relating to M&A Transactions and advisory mandates
• Improve transactional efficiencies and ensure significant cost savings by taking on the major responsibilities of drafting and negotiating transactional documentation, internalizing the initial stages of a transaction process and creating sophisticated template transactional documents
• Provide strong team leadership to motivate and develop individual and team performance of direct report and external advisory teams
• A bachelor's degree and 1-2 years of related work experience
• An excellent working knowledge of Excel to develop financial models
• The ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously
• A willingness and ability to travel as necessary

Senior Consultant Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Assist corporates and financial investors in managing a M&A process from deal sourcing through final closing
• Assist in drafting all transaction documentation such as proposals, teaser, information memorandum, management presentation
• Assist in identifying a long list of potential buyers
• Assist in developing a business model in order to make a valuation of the company
• Be involved in M&A processes, MBOs, mergers from A to Z
• Assist in giving financial advice to clients

Mergers & Acquisitions Consulting Leader Resume Examples & Samples

• Establish relationships from an existing network of contacts; build new PE and other business relationships
• Develop opportunities for Aon from relationships
• Work with and assist originators in establishing relationships and developing opportunities
• Be viewed as a thought leader; proven credibility both externally and internally
• Communicate and capture the value that Aon brings to clients
• Prepare proposals, white papers, articles, etc. and make presentations to clients
• Provide ongoing relationship management oversight to private equity clients
• Manage and/or mentor more junior AMAS staff
• Travel required
• Minimum five years related insurance experience or five years legal, accounting, or consulting experience
• Understanding of financial statements
• Ability to perform under pressure and manage multiple priorities
• Works closely with GE Digital’s Global Head/VP M&A Strategy, members of the BD team and leadership teams to execute M&A activities aligned to the vision, strategy and business plan in pursuit of deals and partnerships
• Develops revenue modeling and financial risk analysis of business opportunities and manages business performance metrics
• Executes M&A initiatives in close partnership with the Global Head of M&A and Digital leadership team members, including sourcing, diligence, and transaction execution
• Provides regular presentations in various company forums
• Previous experience in M&A, business development, and corporate development, primarily with technology companies that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job (comparable to 10+ years) or equivalent and relevant combination of education, training, & experience
• Bachelor’s Degree Economics, Finance or MBA strongly preferred
• Successful track record as a corporate development professional,

Director, HR Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Partner with the sponsoring business HR Business Partner, Business Development and the Integration team on all M&A deals as it relates to diligence, integration planning, execution, and transition
• Work across HR and cross functional partners to create and manage project plans including acquisition milestones and activities (from due diligence, offers, employee on-boarding, and integration transition)
• Develop strong relationships with acquired teams and founders
• Lead HR due diligence to manage assessment of target company’s HR policies, practices, benefits, and culture, mitigate deal risks, and document findings to track integration actions
• Partner with Recruiting and HRBPs on talent assessment as it relates to headcount, compensation, job mapping, offers, workforce planning, and org structure
• Drive engagements with HR of the newly acquired employees in understanding how their business fits into the broader GED, how to work within a matrixed organization, operating rhythm/calendar, and what resources are available to them to help them learn more about GE Digital’s culture
• Identify employee immigration and global mobility needs of target company and work with appropriate teams to initiate visas and/or relocation
• Lead functional plan development consistent with the overall integration strategy; create team awareness of cross-functional interdependencies; establish prioritization for plan execution to minimize disruption of integration activities on the ability to sustain business operations
• Works with global HR partners and Legal to ensure integration plans are delivered consistently across the globe and in compliance with regional and local processes and policies
• Oversee Day 1 planning and on-boarding for acquired teams, collaborating with IT, O&TD, and HR Ops to provide a world class employee experience
• Work with cross functional partners to manage post-close transition related to payroll, benefits, recruiting, compliance, learning and development, culture, and performance management
• Understand systems workflows to maintain updates required for new entities, cost centers, locations, and orgs
• Create and lead scalable HR processes and tool improvements related to diligence, planning, and playbook in conjunction with process owners and key stakeholders
• Manage HR related post-close integration activities in coordination with Business Development, Integration office, aligned HRBP’s, and business sponsors
• Partner with HRBP team to monitor and analyze data related to performance, retention, and satisfaction of M&A hires and propose recommendations as required to aligned HRBP’s and leadership
• Master’s Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field with 6 years’ progressive HR experience OR Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration or related field with 8 years’ progressive HR experience
• At least 6 years of total HR experience and 3 years in a HR M&A leadership role, including full lifecycle (due diligence to integration) management of M&A deals from an HR perspective
• At least 3 years direct or indirect management of HR teams
• Experience working on complex, cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders
• Experience with organization design and workforce planning
• Experience analyzing and editing M&A-related contracts from an HR/people perspective strongly preferred
• Demonstrated capability to influence HR and business leaders
• Willingness to travel internationally (up to 40% travel required)
• Ability to be available at off hours during heavy deal execution times and travel at short notice as there may be unpredictable travel requirements at times, dictated by the location of the deals
• Develop inorganic growth strategy to identify and select acquisition targets, serving on due diligence teams to evaluate acquisition and partnership opportunities
• Conduct competitive analysis and benchmark the competition
• Team with GE Power business leaders to establish Return-on-Investment estimates and team with marketing experts to establish go-to-market strategies
• Identify white-space opportunities and lead planning efforts for GE Power’s entry into new spaces
• Team with consultants to bring the latest insights and strategies to GE Power Digital Solutions’ team
• Research regulatory factors and assess industry impact
• Lead target and disposal valuation process (cash flow, asset base, comparables, etc.) including definition of purchase price, 10-year business plan, and identification of synergies and structure of the deal
• Evaluate and structure deals, lead acquisition or disposition process including internal opportunity review, due diligence process, contract negotiation, and early identification of integration issues
• Identify networking activity within Investment Banks, Advisor, Private Equity Funds, Consultants, and other Industrial Players in the segments
• Serve as advisor to key GE Power leaders & businesses
• Deliver an executable market landscape for inorganic activity
• Help deliver on top tier acquisition candidates and built a successful pipeline of opportunities
• Build a strong network across energy related VCs and financial arms and potential companies
• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited university or college; MBA highly desirable
• Minimum 10 years of software industry related experience, with more than 5 years with responsibility for strategy
• Due diligence experience pertaining to software related mergers or acquisitions
• Demonstrated ability to strategically lead businesses into new market areas
• Demonstrated experience in B2B software applications
• Demonstrated leadership in business communications and strategy
• Detailed understanding and experience of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) processes
• Significant deal / project management expertise
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Finance, Economics or Business Administration
• Master's Degree in Business Administration or Finance
• Detailed understanding and experience in analytical analysis
• Ability to work in a cross-functional environment and lead multiple teams
• GE Corporate Audit Staff or Financial Management Program graduate
• Strong financial acumen
• Strong oral and written communications and presentation skills
• Strong interpersonal and project leadership skills

Mergers & Acquisitions VP Resume Examples & Samples

• Assist in managing and executing M&A and corporate finance advisory assignments
• Advise clients on strategies for the acquisition, disposition, and recapitalization of businesses
• Ensure the delivery of quality transaction services and client support
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in professional corporate finance advisory functions, investment banking, commercial banking, consulting, and/or public accounting with some supervisory experience
• Proven commitment to continuous learning in order to stay current with M&A and corporate finance transaction strategies
• Capable of providing direction and leadership in order to build a strong team environment
• Oversee the efforts of multiple client services teams on client engagements; plan, execute, direct, and complete M&A Tax consulting projects in a wide variety of industries to a diverse client base, including financial sponsors and strategic buyers and sellers;; market, sell, design, and implement tax-planning strategies to both new and existing Firm clients and manage all financial aspects of projects, including budgeting, invoicing and collection
• Develop relationships with the Firm’s senior-level client serving professionals both in the candidate’s local office and in other offices throughout the region; ability to work closely with the Firm’s Transaction Advisory Services professionals, as well as colleagues in the Firm’s other tax, audit and advisory service lines
• Manage, develop, train, and mentor M&A Tax staff on tax projects and assess performance for engagement and year-end reviews, including staff that may be located in other offices
• Work effectively with national M&A Tax Services team in all aspects of practice development and leadership, including proficiency in change management
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting. CPA, Masters in Taxation or JD
• A minimum of eight years of progressive federal tax consulting experience, as well as some amount of business entity tax compliance experience in public accounting or a combination of corporate and public accounting experience

OCM Mergers & Acquisitions Senior Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Provide service excellence by identifying key client business issues, determining client needs by supplementing the standard assessment techniques and tools with innovative approaches, evaluating and validating analysis and developing recommendations for the client in the context of the overall engagement
• Lead and contribute to business development efforts, including Statements of Work (SOW), proposal development, client presentations, etc
• Lead and contribute to practice development initiatives including culture building, internal community involvement, eminence, recruiting, whitepapers, etc
• Minimum of eight (8) years’ relevant experience, including change management initiatives, organizational design and development, learning solutions, talent solutions, technical adoption, and/or sales force effectiveness

Referral IT Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• A willingness to travel 80 - 100% of the time (Monday – Thursday / Friday)
• 3+ years of relevant industry or consulting experience
• 1+ years of team lead experience
• Experience driving a client team
• Flexibility to adapt to changing strategies and plans
• Independence and ability to make strategic decisions
• 2 years of experience in one or more technology disciplines (Oracle, SAP, IT strategy, application portfolio management/rationalization, project portfolio management, IT governance)
• Must have participated in one or more M&A projects that included IT Infrastructure, data center migration, IT Cost Reduction, application rationalization, or project portfolio management
• Bachelor’s Degree or 4 years equivalent professional experience

Tax Senior Associate Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work with and assist other senior members of the M&A Tax practice with various technical tax issues dealing with consolidated returns, S Corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies
• Develop, motivate, and train team members
• Minimum of 3 years' experience in federal tax M&A experience at a public accounting firm

VP, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Transaction origination including building a robust pipeline that aligns to the strategy and the firm’s ambition
• Creating and nurturing relationships with the key targets so that ERM is positioned to negotiate a bi-lateral agreement with those targets that are of greatest interest
• Developing the investment case for the Board (and/or a sub-set of the Board) to consider each potential transaction including the preparation of the documents required to approve and fund the acquisitions
• Management of the execution of transactions, including in some cases, the official management of the due diligence process through to the successful negotiation of the Sale & Purchase Agreement (and ancillary agreements)
• Involvement in the preparation and planning for the Integration program as a bridge from the due diligence phase
• Representing ERM at select industry events in a manner that promotes the brand of the company and supports the ongoing development of the transaction pipeline
• Proven track record in Mergers & Acquisitions over 12+ years
• Knowledge of the industry and markets that are relevant to ERM is preferred
• Excellent engagement and communication abilities
• 5-7 years of post-MBA transaction execution experience either in corporate development / M&A department of a corporation, or an investment bank or similar financial services institution
• Private equity experience also applicable
• Work within a management consulting firm's M&A/Corporate development practice that specializes in the transaction process, as well as identification and analysis, would be appropriate
• Demonstrated leadership skills in managing all facets of a deal with minimal oversight from more senior team members; ability to drive results for multiple projects in parallel
• Collaborative individual with prior experience leading large and cross-functional teams
• Strong quantitative and analytical skills; effective verbal and written communication
• Experience in building trust with and influencing senior-level stakeholders
• Expertise in screening and analyzing potential opportunities for strategic fit and conducting business due diligence
• Food and/or beverage experience, as well as related consumer products background is preferred, but company will consider exceptional candidates with relevant skill sets from other industries
• Upward mobility to help PepsiCo build a world-class senior finance executive bench
• MBA from top Business School highly preferred
• Must be willing and able to travel 25% of the time
• Build and maintain complex financial models to perform analyses under different operating scenarios using input from management and public sources
• Perform full valuation analyses, including DCF, trading comparables, precedent transactions and LBO analyses
• Prepare and review complex financial analyses, including transaction impact analyses such as earnings accretion/dilution and value creation
• Participate in day-to-day deal execution, interacting with senior deal team members, client management teams, transaction counterparties and other advisors
• Manage due diligence processes, including preparing virtual data rooms, tracking and coordinating the information flow, and reviewing and analyzing company information
• Prepare descriptive memorandums, management presentations, Board presentations and other materials for use in M&A transactions or strategic client dialog
• Monitor and evaluate current events related to the client, its industry or the transaction
• Bachelors' degree from a leading university
• At least 1-2 full years of experience in Investment Banking at the Analyst level. Experience in M&A is highly preferred, but will consider banking experience in an industry coverage group, private equity or similar field
• Knowledge of corporate finance and accounting, as well as basic understanding of legal and tax aspects related to M&A transactions
• Experience analyzing company financials
• Ability to conduct thorough, independent research

Transaction Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Negotiation of deal documents including letter of intents, purchase agreements, operating agreements, management services agreements, medical director agreements and leases related to acquisitions, joint ventures and divestitures
• Coordinate internal review across multiple functions including legal, compliance, finance, accounting and field operations
• Support operations team with growth strategy development/execution
• Collaborate with Senior Financial Analyst to evaluate target companies, oversee due diligence teams, and create internal and external deal presentations
• A comprehensive benefits package designed to enhance your health, your financial well-being and your future
• At least 5 years experience in managing (as the primary responsible party) and negotiating acquisitions and joint ventures
• Prefer prior experience in investment banking, private equity, corporate development or related field
• Health Care industry experience preferred, but not required
• MBA from a top-ranked school

VP, Corp Finance, Mergers / Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work with the Leadership Team to develop corporate and business level strategies which will be used as the basis for M&A strategy
• Develop new market initiatives, assess new markets and analyze business opportunities
• Conduct financial feasibility studies and develop proposals for new business opportunities
• Negotiate corporate and business development transactions including M&A, partnerships and licenses
• Conduct due diligence on corporate capabilities, distribution/marketing channels, and strengths and weaknesses to provide strategic insights and recommendations
• Lead all the due diligence efforts with respect to mergers and acquisitions
• Synthesize and articulate key findings as appropriate for sales, operations, finance, product development and executive audiences
• Build a case for and make recommendations for taking a strategic or acquisitive position
• Conduct business analyses and manage content creation for corporate strategy presentations and board packages
• Negotiate and finalize capital and lending transactions at favorable terms to the business
• 15+ years of experience delivering management-level analyses and opinions/recommendations to senior executives
• Extensive experience conducting detailed market research
• Strong healthcare services background with understanding of market segments and industry-standard operational metrics
• M&A experience
• Experience with valuation methodologies
• Capable of building cross-functional relationships
• Familiarity with navigating and gathering data from data service providers, annual reports and SEC filings
• Strong MS Excel skills
• Able to deliver accurate results in short time frames
• Desire for continuous learning and development

Senior M&A Associate Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Minimum of 4+ years comparable work experience in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Transaction Advisory, or Corporate Development
• Comprehensive understanding and application of valuation methodologies and financial statement analysis
• Comprehensive understanding and application of M&A due diligence
• Willingness to work extended hours, including evenings and weekends
• CFA and/or CPA designations
• Healthcare experience

Mergers & Acquisitions Managing Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Maintaining relationships with local advisors and business owners
• Coordinating marketing campaigns on behalf of clients
• Facilitating the M&A process by working with clients and their other advisors
• 5 – 10+ years of M&A experience in the lower middle or middle markets
• Existing industry relationships
• Exceptional work ethic that can accommodate a demanding profession
• General understanding of business operations
• 4-year degree from an accredited university
• M&A Advisory experience with specific industry focus
• Open to relocation to Kansas City

Mergers & Acquisitions Consultant Resume Examples & Samples

• Project management of due diligence projects, including drafting and coordinating of deliverables across LOBs to ensure delivery of client reports in a timely manner and within budget
• Project management within the context of a client’s Project Management Office to establish, maintain and improve client project infrastructure
• SME guidance and delivery based on prior work experience for M&A practice including assisting senior consultants with content delivery, and providing regulatory and market trends/tool updates to the M&A team and clients
• Assistance with transition of projects to LOBs if Mercer awarded on-going work
• Coordination of LOB consultants to deliver on subject matter expertise, when appropriate
• All levels: Four year college degree or equivalent
• 3 - 7 years in LOB consulting with client interaction Corporate / Private Equity M&A, and project management experience strongly preferred
• Experience is one factor to be considered in hiring and promotion decisions. Education, knowledge, skills and abilities, past performance and market demand will also be considered. The following are general guidelines and will not restrict or require any specific hiring or promotion decision
• Underwriting of group insurance plans including the ability to conduct/oversee cost projections for complex and/or larger clients. Ideally, underwriting experience needs to include exposure to spin-offs and consolidation of companies
• Developing and reviewing IBNR calculations
• Developing and analyzing specific financial calculations including the calculation of plan liabilities, asset calculations and trust statement reviews in client situations of pension plan design change, change in benefit formula or assumptions and other special projects
• Calculating individual benefit calculations, reviewing plan documents, producing employee benefit statements and filing annual government reports
• Reviewing and analyzing US and non-US health & welfare and / or retirement plans
• Leading broad based compensation projects, such as salary grade review and development, sales compensation incentive design, market compensation benchmarking
• Developing and valuing executive long term incentive plans, valuing potential equity payouts triggered by change in control rules, analyzing severance plans
• Leading HR Operations (e.g. HR Service design and delivery) implementation projects

Mergers & Acquisitions Senior Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Actively participate in business development efforts by representing Baker Tilly Capital at business and community functions in order expand client relationships
• Minimum of three to five years of progressive experience in professional corporate finance advisory functions, investment banking, commercial banking, consulting, and/or public accounting with some supervisory experience
• Strong financial modeling, financial analysis, and business valuation experience
• Demonstrated analytical, organizational, interpersonal, project management, and communication skills, and highly developed Microsoft Suite skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Ability to maintain a flexible work schedule as projects dictate
• MBA, MD, JD or other advanced degree preferred
• At least 10 years of relevant business experience in the biopharmaceutical industry with 5 or more years of experience in M&A or business development
• Significant deal sheet in sourcing, managing and executing complex M&A/business development transactions
• Strong analytical, communication and leadership skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with senior management
• Proven ability to lead multiple projects efficiently and with a high degree of independence and high attention to detail
• Consistently delivers on commitments in a timely manner
• Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate ideas and lead others to accomplish challenging goals and objectives
• Experience working with both internal and external multidisciplinary teams customers
• Can-do attitude and ability to work in a highly matrixed and dynamic business environment including ability to interact and communicate to senior level executives

Mergers & Acquisitions IV Resume Examples & Samples

• Primary responsibility is valuation modeling for acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures, including preparation of the following analysis
• Demonstrates depth and/or breadth of expertise in own specialized discipline or field
• Communicates difficult concepts and negotiates with others to adopt a different point of view

Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Manager / Director Resume Examples & Samples

• JD in Accounting
• 6+ years of experience with Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate, International, Partnership Research and Planning Tax knowledge
• Ability to multitask
• Proficiency with computer platforms and applications
• Demonstrated ability to see a project and/or process through from start to finish, maintaining timelines and agreed upon commitments
• Demonstrated success in presenting detailed financial models and deal summary presentations
• Sound financial analysis and knowledge to anticipate and answer questions appropriately
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to present ideas and suggestions clearly and effectively
• Strong track record of building and maintaining solid relationships with internal and external customers and vendors
• Self-motivated, able to work independently to complete tasks and respond to department requests and to collaborate with others to utilize their resources and knowledge to identify high quality solutions
• Minimum of four years of experience in business, finance, or M&A
• Minimum of two years of working knowledge of all aspects of the wireless tower industry, including knowledge of tower sites, construction, engineering, zoning, tenant and ground leases, and environmental/FAA/FCC compliance

Mergers & Acquisitions Marketing Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Prepare marketing due diligence on the acquired company to ensure capture of pre-signing material items that may impact a transaction
• Collaborate with Oracle and acquired company C-level executives to create clear, concise, and strategic positioning in a comprehensive announcement bill of materials
• Planning, execution and distribution of all acquisition announcement and employee communications and activities
• Review and approval of acquired company’s internal and external communications
• Build initial marketing operating budget and plan for acquired company as a part of Oracle
• Performance assessment of acquired company personnel to recommend marketing mapping resources and align positions to Oracle LOB
• Establish a cadence of employee communications post announcement to ensure that acquired employees are communicated to by Oracle and acquired company management and HR
• Work in concert with several LOBs to draft instructions for employee on boarding covering IT, HR trainings, and Procurement
• Develop and manage execution of marketing integration and business plans
• Lead complete integration of Marketing programs, systems, operations and personnel
• Extremely strong verbal, written and graphical communication skills
• Experience working with cross LOBs and C-level executives
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing
• Exceptional organizational skills with high degree of attention to detail
• Knowledge of marketing processes and systems

Associate‚ Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Preparing financial models and analytical support for merger & acquisitions, restructuring & special situations, and transaction opinion deal teams
• Drafting situation analyses, pitch materials, information memoranda, investor presentations and term sheets
• Ensuring quality of client deliverables by having strong attention to detail

Analyst‚ Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Build detailed financial models, incorporating operational and cash flow forecasts
• Draft teasers, information memorandums and other marketing documents
• Manage transaction logistics, including: update documents, administer data rooms, organize calls/meetings

Associate Director Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Create financial evaluation models consisting of valuation metrics(NPV, IRR, value split, risk adjustment, etc.) EPS impacts, synergy analysis and capital structure financing
• Partner with sales and marketing, research, supply chain, tax, treasury, legal and accounting to develop and validate assumptions and options
• Present financial evaluation analysis, options and recommendations to senior management
• Structure and help negotiate term sheets and execute final agreements
• Conduct financial and business due diligence on companies and products
• Perform market research to analyse industry trends and identify and evaluate potential development opportunities
• Recruit, develop and mentor high performance staff
• Develop relationships with the firm’s senior client serving professionals in different lines of business to drive firm growth by introducing the breadth of the services the firm has to offer its existing and new clients
• Develop and maintain new business and client relationships, both with existing Firm clients and new clients
• Manage, develop, train, and mentor M&A tax staff on tax projects and assess their performance for on the engagement by providing timely feedback at the end of each engagement
• Work effectively with our Washington National M&A tax services team in providing state-of-the art tax thought leadership
• A minimum of five years of progressive federal tax consulting experience, as well as some amount of business entity tax compliance, experience in public accounting or a combination of corporate and public accounting experience a plus
• Outstanding, proven experience in working effectively in a team environment, including all aspects of staff development, which may include team members in other offices
• Computer expertise including knowledge of tax software and technology, including spreadsheet modeling

IT Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Must have participated in one or more M&A projects focused on an IT work stream including IT Infrastructure separation, data center migration, application integration/ separation/ rationalization, IT synergies/cost reduction
• Clear understanding and experience with IT economics including critical financial measures such as CF, ROI, TCO, etc
• 10+ years of relevant consulting or industry experience
• 4+ years of experience managing large technology engagements
• Ability to articulate leading business issues and trends, including the associated technology implications within one or more industries
• Strong program management skills with experience managing complex and business critical programs
• Demonstrated experience in business process improvement, leveraging information and technology
• Ability to work independently and manage complex teams
• Strong oral and written communication skills, including presentation skills
• A willingness to travel 80 - 100% of the time (Monday – Thursday/Friday)
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate, verbally and through written means, and interact with others effectively
• Minimum 3 years’ experience in finance, economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, financial statements, valuation and the analysis and reporting of financial data
• Sound and practical business judgment as well as common sense
• Comfort in identifying, prioritizing, and solving problems
• Strong writing and presentation skills and attention to detail, organizational skills, and a commitment to quality
• Ability to prioritize tasks, think clearly under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and thrive with minimal supervision in a fast-pace environment
• Ability to communicate effectively with cross-functional teams (e.g. HR, IT and Finance)
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or a related field from a leading institution as an asset
• Minimum of 3 years’ experience with cross-functional integration management, with demonstrated leadership skills
• Functional experience in two or more areas (e.g., Accounting/Finance, HR, IT, Operations)
• Working knowledge of the M&A lifecycle and integration methodology
• Proficient with Microsoft Office applications
• Ability to create project plans, process maps, business correspondence, and management reports

Corporate Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Advise S&N businesses on M&A transactions and manage M&A transaction processes
• Perform or oversee due diligence investigations and reviews of businesses being considered for transactions in order to obtain an understanding of relevant operations and risks
• Provide legal advice and support to S&N’s corporate functions as requested
• Manage and supervise outside counsel as necessary, ensuring clarity of instruction and efficiency on cost management
• As requested, support commercial legal operations from time to time, including commercial contracts, sales, marketing, and promotional activities
• Participatein implementation of Legal Department strategy, administration, and improvement initiatives as appropriate
• Act as liaison to Company Secretariat

Mergers & Acquisitions Officer Resume Examples & Samples

• Extensive knowledge of M&A practices, including corporate M&A, private equity, due diligence, post deal integration
• Knowledge of tax consulting and planning, transaction structuring, restructuring, strategy formulation and financial modeling
• Strong record of leading and completing successful transactions
• Strategic thinker with intellectual curiosity; has creative insight and ability to develop new ideas beyond already analyzed options
• Strong process, project and change management experience
• Ability to influence while building trust and consensus among multiple stakeholders/cross functional teams with competing interests
• Business acumen-ability to bridge business considerations and their financial/organizational implications
• Adept at developing and sustaining deep client relationships using networking, negotiation and persuasion skills
• MBA or other advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years in M&A transaction and assimilation experience either in Corporate Development, Investment Banking, Consulting, Insurance or Financial Services Firm
• Experience in problem solving and negotiating with C-Level Executives
• Top-notch corporate finance knowledge and prior hands-on experience in transaction execution and documentation

Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Legal Counsel Resume Examples & Samples

• JD degree from top tier law school and membership in at least one state bar in the U.S
• Minimum 4 years of relevant Corporate, M&A legal experience
• Relevant experience at a top-tier law firm required; in house experience is a plus
• Meets local legal license requirements
• Advanced experience leading multiple, highly complex, strategic, specialty law projects, issues, and transactions
• Awareness of how to operate successfully in the international legal environment
• Advanced skills in negotiating or advising external and internal organizations on highly complex, high impact legal matters
• Excellent presentation, facilitation, networking and influence skills
• Proactive and effective communicator of valuable information to clients and colleagues

Tax-mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• BCom Honours, H(Dip) Tax
• 4-6 years’ experience in a Corporate Tax and/or M&A Tax environment
• Tax accrual reviews and Tax Due Diligence Reviews experience
• Tax Structuring experience
• Excellent report writing skills
• Good excel skills
• Execution of specific transactions (Acquisitions or Strategic Ventures), from target identification through valuation, engagement and negotiation strategy, structuring, and post-closing support
• Thinking critically, bridging strategy and goals to actionable transaction opportunities
• Developing detailed and complex financial analysis
• Leading cross-functional teams comprised of both corporate and operating staff
• Communicate often complex matters simply and coherently both up and down the organization
• Take action and willingness to make decisions and drive to closure is necessary to be successful
• 10 years Corporate Finance leadership experience
• Financial theory, modeling and analysis skills
• Some experience in M&A activity
• Lead engagements that include strategic, financial and organizational analysis, development and evaluation of investment cases
• Support development of optimal operating models (concept of operations) for investments that reduces risk to LMC
• Lead the team responsible for due diligence, valuation, ownership contribution and implementation strategy for investments
• Lead negotiator for Lockheed Martin transactions
• Work with other corporate partners in the law and HR departments
• Support post-investment performance monitoring
• Stay current with accounting and tax considerations, and trends both industry and geographic specific

Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Understanding various facets of mergers, acquisitions and/or divestiture transactions
• Assisting clients in the performance of transactional financial analyses, leveraging technology and business process and systems knowledge, for example carve-out financial statements, proforma deal financial statements, account reconciliations, etc
• Developing pre- and post-merger supply chain performance analytics, for example e.g. redundant parts analysis, demand planning, etc
• Operational metrics, including customer and product portfolios to maximize go-forward revenue and growth opportunities
• Formulation of pragmatic data solutions to solve client problems or issues
• Assistance and participation in client or management discussions to gather data and understand issues
• Performance and conduct of data analysis to support business processes, financial reporting, internal or external audit procedures. Demonstrates some proven ability to write, communicate, facilitate, and present cogently to and/or for all levels of industry audiences, clients and internal staff and management. Demonstrates some proven abilities and/or success with programming and data mining in one or more of the following technology platforms: Oracle Analytics, MS SQL-Server, MS Access, as well as the Microsoft suite of applications such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio, and Project
• Evaluate potential business alliances, acquisitions and divestitures from a strategic and financial standpoint
• Lead the development and presentation of financial analyses to senior management
• Monitor and analyze competitor and target companies. Assess competing companies as well as products/services as they relate to the Baxter portfolio
• Work with Business Development, Strategy and the Franchise teams to identify and analyze new market opportunities and assess the financial implications to Hospital Products
• Assist in the management of due diligence activities and secure internal and external resources and information necessary to assess potential transactions
• Provide critical review of financial assumptions, integrity of model application and results of assessments done by others
• Good career progression opportunity to Manager M&A role
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem solving capabilities
• Working knowledge of PC applications; expert in Microsoft Excel; high proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint
• Strong presentation skills
• Ability to contribute ideas to address business issues
• Knowledge of external healthcare business environment and understanding of competitive landscape
• Ability to work effectively in a matrixed organization with a high degree of autonomy
• Comfortable in dealing with ambiguity and shifting priorities
• Some experience and knowledge of GAAP accounting principles is helpful
• Undergraduate degree in Accounting or Finance required. MBA a plus
• 1 to 4 years of financial experience
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, presentation and organizational skills
• Prefer 8-10 years’ experience in role within M&A group of either Corporate or Professional Services organization
• Experience in strategy, business development, finance and financial modeling
• Experience managing senior level professionals and peers

Mergers & Acquisitions Senior Resume Examples & Samples

• Strong academic background, including a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or other related field. Corporate finance related a course taken is a plus
• Two or three years of related work experience in a similar institution active in transactions
• Demonstrated aptitude for quantitative and qualitative analysis
• Knowledge of M&A transactions and the trends in the market
• Knowledge in general M&A scope and documentation such as information memorandum, teaser, valuation, due diligence process, SPA and SHA
• Excellent problem solving, project management, facilitation and interpersonal abilities
• Ability to work well within a team

Mergers & Acquisitions Assistant Resume Examples & Samples

• English language skills (excellent written and verbal communication)
• No travel restrictions
• Preferably military service obligation completed for male candidates

Mergers & Acquisitions Long Term Intern Resume Examples & Samples

• Able to work 4 or 5 days per week as long term intern
• Undergraduate 4th year students or postgraduate students (Preferably Business, Finance, Economics or other related field)
• Strong analytical, interpersonal and communication skills
• General knowledge and understanding about the M&A environment in Turkey and the dynamics

Mergers & Acquisitions Experienced Assistant Resume Examples & Samples

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics or other related field. Corporate finance courses taken is a plus
• Min. 1-2 years of experience in relevant areas such as Corporate Finance, Due Diligence, Equity Research, Strategic Planning and Business Development
• General knowledge about M&A process and technical issues such as valuation methodologies
• Proficiency with MS Office
• Strong work initiative and the ability to adapt to new challenges and ideas
• Working directly with client senior management teams, board members and stakeholders throughout all phases of transaction advisory and execution, in both healthy and distressed situations
• Contributing to the development and communication of proposals and advice to current and prospective clients
• Oversee the efforts of multiple client service teams on client engagements where the candidate will plan, direct and execute on M&A tax consulting projects in a wide variety of industries within a highly diverse client base that includes financial and strategic sponsors
• The candidate will work with senior professionals in marketing, selling, designing, and implementing tax-planning strategies to new and existing firm clients while managing all financial aspects of the projects which includes scoping, pricing, budgeting, invoicing and collection
• Develop relationships with the firm’s senior client serving professionals in different lines of business to drive firm growth by introducing the breadth of services the firm has to offer its existing and new clients
• Manage, develop, train, and mentor M&A tax staff on tax projects and assess their performance on the engagement by providing timely feedback at the end of each engagement
• Ability to work additional hours and travel domestically as needed
• Oversee the efforts of multiple client service teams on client engagements where the candidate will plan, direct and execute on M&A tax consulting projects in a wide variety of industries within a highly diverse client base that includes financial and strategic sponsors. The candidate will work with senior professionals in marketing, selling, designing, and implementing tax-planning strategies to new and existing firm clients while managing all financial aspects of the projects which includes scoping, pricing, budgeting, invoicing and collection
• Bachelor's degree. CPA, Masters in Taxation, or JD
• A minimum of eight years of progressive federal tax consulting experience, as well as some amount of business entity tax compliance, experience in public accounting or a combination of corporate and public accounting experience a plus
• Technical expertise in transaction tax and related matters, including significant experience conducting buy and sell-side tax due diligence projects, including diligence on pass-through entities; design and development of transaction structures using both corporate and pass-through entities; assessment of corporate tax attributes including historical tax basis, earnings and profits, and limitations applicable to net operating losses and tax credits, post-transaction planning including legal entity rationalization and application of consolidated return regulations
• Superior analytical, technical, and tax accounting/technology skills, proven ability to adapt to different situations, identify issues and work with specialists in other tax technical areas to resolve issues

Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Accounting Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Serve as tax accounting expert supporting US Tax Planning, Compliance, and Country Controllership regarding income tax accounting issues
• Manage all aspects of accounting for the tax effects of global business combinations, post acquisition integration and divestitures
• Manage timeliness and ensure technical accuracy of US quarterly effective tax rate and income tax cash payment forecasts, annual provision, and provision to return true-up
• Ensure all US tax accounting positions are properly analyzed, supported, and documented, including current income taxes payable, inventory of deferred's, valuation allowances, and unrecognized tax benefits
• Model impacts of pending legislation and other ad hoc scenarios and clearly communicate results and recommendations to management
• Maintain analysis of outside basis differences in US entities
• Advocate compliance with income tax accounting internal controls applicable at the local level
• Assist with the external financial audits and reviews of US income taxes included in consolidated filings; manage all aspects of US income taxes included in separate filings
• Collaborate with a team of regional tax accounting experts to support quarterly reporting of income taxes
• Conduct local income tax accounting training as required for the tax and country controllership groups
• BS in Accounting or Finance or equivalent advanced degree
• Minimum of 5 years combination of Tax and Financial Reporting experience with a US multinational company and/or public accounting firm
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
• Deep knowledge of US GAAP standard ASC 740, Accounting for Income Taxes, with 3+ years significant tax accounting experience
• Expertise in tax accounting for business combinations
• Prior experience using OneSource Tax Provision (Tax Stream) software and SAP operating system
• Ability to team & communicate effectively with finance and tax teams across different cultures and at all levels of management
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills including comfort making and defending decisions in ambiguous situations
• Ability to deliver high quality work product under tight deadlines
• Strong presentation, organizational and project management skills
• Strong oral, written and interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated teamwork and collaboration in a professional setting; either military or civilian

Senior Manager, Tax-mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.S.) in Accounting. Master’s Degree in Business Taxation preferred
• 10+ years of corporate income tax experience in private industry and/or in a public accounting firm with a focus on international tax. A mix of private industry and public accounting experience is preferred
• Ability to effectively communication verbally and in writing
• Must understand complex international corporate structure and related intercompany transactions
• Experience with ERP systems; Oracle preferred
• Experience with tax issues involving 956, Subpart F, permanent establishments, and general foreign tax credits
• Familiarity with U.S.-foreign transfer pricing transactions and BEPS
• Strong research, organizational and analytical skills
• Team player with a commitment to high quality, detailed work and proven ability to meeting deadlines
• Ability to work independently and exercise sound business judgment

Executive Director Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Systematically manage the Global M&A pipeline for Building Efficiency
• Proactively build the M&A pipeline with the Strategy team and business leaders
• Manage the M&A cycle and execute transactions including valuation, constructing deal structures, due diligence, negotiations, etc
• Lead cross-functional teams from across the business on deals for due diligence and contract negotiation
• Manage separation and integration activities
• Work collaboratively with the Corporate M&A team
• University degree, MBA preferred
• 12 Years suggested minimum experience
• M&A deal execution experience required
• Consulting/Banking/ Private Equity experience preferred

Mergers & Acquisitions Project Leader Resume Examples & Samples

• A minimum of a Bachelors Degree is required. Majors in Accounting, Finance, or related are highly desirable
• An MBA is strongly preferred
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in business management, investment banking, consulting or public accounting with progressing responsibility is required
• A minimum of 3 years of experience in roles with direct responsibility to mergers and acquisitions with progressing responsibility is required
• Ability and willingness to meet deadlines in a collapsed timeframe through flexibility in work mode and hours
• CPA certification preferred

M&A Associate Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Undergraduate Degree in Business, Mathematics, Economics, Finance or Accounting (with strong grade point average)
• Minimum of 2+ years comparable work experience in Investment Banking, Private Equity, Corporate Finance, Transaction Advisory, or Corporate Development
• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Strong Excel and financial modeling skills

Director of Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Provides functional and industry expertise to review corporate development opportunities and to execute the inorganic growth strategy
• Oversees and reviews the design, build, execution and explanation of complex financial models and other analytical work projects. Makes recommendations based upon these analyses
• Contributes to all aspects of strategic acquisitions, from inception through due diligence, valuation, negotiation, closing and integration, and coordinates internal approval and communication processes for completion of a transaction
• Monitors industry activities and develops recommendations of potential M&A opportunities to Senior Leadership
• Understands and monitors acquisition performance to create a cycle of continuous learning, and coordinate with due diligence and integration teams to ensure successful acquisitions
• Partners with business owners and coordinates cross-functional teams necessary for successful due diligence review
• Collaborates within M&A to identify opportunities for cross-functional synergies and strategic initiatives
• Collaborates with Business Services to enable seamless integration from strategy formulation to execution
• Leads work streams and virtual teams
• Presents findings and recommendations up through Executive Committee level
• Bachelor’s Degree and at least 10 years of experience in an analytical role in finance, accounting, business management, or M&A or High School Diploma/GED and at least 13 years of experience in an analytical role in finance, accounting, business management, or M&A
• Experience collaborating with both internal resources, external resources to develop strategies that meet department goals within budget and established timelines
• Experience in diagnosing, isolating, and resolving complex issues and recommending and implementing strategies to resolve problems
• Experience presenting recommendations to the Executive Committee
• At least 5 years of experience in M&A analysis
• At least 5 years of experience in business analysis and project management
• At least 4 years of experience planning, developing, and managing departmental expense and capital budgets
• At least 4 years of experience directly managing people, including hiring, developing, motivating, and directing people as they work
• Willing to travel up to 15% of the time for business purposes
• MBA or Master’s Degree
• CPA, CFA, or other designation
• High level role interacting with Senior Management and the VP of Merger and Acquisitions in Europe, focused on Brand development
• Strong financial experience building financial models, developing junior staff
• Strong background in Mergers and Acquisitions, CPG and Brands and investment banking
• Strong consulting experience in the Pharma industry would be preferred
• Available to travel approximately 25% of the time
• Experience with international M&A is preferred
• A Bachelor’s degree is required; Finance or Business focus
• Strong corporate finance skills
• Experience with sales reporting systems (Salesforce preferred)
• The successful candidate will be resourceful, intellectually versatile, persistent, and interpersonally skilled
• You will be self-motivated, able to work independently, have strong attention to and comfort with the details, juggle priorities from multiple partners, and have the confidence to present alternative viewpoints
• Results oriented and self-motivated individual with enthusiasm for prospecting and negotiating
• Has charisma, tactfulness and proven track record for developing new businesses, reaching sales objectives and creating customer base
• You must be comfortable in an environment where learning takes place on-the-job, it’s a fast-moving environment and the hours can be long, but there is significant job satisfaction and learning opportunities

Financial Analyst Advisor Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Analyzing financial and business information of target companies with a view towards tactical and strategic fit into the company’s profile
• Preparing and assisting in the preparation of financial and qualitative analyses which will enable senior management to make informed business decisions
• Coordinating the transaction process from origination through to closing and working closely with Business Unit leaders to effectuate a smooth transition and integration
• Supporting the Senior Director in due diligence and negotiation efforts
• Participating in special project as needed, such as strategic analysis or industry studies
• Tracking and reporting on group activities within the organization and managing, directing, and evaluation inbound investment opportunities

Intern, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Conception and development of tailor-made analysis tools to support existing valuation models
• Performance of valuations on a wide range of entities using discounted earnings, discounted cash flow, market multiples
• Analysis of capital markets and assessment of cost of capital according to CAPM
• Presentation of results in a clear and concise report to project team
• Assisting in the development of presentations and publications communicated to clients

Senior Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work with M&A Engagement Managers and M&A Coordinators on US and multi-national M&A projects for private equity and corporate clients, involving single or multiple lines of business, to provide leadership in the delivery of client solutions by
• Four year college degree or equivalent
• 8 - 12 years in consulting environment with client-facing leadership role, project management and M&A experience required
• Experience is one factor to be considered in hiring and promotion decisions. Education, knowledge, skills and abilities, performance and market demand will also be considered. The following are general guidelines and will not restrict or require any specific hiring or promotion decision
• Superior project management capabilities, written and oral communication skills and HR and M&A knowledge
• Ability to manage the most complex, large-scale projects and work
• Significant personal initiative and professional drive. Ability to be successful in a fast-paced, changing environment including travel. Willingness to work at the pace and in the hours required by client M&A activity

Analyst, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Design, build, and use financial and valuation models including DCF and earnings models to assess individual projects and AES as a whole
• Analyze potential transactions and investments under the direction of transaction leaders, including economic benefits, risks, and strategic and financial impacts
• Coordinate the gathering, validation, synthesis and interpretation of data from confidential and public sources to assist in analysis
• Develop a practical understanding of AES corporate and business structure, financials, valuation, credit ratings, strategy, capital costs, and tax position for use in transaction assessments
• Attain a working understanding of AES markets and their drivers
• Prepare and deliver presentations and reports to communicate findings and recommendations
• Coordinate interaction with other AES groups and AES businesses in a professional, diplomatic manner to collect information and documents, validate analyses, and facilitate internal and external due diligence
• Coordinate interaction with external parties and advisors
• Support aspects of internal process for transaction assessment/approval including the drafting of Investment Committee memos and presentations
• Bachelor Degree in an analytical discipline
• 1-3 years of experience
• Analytical experience is preferred
• Requires deep analytical skills and the ability to communicate these in a convincing manner to diverse stakeholders
• Strong Excel financial modeling skills
• Detailed understanding of financial statement mechanics and business valuation theory
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint
• Proficient in the use of financial research tools such as Bloomberg, Capital IQ and Thomson One

Mergers & Acquisitions Accounting Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Bachelors’ degree in Accounting required
• CPA or CFA certification required
• 8+ years of related work experience
• A mix of public accounting and industry experience preferred
• Intercompany & purchase accounting experience
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP required
• Supervisory experience highly preferred
• Advanced MS Office and ability to pick up systems quickly
• Deadline driven and a high attention to detail
• Market services both to external clients and internal partners, develop client networks, and support efforts in developing and executing sales and marketing strategies
• Work on a variety of sell-side, buy-side, and divestiture assignments on behalf of portfolio companies of private equity funds, closely held businesses and publicly traded companies transactions in all stages from initial client pitches to transaction closings
• Communicate regulatory, financial information and complex strategic issues in a clear, concise and relevant manner to assist and guide decision-makers in corporate finance transactions

Mergers & Acquisitions IT Program Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Develop migration / integration planning for acquisitions and divestitures
• Develop detailed IT integration or separation plans with milestones and deliverables in accordance with Transition Support Agreements (TSA) or Purchase Agreements
• Work with IT stakeholders to identify and track risks and dependencies
• Identify / engage 3rd parties for execution as appropriate
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Information Science, Engineering, Technology, or related field required. Master’s degree preferred
• 8+ years of related experience in relevant industry, including some experience managing cross-functional teams to deliver outcomes
• In-depth knowledge of and experience in IT Infrastructure management, IT project and program management, and IT processes
• Demonstrated ability to define and drive programs to complete within scope, time and budget
• Ability to manage projects and team members, often across different functions and geographies
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with seniors and peers across business and functional groups, and ability to establish positive relationships with stakeholders quickly
• Solid financial acumen, including comfort with financial and data analysis
• S&P Global Ratings, which provides credit ratings, research and insights essential to driving growth and transparency
• S&P Dow Jones Indices, the world’s largest resource for iconic and innovative indices, which helps investors pinpoint global opportunities

Mergers & Acquisitions Contract Administrator Resume Examples & Samples

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
• 3-5 plus years of experience working with contracts/agreements and/or facilitating transactions
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
• Ag-related property/business transaction experience
• Experience with Mergers & Acquisitions, real-estate transactions, and title research

Aaa-director, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Identify and assess strategic fit of target companies vs. AAA's and business unit strategies
• Meet company owners and assess a business (the strategy, business model, financial performance, fit with AAA, etc.)
• Develop deal framework, financial modeling, valuation, and negotiate business terms
• Partner with internal and external teams throughout the due diligence process
• Contribute to integration activities and assist business unit with planning and implementing value creation plan
• Maintain AAA’s database of M&A targets; maintain and implement best practice processes for all aspects of the M&A process
• Foster and maintain relations with target businesses

Mergers & Acquisitions & Special Projects Accounting Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Lead and analyze the month-end close process by completing, among others, fluctuation analyses, swing reports, and monthly financial highlights and reports for senior management. Work with other accounting managers to ensure accurate financial information
• Review monthly financial statements at the consolidated and reporting entities level. Perform detail review of the cash flow statement
• Establish and maintain accounting controls and procedures on purchase accounting and goodwill impairment analysis to ensure compliance with accounting policies and procedures, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) and regulatory requirements
• Review fair valuation from Treasury and other stakeholders, prepare and review complex and technical purchase accounting journal entries, develop supporting, auditable documentation for general ledger account reconciliations
• Perform detail review of purchase accounting allocation including goodwill calculation, mergers and acquisitions expense and accruals, and related memos. Review goodwill impairment analysis memo
• Coordinate with the mergers and acquisition project team, business owners and other accounting managers during system integrations. Communicate purchase accounting adjustments with stakeholders including business system owners. Assist in performing general ledger data mapping and data validation during system integration to ensure data accuracy and completeness for proper financial reporting
• Re-engineer existing processes to improve efficiencies and controls in financial close process. Enhance reporting of financial results and key metrics to senior management team. Incorporate new accounting standards into Accounting Operations policies, procedures and sub ledger systems where appropriate
• Provide support or act as accounting lead in enterprise-wide initiatives and assist in other special projects, including system upgrades and implementations, merger and acquisition related activities, and new products offered by business units
• Work with the bank’s independent and internal auditors and examiners in their quarterly and annual reviews and audits, coordinating accounting related inquiries and requests
• Contribute to the efficiency of the Accounting Operations Department by participating in cross training, sharing job responsibilities, and serving as position backup for Assistant Controllers and senior analysts
• Build strong working relationships with internal control stakeholders throughout the organization
• Perform ad hoc projects as requested
• Bachelors’ degree in Accounting required. CPA or CFA preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of related work experience, some public accounting and/or experience with financial institutions preferred
• Intercompany and purchase accounting, cash flow management, process improvements and supervisory experience preferred
• Dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of Accounting Operations
• Strong written and oral communication and ability to relate and communicate effectively across all levels of staff inside and outside the department
• Hands-on, energetic, organized, team player with proven ability to adapt quickly in a changing environment and facilitate change, multitask effectively and work independently
• Ability to prioritize projects, quickly determine the requirements to accomplish them, and analyze the processes to figure out how to simplify, automate, and improve them for increased efficiency
• Must possess sound judgment, good decision making ability, and a high level of decision quality, problem solving and analytical abilities
• High attention to detail
• Proficient with General Ledger and MS Office, advanced Excel skills preferred, and willingness to learn other software as needed

Mergers & Acquisitions Intern Resume Examples & Samples

• Update M&A operations documentations
• Participate in specific ongoing planning or integration efforts, working with a team of functional experts from across the company
• Research potential targets, document best practices, and clean up and update M&A sourcing database
• Participate in, and perform specific tasks during due diligence efforts for M&A activities
• Editing monthly portfolio update
• Create / update ePMO templates
• Update project tracking tool (Clarizen), and build reports
• Write project highlights and publish on company portal
• Assist PM tasks when needed including updating project plans, recording and distributing notes
• Assist with any other ongoing key projects

Staff Accountant of Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Substantive testing, including both tests of detail and analytical procedures over historical revenue, compensation and operating expenses
• Pro forma modeling by identifying and applying normalization adjustments to historical financial statements
• Contribute to the financial exhibits included in the financial due diligence reports
• Assist in the integration of acquisitions into AJG's centralized accounting and finance process within the established timeframes
• Assist in the preparation of quarterly impairment analysis for intangible assets
• No travel in the first year; possible travel thereafter (~0-25%)
• Bachelor's degree (Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration)
• 2 or more years of related work experience required, 1 year or more of relevant experience in audit or transaction services
• CPA candidate/certification is preferred
• Strong communication skills through email and over the phone
• Strong technical skills across Microsoft Office Suite, particularly with Microsoft Excel (e.g. HLOOKUP, VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables, Conditional Logic Functions (IF, AND, OR), Financial Functions (NVP, IRR, PV, etc.)
• Insurance or industry brokerage industry experience is a plus, especially with employee benefits
• Excellent writing skills, both technical and narrative
• Confident, articulate and professional speaking abilities
• Understanding the phases of an audit
• Experience with walkthroughs and documentation of internal audit controls is preferred
• Excellent time management & organizational skills

Head of Group Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• In close cooperation with the relevant business unit, senior-level coordination of identifying acquisition targets, conducting selection and due diligence processes, prioritization and decision supporting proposal in connection with the M&A and divestment projects in line with the Group-level strategic targets
• Coordination and supervision of Group-level M&A and divestment transactions and the related project teams; responsibility for the internal and external resource allocation
• Direct coordination of M&A and divestment projects with high strategic importance, complexity and/or significant deal value
• Coordination of the selection of professional external consultants (investment banking, financial, legal etc.) and coordinate their related activities
• Relationship management with potential partners, target companies, competitors, policy makers, investment banks and other advisors
• Coordination of the inorganic processes after the pre-selection phase, including: engagement and coordination of external advisors, internal project teams, conducting complex due diligence, deal structuring, leading negotiation, preparation of complex investigations and decision making proposals. Coordination of business development activities related to signing and closing of transactions
• Coordination of efficient resource allocation in connection with M&A and divestment projects
• University / College degree (preferably in economics)
• Min 8 years professional, including min 6 years experience related to M&A and investment banking
• Comprehensive knowledge of industrial and regional political and economic matters
• Capability of handling multinational projects and teams
• High-quality financial and valuation expertise and necessary legal knowledge
• Experience and high-level knowledge in transaction and project management
• High-quality negotiation skills
• User level knowledge
• English – excellent language skills

BDS HR Mergers & Acquisitions Lead-human Resources Generalist Resume Examples & Samples

• 1) Strong understanding of finance concepts and business modeling
• 2) Highly effective communication skills (both written and verbal)
• 3) Complex problem solving capability and critical decision-making
• 4) A clear understanding of HR products, services, policies and procedures
• 5) The ability to work independently and must be a self-starter
• Establish successful working relationships across all organization levels including senior executives and across functional boundaries
• Be comfortable with ambiguous situations
• Multitask, prioritize, organize, and work to deadlines while maintaining confidentiality
• Lead the deployment and administration of HR programs, policies, practices and processes
• Proactively address issues and make necessary changes to mitigate organizational risk
• Influence HR process definition and integration
• Consult with management on leadership selection and succession planning
• Provide input to the development of organizational plans, vision, mission, goals and objectives
• Coordinate strategies, policies and practices for HR resource functions

Management Consulting Mergers & Acquisitions Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Pre-deal operations and information technology due diligence
• Integration planning
• Separation planning
• Synergy and cost savings analysis; and/or
• Post-close transformation, especially functional areas involving Information Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Operations/Supply Chain, and/or Sales and Marketing
• Abilities as team member; building solid relationships; communicating in an organized and knowledgeable manner; delivering clear requests for information; demonstrating flexibility in prioritizing and completing tasks; understanding personal and team roles; contributing to a positive working environment by building solid relationships with team members; proactively seeking guidance, clarification and feedback; and communicating potential conflicts to a supervisor
• Research and analysis of technical matters, while utilizing problem-solving skills. This includes the analysis of large and complex data sets, demonstrating an aptitude for conducting quantitative and qualitative analyses, using the standard suite of Microsoft Office software, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, to execute related deliverables; and,
• Utilization of effective written and verbal business communication skills when interacting with team members and/or clients in a professional setting

Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate Development Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Developing strategic rationale for acquisitions and investments including how it fits into Anthem’s corporate strategy
• Developing financial rationale, including experience developing pro forma combination models, accretion / dilution analysis, views of transaction synergies and synergy achievement costs, and various valuation analysis including discounted cash flows
• Ability to build and lead due diligence teams to quickly and accurately assess opportunities
• Work closely with internal and external resources on financial projections for potential investments
• Draft letters of intent and assist in the drafting and negotiations of merger/investment agreements
• Ability to develop clear and concise presentations for an executive audience outlining the investment opportunity, including its strategic fit, financial return, and risk profile
• Monitor and track universe of potential strategic investments through industry landscape analysis and company profiling
• Prefer a University degree in finance or business
• 5 or more years of work experience should be in corporate finance-development, transaction services or consulting, ideally with exposure to Mergers & Acquisitions
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and finance theory required
• Strong financial and modeling skills
• Strong attention to detail and highly organized
• Strong industry and business analysis skills
• Team player with ability to work independently and under time pressure
• Advanced knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint

Real Estate Analyst, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Collaborate on confidential M&A projects with the Corporate Development, legal teams and external stakeholders
• Access data rooms to review and abstract all real estate documents
• Review all acquisition or disposition contracts to ensure the company is protected and/or can comply with the requirements, as they relate to real property
• Prepare due diligence reports and property portfolio summaries including key metrics. Present and analyze data analysis; develop conclusions, identify risk and make recommendations
• Request missing documents to ensure that the teams have complete site files
• Maintain a project file in the CRE real estate database and post-acquisition oversee the successful transition of the acquired properties into the company’s corporate real estate database
• Propose real estate integration plans and forecast synergy savings estimates
• Working with the various groups including the target acquisition and outside vendors help to prepare for Day One
• Become proficient on CoStar, the team’s property database in setting up and maintaining projects and leases, training will be provided as needed
• Review various legal documents and coordinate finalizing all requirements needed to close
• Support the implementation of post-acquisition real estate projects; prioritizing synergy savings opportunities
• Assist the real estate team on East Coast projects including managing local brokers, developing business plans, recommendations and approvals. Evaluating various agreements and documents and assisting the real estate team with various projects and requirements as needed
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited higher learning program
• 2+ years relevant work experience, with a financial or legal background
• Ability to use MS Office, including intermediate or stronger skills in Excel
• Strong communication skills and comfortable interacting with various levels of management
• Interest in corporate real estate and/or mergers & acquisitions
• Independent, analytical and detail oriented with the ability to identity and solve problems
• Desire to work on international projects (foreign language/currency/cultures)
• Able to work fast under pressure and to manage and prioritize requirements to support the company needs
• May require working after hours and/or on weekends depending on the needs of the specific project
• Ability to work on confidential projects

Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Analyst Resume Examples & Samples

• Work cross functionally to prepare acquisition and integration budgets in due diligence and post close driving accountability and reporting
• Perform research, cost studies and benchmarking to support integration cost assumptions
• Collect and analyze data to determine costs of acquisition and integration activities to drive key decision making with cross functional integration leaders
• Recommend budget adjustments and other cost improvement measures
• Perform moderately complex statistical, cost and analysis of data
• Record, classify, and summarize financial transactions and events in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
• Perform continuous improvement activities evaluating process for improvement
• Generate and monitor purchase order related activity for acquisition and integration
• Develop ad-hoc financial reports for forecasting, trending and results analysis
• Develop, monitor, track and liaison of synergy programs to local controllers
• Prepare materials for presentation to leadership
• Apply a working knowledge of applicable laws and regulations; verify documents for completeness and compliance
• Participate as needed in financial analysis related to M&A activities pre and post-close
• Perform other acquisition and integration related duties as required
• Education:Bachelor’s degree (B.A./B.S.) or equivalent in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related discipline
• Experience: Three to five years related experience and/or training including prior experience with budgeting/forecasting
• An equivalent combination of education and experience may be accepted as a satisfactory substitute for the specific education and experience listed above
• Certification: None
• Other: Must have excellent analytical skills. Strong working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint. Project management experience is a plus. Effective communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to listen and interact effectively with a wide range of audiences. Ability to develop and maintain strong working relationships across multiple functions and levels of the organization. Detail oriented and ability to manage and prioritize multiple projects and initiatives at once. Demonstrate ability to handle both strategic and tactical assignments. Self-starter with the ability to identify and proactively resolve business issues

Mergers & Acquisitions Technology Director Resume Examples & Samples

• Lead the IT team working with our corporate development / M&A practice, including leading functional and technology assessments during due diligence planning, integration, and post-close execution management of M&A transactions
• Provide management and oversight on M&A projects focused on IT work streams, including IT infrastructure separation, data center migration, application integration / separation / rationalization, and IT synergies
• Set pace and plan for acquisition integrations and guide decision making processes
• Facilitate due diligence site visits focused on identifying functional and technology strategy, organizational structures, current state business processes, vendor relationships and supporting technology
• Assess functional and technology investment strategies and compare prospective operating models and organizational structures against leading practices and industry benchmarks
• Contribute to assessment and gap analysis of strategic capabilities in areas of strategic focus, helping identify potential acquisition targets to close gaps
• Understand and estimate investment needs and requirements and turn those goals into concrete project plans and detailed proposals
• Extensive experience presenting to and collaborating with senior executives
• Proficiency at articulating key messages effectively
• High-energy, visionary executive with a proven entre-/intra-preneurial track record of defining and delivering new products, services or initiatives
• Skill in collaboration and diplomacy to ensure effective working relationships across matrixed teams
• Experience guiding business partners on key concepts and strategies for M&A engagements, including but not limited to stranded cost analysis, risk and information security management, business continuity during transformation, synergy identification and capture, and system migrations
• Expertise managing transactions at both pre- and post-close stages within the M&A lifecycle
• Proven ability to work closely with the line of business owners to understand the underlying business objectives, processes and technologies being used within an organization to be able to make recommendations on how to achieve long-term scalability, reduce operational cost, or better support business processes
• A record of success in managing project economics including

Tax Senior Manager International Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that focuses on delivering due diligence and tax structuring services, and communicate findings and opportunities to clients
• Manage the international tax component of due diligence projects by participating on client calls, interviewing targets and their tax advisors and coordinating local country RSM due diligence teams
• Work with and assist other senior members of the M&A Tax and International Tax practices on various cross border tax issues such as permanent establishment, corporate reorganizations, Section 367, Subpart F, and non-US direct and indirect tax issues
• Coordinate deal execution with clients and their outside advisors
• 10+ years of international tax with mergers and acquisition experience in a public accounting firm, a corporate tax department, or a law firm
• CPA or JD/LLM
• Knowledge of a broad range of corporate and international tax matters in various industries

Senior Consultant Mergers & Acquisitions Tax & Business Advisory Resume Examples & Samples

• Work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that focuses on delivering due diligence and tax structuring services and communicates findings and opportunities to clients
• Liaise with a target company's accounting and finance departments and tax advisors to gather pertinent facts for an analysis of the tax risks
• Assist the Senior Tax Manager or Tax Manager in identifying any tax planning opportunities for the clients
• Develop, motivate, and train junior staff level team members
• Degree holder in Accounting, Finance, Law or related disciplines, preferably with a recognized professional qualification
• With 3-4 years' experience on tax matters in Asia, exposure in big 4 is an advantage
• Candidates with more experience, including exposure in commercial area will also be considered
• Professional qualification accredited by an institute of Taxation, Chartered Accountants, CPA and Law society
• Excellent command of both written and spoken Chinese and English
• Proficient in Chinese work processing

Mergers & Acquisitions Transactions Services Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• 5 + years of US GAAP Accounting experience
• Willingness and ability to accommodate unpredictable and last minute travel, 30-40%
• Experience with Life Sciences or Technology, Media and Telcom Transactions
• Manage, direct, and monitor multiple client services teams on client engagements
• Plan, execute, direct and complete tax projects in a wide variety of industries; provide innovative tax planning, consulting, and compliance expertise to clients, and manage to budget
• Manage, develop, train, and mentor staff on tax projects and assess performance for engagement and year-end reviews
• Conduct primary and secondary review of complicated or complex income tax returns including Corporate, S-Corp., partnership, and individual clients
• Maintain active communication with clients to manage expectations, ensure satisfaction, make sure deadlines are met, and lead change efforts effectively
• Consult, work with, and serve clients to make recommendations on business and process improvement
• Serve as a business adviser to client
• Bachelor's degree in Accounting and licensed CPA. Masters in Taxation, LLM in Taxation or JD preferred
• Three to five years of progressive federal tax consulting and/or compliance experience in public accounting or a combination of corporate and public accounting experience
• Experience in Corporate, S-Corp. and/or Partnership returns
• Excellent analytical, technical, and tax accounting/technology skills with proficiency in US GAAP, tax compliance, corporate consolidated returns, consolidated federal tax returns, partnership returns, and combined state tax returns
• Exceptional client service and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain outstanding client relationships
• Strong leadership, business development, recruiting, training, coaching, and mentoring skills, coupled with excellent written, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Computer expertise including knowledge of tax software and technology

Tax Technician, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Work collaboratively with all team members providing administrative support
• Create and prepare Excel spreadsheets
• Assist team in preparing client deliverables, most notably PowerPoint presentations
• Schedule calls and meetings between the team and the client, send Outlook calendar invites, and make conference room reservations
• Assist with client billings, time and expense reporting, coordinate travel, and arrange meetings
• High School diploma or equivalent, completed coursework from an accredited college/university is preferred
• Experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access and strong computer skills overall
• Excellent administrative and organizational skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and people skills
• Ability to work overtime and answer calls/emails regarding urgent matters during weekend and late evening hours as needed

VP Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Project manage complex acquisition, merger, divestiture or financing assignments while taking a lead role in client relationship management
• Provide direction and oversight on research to be used in financial modeling, competitive analysis, industry analysis, negotiation support and various other applications
• Review and provide quality assurance on complex financial models within broadly defined guidelines
• Oversee the preparation and delivery of documents for, and presentations to, clients and prospects
• Manage staff teams of 2-3 professionals and assume developmental responsibility for junior staff Proactively develop an internal and external network within the Quebec City business community
• Participate in the development and execution of industry-specific thought leadership and business plans
• Take an autonomous lead role in identifying, soliciting and exploring potential new business opportunities
• Undergraduate degree in business with concentration s in finance and/or accounting plus CA, CFA, CBV or MBA
• Minimum 7-8 years experience in financial analysis and transaction/financing execution (i.e. M&A, Private Equity, Investment Banking, Commercial Banking or Corporate Development)
• Strong sales and marketing skills and boardroom presence
• Strong knowledge of financial accounting
• Strong financial modeling and analytical skills and financial modeling
• Strong knowledge of financing capital structuring and strong negotiation / lead advisory skills
• Bilingual with strong French and English oral and writing skills
• Understanding of key business drivers and business strategy
• Experience working in small teams and developing/coaching/mentoring junior-level staff
• Experience working with multiple internal / external advisors within the context of a transaction and coordinated various workstreams (i.e. lawyers, accountants, tax and other specialists, etc...)
• U.S. Broker Dealer license and Canadian Securities Institute licensing are or will be required
• Minimum of 15-18 years participating in team-based, client-facing business consulting
• Minimum of 7 years of managing complex merger integration, operational and/or IT projects / people
• Functional expertise in finance, human resources, and IT preferred
• Knowledge and experience with private equity buyouts and/or strategic mergers and acquisitions a plus
• Related industry experience (e.g., life sciences, manufacturing & distribution, software, corporate development.)
• Proven business developer with extensive track record of prospecting new clients and maintaining existing
• Minimum of 3 years participating on business consulting and IT project based work / teams
• Minimum of 3-4 years of consulting experience with a specific industry domain expertise in one or more of the following: manufacturing & distribution, software, or healthcare
• Strong analytical, problem solving, and client deliverable experience
• Strong organizational skills, detail oriented with ability to handle projects and priorities
• Excellent interpersonal, written and oral communications and client relationship skills
• Ability to travel 50% is required
• Participate on teams serving clients across industries (with specific capabilities in mergers & acquisitions), while demonstrating executive presence with C-level client counterparts
• Assess operational and technology investment strategies and compare respective operating models and organizational structures against leading practices and industry benchmarks
• Lead engagement teams on transaction advisory, guiding the team to prepare focused request lists and agenda, facilitating on-site reviews, and providing leadership over deliverables
• Manage project economics including: track project budgets, create and deliver invoices, and manage collection process
• Create work plans, pricing estimates, and risk assessments for prospects
• Strong knowledge of business process / operational consulting in Healthcare, Manufacturing & Distribution, and technology/tech-enabled companies
• Deal execution management and leadership including carve-outs and merger integrations
• Experience managing or analyzing P&L statements, and financial modeling skills to build and manage complex synergy and cash flow models related to M&A transactions
• Direct operational and technology experience in software/hi-tech, healthcare, and/or manufacturing & distribution organizations, as well as IT carve-out and merger integration leadership experience
• 3-5 years participating on business consulting and IT project based work / teams
• Minimum of 1-2 years of managing complex operational and/or IT projects / people
• Minimum of 1-2 years of consulting experience with a specific industry domain expertise in one or more of the following: manufacturing & distribution, software, or healthcare
• Candidates must be eligible to work permanently in the United States without sponsorship
• Ability to travel 50%
• Lead workstreams serving clients across industries (with specific capabilities in mergers & acquisitions), while demonstrating executive presence with C-level client counterparts
• Lead workstreams in transaction advisory engagements, guiding the team to prepare focused request lists and agenda, facilitating on-site reviews, and providing leadership over deliverables
• Minimum of 5 years participating on business consulting and IT project based work / teams
• Minimum of 2-3 years of managing complex operational and/or IT projects / people
• Research and analyse industry and company information
• Perform financial analyses, including comparable transaction and public company analysis
• Research and develop potential strategic and private equity buyer lists
• Manage transaction logistics, including: update documents, administer data rooms, organize calls/meetings, etc
• Partnering with the businesses to create and maintain a pipeline of in-organic growth opportunities that feeds M&A activities
• Working in collaboration with regional resources to frame specific M&A opportunities for consideration by the executive committee
• Leading engagement with potential M&A targets and partners
• Supporting M&A due diligence activities particularly around assessment of industry and markets
• Continuously monitoring developments in chemical industry to identify key risks and opportunities and leading the analysis required to assess specific initiatives required to address them
• Driving appropriate forums at the business and corporate level aimed at refreshing and validating the business and corporate portfolio
• Understand, structure and analyze complex business issues
• Lead team of Finance/M&A professionals, to grow and develop their careers for the BSAM enterprise
• Bachelor’s degree in Finance or related field
• 5 years of related experience, with 2-3 years experience in corporate M&A. Private equity or investment banking can also be considered
• Ability to support Executive Leaders as they navigate through the Merger and Acquisition
• Successful record of leading and managing Mergers and Acquisitions from start to finish
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships, communicate and present at the CSuite level
• Ability to work in a results-oriented, project-driven, real-time team environment, prioritize projects and deliver quality results within tight time constraintsBachelor's degree in Business or Marketing
• Successful track record of M&A
• Demonstrate poise, professionalism, and business savvy in representing BSAM to external partners and M&A targets
• Experience and comfort in initiating and cultivating relationship with external parties
• Collaborate up and down, and peer to peer throughout the organization
• Energetic “fire in the belly”, leadership with an entrepreneurial spirit which is contagious across the organization
• Highly motivated; proactive and action‐oriented; strong sense of pace and urgency
• You have recently completed your undergraduate degree in Finance, Engineering, Commerce or any other relevant specialisation
• Relevant professional experience in an investment bank, a transaction advisory practice or the corporate development / M&A department of a corporation is preferable
• A professional designation such as CA, CFA or an MBA or any other relevant designation is a plus
• You have strong quantitative and analytical skills
• You have good business acumen
• You have excellent spoken and written communication skills in both French and English
• You are flexible in your schedule and available to travel up to 15% of your time
• Coach and develop junior team members (Associates, Analysts and Interns) by serving as a teaching resource and through the delegation of appropriate work streams
• Interact directly with Partners / Principals and Managing Directors on matters related to client and engagement management by working on proposals and participating in pitches
• Minimum of Two to four years of progressive experience in professional corporate finance advisory functions, investment banking, commercial banking, consulting, and/or public accounting with some supervisory experience
• Successful candidates are highly motivated, results-driven, creative individuals who have the aptitude to synthesize large amounts of information and develop innovative solutions with a proven ability to execute selected solution in a timely manner
• Ability to work well under pressure and tight deadlines and be adaptable to manage multiple projects independently or as a participant on a deal team
• FINRA Series 79 and 63 Investment Banking securities licenses, or ability to obtain required licenses within 1 year of hire

Associate Director of Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Coordination of M&A pipeline
• Outstanding technical / conceptual understanding of finance & valuations
• Strong computer, scientific, and organizational skills
• Excellent communication (oral and written) and attention to detail
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team, self-motivation, adaptability, and a positive attitude
• Ability to learn new techniques, perform multiple tasks simultaneously, keep accurate records, follow instructions, and comply with company policies
• Strong leadership, initiative, and teambuilding skills
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Finance or Engineering; MBA is a plus
• Min 3-5 years in Audit (big 4) / Consulting, M&A (industry or boutique), Investment Banking or Private Equity
• Authorization to work in the United States indefinitely without restriction or sponsorship
• Direct Company M&A initiatives as it relates to Process Excellence/IT functions
• Participate when required with due diligence tasks for Corporate Development team. Attend appropriate high-level meetings to provide feedback on IT concerns and risks
• Identify and develop transition services required by the Seller until full integration is complete
• Provide senior level project, functional, and technical knowledge, including collaborating with team members to provide direction, defining tasks, and allocating resources
• Provide appropriate documentation for funding initiatives. Ensures documentation is completed, reviewed by various work streams and approved by all business stakeholders
• Provide information to other streams such as legal and supply chain to cover licenses and lease agreements
• Responsible for monitoring and tracking actual expenditures within the approved budget tolerances. Provides fiduciary oversight of actual expenditures for all areas, including periodic expenditure variance analysis, verification of contract labor expenses, capital expenses and other financial analysis tasks requested by the business management. Provides capital forecasts for the projects’ expenditures monthly
• Develop regular meetings with Seller/Buyer teams to determine dependencies and establish timelines for tasks. Provide appropriate reporting for all tasks and actions performed
• Establish, communicate, and enforce standards for application implementation, and for quality assurance and testing
• Oversee plans for user cutover to Tesoro’s IT applications and systems environment. Ensures communications to users is appropriate and timely
• Provide senior-level leadership updates on technology aspects for all areas of responsibility. Directs end-users and assigned personnel in complying with policies, procedures, and standards. Takes appropriate action when notified of non-compliance with policies, procedures and standards. Ensures tools, techniques, and technologies of assigned area of responsibility are consistent with established Tesoro’s technical standards and are technologically feasible for deployment
• Provide appropriate communication to business stakeholders and PE/IT management on status and critical issues and risks
• Minimum of Bachelor’s degree in information technology or related field
• 10 or more years of experience in diversified information technology or relevant business experience
• 5 or more years of experience in business management e.g. budget, risk and cost
• 5 or more years of experience in managing professionals
• 5 or more years of experience in product, process, project, program, portfolio, application, architecture or technology skills
• 2 or more years of experience with Mergers & Acquisition activities
• Seen as an expert within the Industry as a leading figure within their field of expertise
• Ability to identify and develop business process improvements. Proactive and constructive challenger
• Ability to develop and maintain key relationships both internal and external
• Ability to mentor and support management in developing a high performing team
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, including teamwork, facilitation and negotiation
• Ability to understand the long-term ("big picture") and short-term perspectives of situations
• Manage or perform accounting for purchase price allocations and “Day One” accounting, including creation or obtainment of Closing and Opening Balance Sheets, for targets and acquired businesses
• Manage the work of specialists in valuation services and other areas as necessary
• Coordinate with other groups within the company to ensure accurate M&A accounting and M&A related disclosures within Company SEC filings
• Manage the completion of M&A related internal controls and prepare or obtain necessary information to ensure accurate and timely audits of M&A accounting by internal and external auditors
• Liaise with a target company's finance/accounting departments and advisors to gather pertinent accounting support
• Assist and advise on post-acquisition integration accounting activities
• Perform accounting and research as necessary in M&A related and other activities from time to time
• Identify sustainable strategic improvements, suggest corrective actions, coordinate implementation and track efficiencies achieved
• Identify process improvements and assist in the implementation of related processes and controls
• Identify improvements that will positively impact corporate success and fully comply with objectives and regulations
• Perform all other related duties as assigned
• Education: Bachelor’s degree (B.A. /B.S.) or equivalent in accounting or related discipline. Masters Degree in Business Administration preferred
• Experience: Six to eight years related experience with at least three of the required years with a national or regional CPA firm and/or commercial company with consolidation. Experience with international accounting and financial reporting required
• Certification/Licensure: CPA strongly preferred
• Other: None
• 5+ years of Federal Tax and/or Mergers & Acquisition experience within a Public Accounting firm, a Corporate Tax Department, or a Law firm
• Licensed CPA or J.D./ LL.M. or Enrolled Agent
• Knowledge of a broad range of Corporate Tax matters in various industries

Mergers & Acquisitions Business Development Leader Resume Examples & Samples

• Represents Corporate Development function within business
• Drive roadmap linking business strategy with potential inorganic activities in line with overall RA corporate strategy
• As a member of corporate development organization works closely with Rockwell Automation’s Information Software leadership team, and other key stakeholders across the enterprise in development of M&A strategy in support of IS growth and technology development
• Leads M&A activities - establishing profiles of potential investment areas, prospecting to maintain sufficient funnel, pursuit of targets including presentations to owners and investors
• Executes M&A initiatives in close partnership with key stakeholders including corporate operations team, sourcing, legal, finance and others
• Close collaboration with other functions within corporate development organization including other business assigned corporate development resources, operational and pursuit teams
• Provide leadership in establishing closer relationship with Innovation Centers, Incubators and other organizations especially in Silicon Valley to support accelerated approach for innovation
• Develops revenue modeling and financial risk analysis of business opportunities
• Analyzes trends including competition, market, and regulatory/compliance
• Provides regular presentations in various company forums upwards to key executives
• Researches and utilizes market information and strategic intelligence to develop market analyses, business plans and support strategic initiatives
• Deep knowledge of the business space and strategies (key gaps and critical focus)
• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or Business field, plus Master in Finance
• Successful track record as a corporate development professional, including identification, pursuit, evaluation, negotiation, and completion of M&A or other equivalent transactions which were critical to the growth of the organization
• Technical proficiency in supported areas and an ability to evaluate market opportunities and develop strategy using all available resources
• Strong leadership and influencing skills, working with all levels of the organization in a matrix environment

HR Operational Excellence Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Advise clients though execution of the M&A lifecycle related to Human Resources integration to include: M&A strategy, operational due diligence, integration, restructuring and process design and operating model definition
• Provide guidance in M&A areas such as synergy capture, cost reduction, shared services, outsourcing, and process redesign
• Thinking strategically to build the practice
• Leading project teams to deliver superior results for your client, while monitoring and identifying any project issues to be able to mitigate risk for your client
• Building your brand and reputation within the firm and amongst clients, articulating our brand
• Forging strong relationships with clients that will contribute to the growth and development of the firm
• 8+ years related experience
• External consulting experience
• Knowledge of HR function, processes, and best practices
• Experience in Human Resources M&A integration and Program Management
• Up to 80% travel required

Senior Associate, Mergers & Acquisitions Tax Resume Examples & Samples

• Work as a part of a multi-disciplinary team that focuses on delivering due diligence and tax structuring services, and communicates findings and opportunities to clients
• A minimum of three years of experience in federal tax and/or mergers and acquisition in a public accounting firm, corporate tax department, or law firm
• Excellent research and writing skills

VP, Mergers & Acquisitions Investment Banking Resume Examples & Samples

• Leading the execution and supporting the origination of M&A transactions including public and private sell-sides, buy-sides, etc
• Overseeing the building and maintenance of complex financial/valuation models, including DCF, accretion/dilution, LBO, comparable trading and transaction analyses
• Developing client relationships through deal execution and pitching, as appropriate
• Analyzing companies and industries and working directly with client management teams
• Preparing pitch books, selling memoranda and management presentations
• Developing client relationships through deal execution and pitching as well as communicating and interacting with internal coverage partners and product areas
• Managing several projects at once and working effectively as an individual and as a leader of a team, including managing associates and analysts
• Participating in the recruitment, development and training of junior bankers (analysts, associates, summer analysts/associates, incoming classes)
• 3+ years of experience as an Investment Banking Associate with a focus on M&A at a top-tier firm
• Either (i) MBA degree with outstanding academic qualifications or (ii) 7+ years of Investment Banking experience with a focus on M&A
• Demonstrate a combination of strong quantitative/analytical skills and understanding of accounting and valuation
• Track record of superior performance with an ability to manage deal teams
• Superior written and oral communications skills
• Assertiveness, initiative, strong work ethic, team focus
• Mastery of software applications

Mergers & Acquisitions Accounting Consultant Resume Examples & Samples

• Work cross-functionally with other departments to lead internal projects and strategic initiatives
• Evaluate the accounting impact of mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, strategic partnerships and other corporate development opportunities
• Perform strategic and quantitative analyses, assist in appropriate valuations and deal structures, and conduct accounting related due diligence to execute corporate development opportunities

Mergers & Acquisitions Corporate Development Senior Associate Resume Examples & Samples

• Interface with accounting to coordinate data models needed for acquisitions. Including assumptions and variables
• Assist in the data analysis to back the strategy and profitability of additional opportunities in the company’s current business lines by expanding geographic footprint
• Support existing business lines through analysis of one off or unique business opportunities, investments, joint ventures or start up activities
• Compile, analyze, translate and present research information to management
• Assist in the preparation of updates and presentations to the board quarterly
• Assist in preparation of yearly goals for the group, mid-range and longer term strategy for the company and the presentation of group accomplishments for year-end review
• Assist in preparation and execution of annual budget
• Communicate with and help manage outside advisors, lawyers, auditors and consultants for the analysis, execution and management of new business opportunities
• Help in the coordination of cross functional integration issues associated with new business development
• Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations and company policies across areas of organizational responsibility
• Bachelor’s degree in economics, accounting, finance, business administration or quantitative methods required or relevant business experience. MBA preferred
• Familiarity with statistics and computerized modeling
• General understanding of accounting
• At least three to five years of related work experience
• Experience in financial institutions preferred
• Must have effective organizational, communication, time-management, interpersonal skills and high attention to detail
• Must be skilled in use of spreadsheets with demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Products

Mergers & Acquisitions Relationship Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Responsible for accounts of moderate intricacy, complexity, level of risk and annual fee generation
• Responsible for timely execution of all cash flows, fee billing, internal and external reporting, tickler processing
• Monitor all activity related to accounts to ensure accounts are setup and operating within established guidelines
• Review accounts on relevant administrative and operational systems/databases within established guidelines
• Reviews, analyzes and provides comments to counsel on all operative documents pertaining to assigned accounts
• Evaluates fees for suitability and conformance with fee schedules
• Partners with Fee Billing and Collections to monitor and collect aged receivables, where appropriate
• Coordinates all administrative, operational and risk management support for assigned accounts
• Research and resolve issues related to all aspects of asssigned accounts
• Provide coverage and support to other Relationship Managers within assigned Section/Unit
• Collaborates with other parties, including but not limited to attorneys, financial advisors, interested parties and alliance/service partners, to structure and close capital market transactions
• Represents WTC at formal transaction closings, attends and chairs meetings/client presentations and prepares relevant documentation
• Responsible for supervising and mentoring direct reports
• Participate in departmental projects and corporate initiatives
• Implement approved fee increases, fee discounts and waivers as identified or instructed
• Assist management with the development and operation of business products and processes
• Assume additional responsibilities as requested
• Minimum 5 years experience in M&A (Transaction services, investment bank, Corporate)
• Strategic and business awareness
• Strong financial skills (valuation, due diligence, purchase price, knowledge of the financial impacts on the Company)
• International profile / ability to work in a multicultural environment
• Negotiation skills: Ability to negotiate agreements with partners / sellers / customers within acquisition/JV team
• Legal / Contractual and Ethics & Compliance awareness
• Strong communication skills (communication at all ALSTOM levels)
• Fluency in English + second language
• Evaluating and analyzing the financial needs of corporate clients, including financial and written analysis of companies and industries
• Development of detailed financial models and valuation materials
• Supporting deal execution and due diligence efforts
• Preparing transaction marketing materials and presentations
• Preparing client presentations (including compiling data and assembling presentation materials)
• Applying product and capital markets knowledge to help clients achieve their financial objectives
• Minimum one year of investment banking/merger & acquisitions work experience preferred
• A clearly defined interest in Mergers & Acquisitions
• Strong quantitative skills focused on financial analysis, accounting and financial theory
• The ability to excel under pressure amid demanding deadlines
• The ability to perform effectively in a team environment
• Demonstrated ability to quickly adapt to new situations
• A strong sense of personal integrity
• A high level of energy and a keen desire to learn new concepts
• Independent thinker and proven ability to make decisions
• MBA and at least one year of M&A experience or Undergraduate Degree in Business (Accounting, Finance, Econ) or Technical Sciences (Engineering, Physics) and three years of investment banking experience
• Possessing the ability to succinctly express ideas
• Extraordinary critical thinking and problem solving ability
• MBA, MA in Accounting, MS in Finance or other advanced financial certification (CFA/CPA)
• 3+ years investment banking M&A experience
• Series 7/79 & 63 (within six months of employment)

Finance Director of Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Assist with the assessment of inorganic growth opportunities and their operating environment, associated risks and opportunities, including recommendations for acquisitions
• Assist with the development and execution of certain business development opportunities
• Provide inputs and develop key assumptions and data for financial models and presentations with respect to certain transaction opportunities
• Assist with accounting-, valuation- and tax-related matters
• Assist corporate Legal to ensure full and complete adherence to Company policies
• Prepare or assist in preparation of investment packs for regional and Investment Committee consideration
• Oversee day-to-day collaboration on financial aspects of project plans for prospecting, due diligence and integration activities, including creating and documenting key requirements and ensuring they are met (e.g., deliverables from cross-functional teams)
• Manage projects and communication between corporate and international finance and regional cross-functional teams
• Fluency in English and either Spanish or Portuguese
• Demonstrated experience in all phases of acquisition activity, including business development, due diligence, negotiation and integration, with emphasis on the wireless tower business
• Successful background in creating and presenting detailed financial models and deal summaries
• General knowledge of accounting and tax implications in various Latin American environments as well as the ability to work with and coordinate specialists, both in house and external
• Ability to negotiate with potential sellers, customer and partners, understanding especially value trades over time
• Demonstrated success at identifying and synthesizing internal and external customer needs into concise and clear presentations
• Ability to work effectively across many internal functional groups to optimize product offerings, create a seamless internal and external customer experience and resolve complicated issues
• Self-motivated; able to work both independently to complete tasks and respond to department requests and with others to create successful, high-quality solutions
• Proven track record for collaboration and teamwork across organizational and geographic boundaries and levels
• Excellent planning skills and priority management in a dynamic and fast paced environment
• Highly developed problem solving and negotiation skills
• MBA degree preferred
• A minimum of 7–10 years of experience with at least 3 years of either senior finance, investment banking, or mergers and acquisitions preferred
• Experience in the wireless tower or related industry strongly preferred
• Experience with Latin American accounting and tax environments
• Experience with project management or coordination of complex tasks

Staff Writer, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Master the basics of a given beat or beats, showing an understanding of the areas you’ll be covering, the various interests that bring pressure to bear on producing or changing policies, and an understanding of how financial markets and federal regulatory agencies work
• Write spot news stories of varying lengths on a daily basis that are timely, succinct, forward-looking and focused on the interests of a legal audience
• Contribute to other parts of CQ, particularly CQ News and also CQ Weekly
• Recognize the interests and expectations of Westlaw subscribers related to news on markets and securities
• Come up with incisive and relevant story ideas
• Demonstrate accuracy and effective writing skills by making sure stories are free of errors, style mistakes, typos or inaccuracies
• Maintain contacts with a broad network of sources and provide timely, even-handed and informative news and analysis
• Identify the major players on crucial beats and forge relationships with those individuals
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience, preferably in business journalism
• Proven organizational skills and attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal communications skills
• Ability to switch quickly among news priorities
• Familiarity with the tools used to create compelling graphics and video
• A collaborative work style and the ability to be a team player with other CQ reporters and editors
• Flexibility and an ability to adapt to change as well as a high degree of accuracy and fairness, as well as correct grammar and spelling
• A strong work ethic and adaptation to changing news situations, including a willingness to work odd hours when news happens
• Ability to meet deadlines and ensure that copy is free of misspellings, style errors or mistakes
• Ability to work with editors to develop story ideas, schedule them and deliver them on time while keeping in close touch with editors about developments on news beat
• Monitor costs on assignments and ensure that any unexpected variances are identified and reported internally
• Understand how and why value is added to clients through the deal process
• Apply core technical and commercial skills to a variety of situations
• Model the financial implications of transactions
• Creative in the sourcing and use of information and able to make sensible assumptions where appropriate
• Absorb new technical information quickly, and quickly develop a deep understanding of the strategic rationale for transactions
• Research and analyses key value drivers at a market and business level
• Research thoroughly and present information clearly
• Prepare information memoranda upon the disposal of businesses and research target profiles on acquisitions
• Produce work to tight deadlines, often under pressure
• Sound commercial judgment and an ability to generate creative solutions to problems and 'think on your feet'
• Take responsibility for own workload, ensuring utilized fully and that all tasks are efficiently completed
• Develop negotiation skills

Mergers & Acquisitions Specialist Resume Examples & Samples

• Exhibits excellent coaching and leadership capabilities
• Results orientated
• Exhibits excellent negotiating and influencing skills
• Outstanding verbal, written and presentation skills
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all levels
• Strong Change Management skills
• Excellent Business Acumen
• Organizational Effectiveness skills

Mergers & Acquisitions Senior Consultant Resume Examples & Samples

• Experience participating in setting engagement objectives and scope
• Experience designing deliverable content to precisely reflect the engagement contract and client needs and strive to improve deliverable quality through verification and validation of results
• A Bachelor's Degree is required
• Bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting, finance, economics or a business discipline from an accredited university
• Minimum of three (3) years of combined experience in accounting and/or finance
• Minimum of 3 years combined experience in finance and/or financial due diligence department of a corporation, investment bank and/or a management consulting firm
• Minimum of 3 years experience in providing business counsel
• Minimum of 1 year of combined experience with project management and/or project leadership
• Minimum of 1 year experience with mergers and acquisition related integrations
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and/or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification
• MBA from an accredited university in Finance, Accounting or Economics
• Minimum of 1 year of cost accounting experience in a manufacturing environment
• Minimum of 1 year of global/international experience
• Minimum of 1 year of SAP ERP experience
• Minimum of 3 years of experience with Microsoft Office Suite
• Train, Develop and Mentor the M&A diligence team to facilitate growth while accommodating internal and external customers
• Lead, coordinate and participate in due diligence efforts for potential acquisitions between internal decision makers and other internal resources, management and other key personnel of the company being acquired, and third party resources, including, but not limited to outside counsel, accounting firms, and brokers for both parties
• This role needs a player / coach who can adjust to different types of deals, coach team members who are managing engagements, and pitch in to meet deadlines and complete diligence efforts along the way
• Oversee the financial analysis, including but not limited to review of financial statements and business contracts, interviewing key personnel from the practice in order to better understand their business processes, develop prospective revenue and budget models, perform site visits as necessary, and provide management with a clear and concise diligence report to assist with the decision making
• Serve as a contact and guide employees and prospective sellers on all internal and external diligence related questions and concerns
• Ability to effectively communicate at all personnel levels (staff person to senior management) both internally and externally based on the information required at each particular level
• Able to maintain the utmost confidentiality and discretion with respect to dissemination of information
• Detail oriented; able to keep key personnel on task regardless of their position in the organizational and target hierarchy
• Ability to understand and explain the relevance of various diligence requests from each functional area as well as be able to distinguish between and make decisions on critical ‘must have’ requirements necessary to close the deal vs. ‘nice to have’ secondary requirements
• Ability to effectively prioritize and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Experience working both independently and in a team-oriented, collaborative environment
• Bachelor’s Degree from a four year College or University in Accounting or Finance or related business field and 8 or more years of relevant experience; Master’s Degree preferred
• CPA Preferred
• 5 or more years of management level experience
• 5 or more years of accounting, finance or internal audit experience, preferably in healthcare
• Familiarity with cash to accrual concept and impact on financials

Mergers & Acquisitions IT Senior Consultant Resume Examples & Samples

• Solution Delivery: Deliver large, complex client engagements by identifying, designing, and implementing creative business and technology solutions for large companies
• Advanced IT Knowledge: Provide subject matter expertise across critical components of IT (e.g. infrastructure, applications, IT operations, IT finances and expenses, Active Directory, end-user computing, messaging, enterprise architecture, testing)
• Technical Solutions: Advise on industry-leading solutions enabling complex M&A transactions (e.g. SaaS/IaaS, virtualization, public/private clouds, social media, data management and loss prevention)
• M&A Expertise: Guide clients on key concepts and strategies for M&A engagements, including but not limited to stranded cost analyses, aggressive timelines, business continuity during transformation, synergy identification and capture, system cutovers)
• Client Management & Advisory: Provide top-tier consulting services by identifying key client business issues, determining client needs, evaluating and validating analyses, and developing recommendations for the client in the context of the overall engagement
• Deliver Results: Create high-quality deliverables and work with teams to build strong relationships to deliver exceptional outcomes
• Support deal teams in the execution of merger and acquisition transactions and corporate finance advisory assignments from start to finish, working closely with Partners, Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, Senior Associates and outside advisors
• Assist in the preparation of financial models, business valuations and other materials to be used in presentations and as support for deal processes
• Assist in the preparation of confidential information memoranda to be utilized in transactions
• Interact directly with Partners and Managing Directors on matters related to client and engagement management by working on proposals and participating in sales meetings
• Undergraduate or graduate degree in Finance, Accounting or Economics, preferably with a CPA
• One to three years of experience in professional corporate finance advisory functions, investment banking, commercial banking, consulting, and/or public accounting
• Ability to provide exceptional client service, demonstrate commitment to continuous learning in order to stay current regarding applicable strategies, see the "big picture" as well as the details, display appropriate ethical knowledge and commitment, and exhibit a sense of urgency and commitment to quality and the timely completion of duties
• Organized and able to simultaneously manage multiple projects/priorities in a time critical, fast paced environment
• FINRA Series 79 and 63 Investment Banking securities licenses, or ability to obtain required licenses within 90 days of hire
• Experience participating in setting engagement objectives and scope. Consultants will synthesize overall strategy by analyzing a wide variety of solutions, selecting the most relevant tools/techniques to meet specific client requirements such as business case, pricing, or complex financial analysis, and interpreting and reporting on outputs
• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree and 5+ years consulting and/or industry experience; alternatively an MBA with 3+ years relevant work experience is acceptable
• Ability to travel 80-100% required

Mergers & Acquisitions Due Diligence Project Manager Resume Examples & Samples

• Manage the Due Diligence process for multiple acquisitions simultaneously
• Review and analyze the sufficiency of documentation as it relates to a specific Diligence request
• Responsible for administering data room access to internal and external users, as well as uploading content to the site
• Oversee the data room and manage the internal distribution of information to all relevant parties. Prior knowledge of data room software is a plus
• Organize and synthesize information through the preparation of summaries, reports, spreadsheets
• Work directly with attorneys, internal M&A team, business department leaders, and external targets related to corporate transactions (both Asset and Equity deals)
• Extreme attention to detail, accuracy, and confidentiality pertaining to sensitive information and documentation
• Excellent organizational and communication skills
• Coordinate the due diligence and coordinate the activities of other external advisors (e.g. legal counsel, auditors, 3rd party contractors) as required by the company
• Interacting across Finance, IT, HR, Transportation, Legal, and Operations functional areas in due diligence and pre-close integration planning
• Possess strong interpersonal skills with ability to build strong relationships
• Accepts ownership of projects and is successful in driving projects, as well as daily tasks, to a successful conclusion
• Is responsive and sensitive to internal and external deadlines
• Able to maintain confidentiality AND interact with people in a manner which shows sensitivity, tact, and professionalism
• At least 1-2 years of post degree experience in corporate development, transaction services or business development function
• Highly proficient in Excel, Word, PowerPoint
• Degree or certificate in Paralegal Studies is a plus
• Knowledge of Automotive Aftermarket (parts/service) is a plus
• MBA and at least three years of M&A experience or Undergraduate Degree in Business (Accounting, Finance, Econ) or Technical Sciences (Engineering, Physics) and six years of investment banking experience
• Possessing the ability to communicate effectively across deal teams (internally and externally)
• Demonstrated ability to manage deal teams
• 6+ years investment banking M&A experience
• Performing industry research and analysis to identify potential acquisition targets and strategic fit of target companies
• Developing detailed financial models and valuation analysis for potential transactions
• Creating investment proposals, along with supporting analysis and findings, for review by SEC’s Executive Management team
• Interfacing with finance, legal, tax and other departments of SEC to ensure seamless deal execution
• Minimum of 10 years of work experience, with at least 5 years in an M&A/ business development role
• Bachelors degree in business, Finance or related field; MBA preferred
• Experience in the elevator /escalator business and/or construction industry preferred
• Bilingual and/or Spanish as a second language preferred
• Experience in a large multinational company preferred
• Demonstrated experience in advanced financial modeling, analysis and research, including discounted cash flow, accretion/dilution, synergies and multiple analysis
• Experience with a variety of transaction structures for comprehensive analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work with executives and building relationships at every level of the organization
• Outstanding written, oral communication and relationship building skills
• Self-starter capable of exercising independent judgment and working independently
• Expert level knowledge of Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint
• Experience working effectively as part of a small team
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment
• Ideal candidate is entrepreneurial and driven by a new challenge

Director, Finance, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Target Identification and Screening – Assist V. P. Mergers & Acquisitions in translating Corporate Development Strategy into market specific target lists and identifying transaction candidates. Work with external resources to screen opportunities to match corporate development guidelines
• Prepare Information Briefs for Deal Flow – Prepare analysis and presentations for the approval of transactions for Senior Management and the Board of Directors
• The position requires a highly motivated individual with excellent written and verbal communication skills, strong research, analytical and spreadsheet modeling skills and the ability to interface with various levels of management
• Must be able to develop an understanding of Corporate strategy and help translate it into actionable plans and transactions, operating both independently and as part of a highly focused, inter-disciplinary deal team
• The position demands the ability to influence and inspire others with informal reporting relationships
• An MBA with a concentration in Finance preferred
• Four to six years of experience in finance / valuation / accounting is required. Exposure to acquisition due diligence and valuation would be a plus
• Some travel required, including international
• Established credibility with upper management
• Demonstrated excellent project management, communication, and teamwork skills
• Ability to formulate the big picture while working on project details
• A tolerance for ambiguity and flexibility to changing projects and priorities
• Must work at Santa Clara site, not remotely
• Desired: A strong finance background as well as familiarity with legal contracts

Paralegal, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Assisting with internal due diligence, creation and maintenance of datarooms, and coordination, working closely with, contract administration, corporate development, paralegals, and lawyers
• Drafting, negotiating and finalizing legal documents related to acquisitions and divestitures, including confidentiality agreements, disclosure schedules, closing documents, and checklists
• Assist with the management of document review processes, including preparing and reviewing comments and redlines, seeking internal feedback, and incorporating modifications and amendments as appropriate
• Developing and implementing processes, systems and tools to promote disciplined and effective acquisitions and divestitures
• Along with attorneys, serve as a resource for and respond to questions about processes, summaries, reports, metrics, tools, resources, databases, and best practices related to acquisitions, divestitures, and legal integration of acquisitions from legal staff supporting such activities as well as other interested personnel
• Provides direct support to internal clients (using discretion to handle matters directly or involving an attorney)
• 2+ years of mergers and acquisitions experience in a law firm and/or in-house
• Must be highly organized with strong attention to detail, able to handle pressure, and understand the importance of deadlines and handle high volume of work in a fast-paced environment
• Demonstrates strong people skills and ability to work with individuals at all levels and in all areas of the organization
• Exercises good judgment and recognizes when to ask for help or escalate issues
• Demonstrates strong computer skills (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and general database management)
• Understand general requirements in terms of overall contribution to business value
• Perform due diligence activities for acquisitions and strategic partnerships
• Implement due diligence review process for AdvantEdge Analytics, formation of cross-enterprise due diligence teams, development of recommendations based on due diligence results
• Manage integration process and timeline working with cross-enterprise integration teams and development of recommendations based on integration and due diligence work
• Evaluate potential targets in conjunction with Corporate Development team to make prioritization decisions for acquisitions and/or partnerships
• Develop a strong working relationship/rapport with the Corporate Development team as well as other key integration subject matter experts across the business
• Measure and understand the customer experience with competitors by reviewing available data including primary research results, win-loss business analysis, and front line employee feedback
• Analyze and disseminate key insights, ensuring resulting insight is reliable and actionable
• Facilitate data-driven, fact-based decision making
• Maintain market intelligence information to efficiently organize and share market, industry, and competitor information with the AdvantEdge team and across CUNA Mutual Group
• Help in executing on the overall vision and objectives of the strategy
• In partnership with Legal, Corporate Development, and other teams; execute on our strategies (e.g., mergers and acquisitions, strategic partnerships, integration plans, and competitive intelligence)
• Build awareness internally, including ensuring that business partners (e.g., enterprise data governance, legal, compliance, risk management, etc.) are familiar with product vision and business potential
• Prioritize decisions quickly, accurately, and effectively, with clear view of the business impact of those decisions

Senior Counsel, Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• Lead legal activity for mergers, acquisitions, joint venture and divestitures as well as transactional and business support experience
• Expertise in financial modeling, forecasting, and negotiations
• Develop strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the North American Business Units
• Become a trusted business partner so that legal issues can be identified proactively and dealt with expeditiously
• Day to day responsibilities in several practice areas including but not limited to transaction/contract review, negotiations, advertising review, communications (internal and external) review, training/education and compliance
• Negotiate effectively with opposing counsel, so that deals and transactions are timely closed and the company's interests are protected
• Educate and inform clients across the organization on compliance and legal issues that inform business decision-making
• Collaborate as necessary with colleagues in focused practice areas in the Law Department
• 5-10 years of transactional and corporate legal experience
• Juris Doctorate Degree with superior academic credentials from an ABA accredited Law School
• Minimum of 5-10 years law firm or in-house counsel experience
• Admitted to practice in the state of Tennessee or admitted to practice in a state that offers reciprocity with the state of Tennessee
• Must have a proven track record of directly building, managing and maintaining strong collaborative relationships with a variety of corporate clients in different areas of the company: sales, manufacturing, marketing, logistics, finance, etc
• Effectively provide counsel, training and education to a variety of audiences: production supervisors, managers, executives, board members, etc. Must have a strong ability to adjust presentation style and focus to suit a particular audience
• Comfortable and confident advising and educating clients on complex and difficult compliance and regulatory issues
• Diplomatically but expeditiously give "bad news" about risks as well as legal or regulatory limits or requirements
• Instincts to inform clients about the legal risks embedded in business decisions while also providing alternatives so the business can make informed and balanced decisions. But must be able to say "no" when "no" is appropriate and necessary
• Must keep leadership of the law department and the company properly and timely informed about legal issues facing the division
• Work autonomously as necessary, collaboratively when appropriate

Mergers & Acquisitions Attorney Resume Examples & Samples

• Advise senior bankers on commercial and reputational, as well as structural and deal-related issues relating to proposed M&A transactions
• Review fairness opinions, board presentations and related proxy disclosure (including updates in response to SEC comments). Coordinate with outside counsel
• Advise Investment Banking Committee in connection with its review of M&A transactions, fairness opinions and valuation materials
• Assist Conflicts Officers in identifying and addressing potential conflicts
• Assist bankers in preparing and negotiating engagement letters and related agreements
• Remaining current and informed on developments in Delaware case law that impacts investment banks and M&A transactions
• Develop policies and procedures applicable to the M&A and Advisory business
• Advise the M&A department regarding business practices
• Assist in training where appropriate
• You have attained a JD and are a member of the NY State Bar
• Your record reflects excellent scholastic achievement at a major US Law School
• You have developed general M&A and/or capital market experience
• You have at least 5-7 years of experience at a large NY law firm or similar sized bank
• Serve as one of the primary project leaders in the execution of merger and acquisition (M&A) and corporate finance advisory assignments from start to finish, working closely with Partners, Managing Directors and other outside advisors
• Analyze risks and opportunities while advising both buyers and sellers on alternative strategies for acquisition, disposition, and restructuring of businesses
• Perform financial modeling and work with tax and legal professionals in the structuring of transactions and analyzing contracts and agreements
• Communicate with business owners to ensure delivery of exceptional client service
• Supervise, develop and train engagement teams on client projects
• Interact directly with Partners and Managing Directors on matters related to client and engagement management
• Assist with strengthening existing client relationships by participating in sales meetings and working on proposals
• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics or related field required
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in professional corporate finance advisory functions, investment banking and/or public accounting, including a minimum of one (1) year of supervisory responsibilities required
• Strong financial modeling, valuation and excel experience required
• Demonstrated management, analytical, organizational, interpersonal, project management, and communication skills, and highly developed Microsoft Suite skills (Word, Excel) required
• Ability to lead and supervise others, provide exceptional client service, demonstrate commitment to continuous learning in order to stay current regarding applicable strategies, see the "big picture" as well as the details, display appropriate ethical knowledge and commitment, and exhibit a sense of urgency and commitment to quality and the timely completion of duties
• FINRA Series 79 and 63 Investment Banking securities licenses or ability to obtain required licenses within 90 days of hire
• Organized and able to simultaneously manage multiple projects/priorities in a time critical, fast paced, transaction oriented environment

Attorney Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions Resume Examples & Samples

• JD from an accredited law school, excellent academic credentials and current member in good standing with Georgia or other state bar
• A minimum of 4-6 years legal M&A experience in large law firm environment or corporate legal department
• Securities law experience considered helpful
• Well-organized self-starter able to handle multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines
• Capable of working independently with little supervision
• Strong analytical skills and ability to balance business needs with legal risks
• Ability to effectively communicate ideas and strategies with senior executives
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with particular emphasis on contract drafting abilities
• 3 + years M&A / auditor experience
• IFRS Experience would be an advantage
• Excellent eye for detail being able to identify risk and opportunities in M&A activity
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines
• Strong analytical skills with well-developed technical skills in financial modelling
• The capability to persuade and communicate at all levels within the business
• Negotiate, prepare and oversee complex transactions including mergers, acquisitions, multi-national agreements, financing agreements and technology transfers in a cross functional, team oriented environment
• Provide strategic support and partnership to various corporate functions, including Strategic Development, Corporate Marketing, Corporate Communications and Finance
• Provide timely and effective legal advice on a wide variety of corporate and commercial legal issues
• Occasionally provide litigation support
• Sporadically travel internationally, primarily to Asia
• Have excellent oral and written English-language skills, so that you can make effective, succinct presentations to senior leaders on complex matters and can create high quality documents
• Interact successfully with other business groups to achieve corporate objectives
• Work independently with limited supervision
• Select and manage internal resources and outside counsel
• Be creative, innovative, accessible and approachable
• Manage budgets
• Work hard and be nice; you must play well with others
• J.D. or equivalent from a top law school
• California bar membership
• 10+ years of experience
• Background or experience in the semiconductor equipment and/or semiconductor industry
• Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin language skills are a plus
• Strong antitrust, cyber security and/or government affairs are a plus
• Technical or engineering background is a plus
• Candidates of diverse backgrounds encouraged
• Lead due diligence, integration planning and guide execution of merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions with particular emphasis on HR related functions. Contributes to all aspects of the M&A initiatives, from inception through the due diligence, cloing and integration, and coordinates internal approval and communication processes for completion of the transaction
• Manage HR transactions/initiatives at both pre-close and post-close stage within the M&A lifecycle. Serves as the M&A SME and Project Manager, facilitating all HR relates initiatives with key stakeholders and COE Teams. Evaluate all liabilities associated with employee programs. Partners wth COE Teams to design and implement organizational architecture integration in addition to the validation of synergy and cost assumptions as it pertains to human capital. Identify potential risk and develop specific plans to mitigate or address concerns
• Support management and employee communications and training materials. Prepare side by side comparison of programs including cost comparisons in partnership with HR functional leaders, legal counsel and/or other key stakeholders
• Strong project management methodology background, including schedule, scope, issue and risk management experience, change management, strategic planning and analysis. Responsible for integration planning and budget and partnering with shared service and COE teams to execute integration plan
• Partners with Workforce Compliance, Legal, HR Operations and other key stakeholders to drive HR policy harmonization, consistency in application and employee communication across the organization
• Develop and manage integration playbook. Assist with global opportunities as necessary and continually refine best practices to improve efficiency of integration
• 8+ years HR experience including 3+ years project management experience
• Knowledge of Compensation and Benefits preferred
• M&A experience including large scale change management preferred
• Demonstrated analytical and problem solving skills, including Excel and PowerPoint skills
• Strong organizational skills and project management experience required
• Team oriented and ability to build relationships and trust at all levels of an organization and across functions
• Ability to handle several time-sensitive projects and work independently
• Must be a consensus builder
• Must be able to travel 25% (domestic and international)

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Investment Banking Resumes

Tips, tools, and templates for creating your perfect investment banking resume or cv, why is your resume important.

Your resume or CV is what sits between you and the interviews and job offers you want.

If you put your best foot forward with a resume that highlights your most impressive education and work experience and also makes you look like a human rather than a robot, you’ll have a significantly higher chance of winning interviews.

And if you don’t, you’ll blend in with everyone else – which means you won’t be receiving interviews.

IB Resume Template (Undergrad)

IB Resume Template (MBA+)

Cover Letter Template

Sales & Trading Resume

Private Equity Resume

Resume Editing Service

The ideal resume template for university students.

The #1 rule of investment banking resumes is that busy, sleep-deprived bankers will spend about 30 seconds , max, reviewing your resume before they make an “interview / no interview” decision.

So, your resume should fit on  one page with a normal font size and margins, and it should have your name at the top in a bigger font size.

We recommend the following sections:

• Header – Center the header, make sure your name is in bigger font than the rest, and write your address, phone number, and email address right below that. Avoid graphics, emojis, modeling photos, etc.
• Education – Where you go to school, what your major is, your graduation date, and your grades and standardized test scores (GPA and SAT in the U.S.; Degree classification and A-levels in the U.K.).
• Work & Leadership Experience – Aim for 2-4 major work/leadership experience entries, with a mix of internships and activities. For each one, use a project-centric or task-centric structure and describe  the specifics and  the results of your work.
• Skills, Activities & Interests – You can list language proficiencies, programming languages, certifications, and hobbies/interests such as sports, art/music, and anything unrelated to finance.

For more details and the template and tutorial, refer to our full article on the ideal Investment Banking Resume For University Students .

If you need a cover letter, check out our Investment Banking Cover Letter Template – which is also very short and straightforward.

Finally, we have a Sales & Trading Resume Template and tutorial for “public markets” roles as well.

Resume Tips for Experienced Professionals

Many of the principles above also apply to your resume/CV if you’ve had full-time work experience.

For example, you still list your name and contact information at the top, skip the “Summary” section, stick to one page in most cases, aim for 2-4 major work experience entries, and focus on specifics and  results in each one.

However, there are a few differences:

• Order – If you’re already working full-time, Work Experience goes on top, Education is below that, and Skills/Activities/Interests is below that.
• Focus – You should focus much more heavily on your full-time investment banking (or other) experience and cut back on the rest. No one cares about your student groups or Year 1 university internship if you’ve already been working full-time for 3-5 years.
• Possible “Transaction” Page –  If you have worked on many, many deals (say, 10-20+) and you can’t fit all the important bits on one page, it might be acceptable to include a second page for key transactions. This is reasonable for VPs, Senior VPs, and MDs; it’s questionable-to-borderline-ridiculous for Analysts and Associates .
• Leadership and Client Experience – At this level, you need to emphasize your client work and the ability to lead teams and execute projects more than sheer technical prowess.

For more tips and template resumes, see our articles on Experienced Investment Banker Resumes and Private Equity Resumes .

Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Despite all the tips, tutorials, and templates offered on this site, we tend to see the same resume/CV mistakes over and over.

Here are the top offenders:

• More Than One (1) Page – You can do this if you’re in Australia, where resume/CV standards are different, or if you’re a VP-level banker (or up) and you have a separate “Transaction Page.” Otherwise, avoid multiple pages or risk immediate rejection.
• Tiny Margins and Micro Fonts – Your resume should  not be an “eye chart” at the optometrist’s office. If someone needs to Zoom to 200% or use a magnifying glass to read your resume, you lose.
• Photos, Emojis, Colors, Videos, and Other “Creative” Additions – The finance industry is very conservative and tends to laugh at these things, especially in the U.S.  Sometimes in other regions, it is acceptable to include a standard professional photo of yourself.
• Omitting Vital Information – You can’t just “forget” your GPA and hope they won’t notice – they will. The same applies to gaps in your work experience, transfers to other universities, and so on.
• Laundry List of Meaningless Clubs/Activities – Many students feel they need to “pad” their resumes to make up for lack of real work experience. Don’t do this! No one reading your resume will be able to remember more than 3-4 key points, so it’s counterproductive to list every last club or activity on it.

Finally, remember the role of your resume: it’s designed to present your experience effectively and get your foot in the door.

You  cannot rely on your resume to do everything for you, so  networking and  interview preparation are also critical.

You can spend 100 hours on your resume trying to make each bullet point perfect…

…or you can take the 80/20 approach by spending 1-2 days on it and then using the rest of your time for networking and interview preparation.

Hint: You’ll get much better results with the second approach.

Professional Resume and Cover Letter Editing Services

The free templates on this page work at firms ranging from regional boutiques to middle-market banks, elite boutiques, and bulge-bracket banks.

But what if you want additional, personalized help?

Well, we’ve got your back.

We will take  your existing resume and transform it into a document that grabs the attention of finance industry professionals and presents you and your experience in the best possible light.

When we’re done, your resume will grab bankers by the lapels and not let them go until they’ve given you an interview.

Specifically, here’s what you’ll get when you request our Premium Resume Services:

• Detailed, line-by-line editing of your resume/CV  – Everything that needs to be changed will be changed. No detail is ignored.
• Your experience will be “bankified”  regardless of whether you’ve been a student, a researcher, a marketer, a financier, a lawyer, an accountant, or anything else.
• Optimal structure –  You’ll learn where everything from Education to Work Experience to Activities should go. Regional badminton champion? Stamp collector? You’ll find out where those should go, too.
• The 3-point structure  to use for all your “Work Experience” entries: simple, but highly effective at getting the attention of bankers.
• How to  spin non-finance  experience into sounding like you’ve been investing your own portfolio since age 12.
• How to make business-related experience,  such as consulting, law, and accounting, sounds like “deal work.”
• How to  avoid the fatal resume mistake that gets you automatically rejected . Nothing hurts more than making a simple oversight that gets you an immediate “ding.”
• One caveat: we can work with only a limited  number of clients each month. In fact, we  purposely  turn down potential clients in cases where we cannot add much value. We prefer quality over quantity, and we always want to ensure that we can work well together first.

WANT IN? FIND OUT MORE

Finally, if you’re interested in getting resume and cover letter editing  and going beyond that to get help with the entire job search process, check out Wall Street Mastermind .

They’ve worked with over 1,000 students to help them secure high-paying investment banking jobs out of school, and their coaches include a former Global Head of Recruiting at three different large banks.

They not only provide resume/cover letter editing, but also offer mock interviews and personalized, hands-on guidance through the networking and interview process – and they have a great track record of results for their clients.

You can book a free consultation with them to learn more .

Mergers & Acquisitions – They say selling a business is an art – we’ve turned it into a science

Get started today. At Morgan & Westfield, there are never any long-term contracts.

Morgan & Westfield is a leading M&A firm. Here are some of the people who make it happen.

Our goal is to help you successfully exit your business. Here are answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.

Selling a business is complicated. We make it simple.

If you’re thinking of selling but not quite ready yet, browse our free resources.

Real stories from real clients who have sold their businesses through Morgan & Westfield.

Morgan & Westfield sold in 100+ industries. Whatever your business, we’ve got you covered.

Morgan & Westfield has completed transactions in 100+ industries globally, representing business owners and buyers in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Morgan & Westfield is committed to making the process of buying a business as simple as possible. Browse our businesses for sale now.

Here is an overview of the process of buying a business, presented in concise summaries from our experts.

Comprehensive articles on every step of the process of buying or selling a business in the M&A industry.

The Art of the Exit, A Beginner’s Guide to Business Valuation, The Exit Strategy Handbook, Closing the Deal, Acquired, and Food and Beverage M&A

Don’t be confused or intimidated by any terms or abbreviations in the M&A world. You’ll find answers here.

M&A Talk is the #1 podcast on mergers & acquisitions. We talk to the most experienced professionals in the industry to uncover their secrets.

Food & Beverage Talk is the #1 podcast exclusively focused on the food and beverage industry. We offer interviews with the top experts in the food & beverage industry.

Priceless advice for entrepreneurs of middle-market businesses with revenues up to $100 million.

The majority of our practice is focused on sell-side work. We also selectively represent clients on an a la carte consulting basis.

Elevate your M&A practice and join regular discussions with a group of experienced professionals.

Downloadable templates for seamless deal success.

At Morgan & Westfield, we employ consistent strategies to help ensure your transaction remains confidential from beginning to end.

If you would like to speak with us about buying, selling, or valuing a business.

Need a quote for your M&A article or segment? Contact us today for media resources and appearances.

At Morgan & Westfield, we’re always looking for talented deal makers, agents, analysts, professionals, office owners, and associates to join our remote team.

Knowledgebase Topics

• General Information
• 1 - Preparation
• 2 - Valuation
• 3 - Exit Options
• 4 - M&A Team
• 5 - Marketing
• 6 - Letter of Intent
• 7 - Deal Structure
• 8 - Due Diligence
• 9 - Closing
• 10 - Transition

M&A Basics | The Letter of Intent

Executive Summary Major Characteristics of a Letter of Intent What are the major terms and characteristics of an LOI, and what impact do these have on negotiations? Non-Binding: The terms in the majority of LOIs are non-binding. The purpose of the LOI is to come to an agreement on the major terms, such as price, and to allow the parties to begin the due diligence period. The only elements of the LOI that are usually binding are the exclusivity, confidentiality, and no-hire provisions. Moral Obligation: The LOI can be thought of more as a moral obligation as opposed to a legal obligation. Unscrupulous buyers can, therefore, use an LOI to their advantage. Preliminary Agreement: The LOI is a preliminary agreement that will be replaced by a purchase agreement. The LOI allows the parties to begin due diligence. It reduces their legal costs by preventing the parties from having to prepare a longer and much more detailed purchase agreement at a stage when they aren’t ready to commit to a purchase agreement. The LOI represents a critical juncture in the sales process that marks the beginning of due diligence. The content of the purchase agreement varies based on what the buyer discovers during due diligence. Basis of Negotiations: The LOI is used as the basis for negotiations and for drafting the purchase agreement. Any terms of the transaction that aren’t defined in the LOI will be drafted in the buyer’s favor in the purchase agreement. Exclusivity: Most LOIs contain an exclusivity clause in which the seller must agree to take the business off the market and cease negotiations with other buyers. This weakens your negotiating position. Limited Information: In most cases, the buyer has received limited information on the business and has not yet conducted due diligence. The terms of the transaction may change based on what the buyer discovers during due diligence. The buyer may find additional issues that were not disclosed prior to submitting the LOI, and the price and key terms will change as a result. Contingent: The LOI is contingent on the buyer’s successful completion of due diligence. If the buyer is not satisfied with the results of due diligence, the buyer can walk away from the negotiations in nearly every instance. Momentum: The LOI presents an opportunity for each party because it enables them to resolve problems before becoming deeply entrenched in a position emotionally and financially. Highlights Unresolved Issues: The LOI also highlights any potential undefined issues, such as the terms of an ongoing employment agreement with the seller or the terms of an earnout.

Introduction

The letter of intent (LOI) is one of the most important documents in a transaction. For my money, the LOI is the most significant agreement in an M&A transaction, even eclipsing the importance of the purchase agreement.

A buyer will typically submit an LOI after spending some time looking at the target and determining the business might be a good fit for them. Among the items included in the LOI are purchase price and terms, the assets and liabilities included in the deal, exclusivity, and conditions to close. Once an LOI is signed, the parties move into the next stage of the transaction – due diligence.

For sellers, mistakes made at the stage of negotiating the LOI are far more common than mistakes made in the purchase agreement. Most sellers dramatically underestimate the importance of the LOI and are in a hurry to move on with the transaction. Savvy buyers are in a rush to sign the LOI and quickly move into due diligence. Why? Most LOIs contain an exclusivity clause in which the seller agrees to cease all negotiations with third-party buyers and take the business off the market. The moment you sign an LOI that contains such an exclusivity clause, your negotiating position disintegrates. Any experienced buyer is familiar with how the dynamics of the relationship change once you sign such a document, which is why they’ll often attempt to rush you to sign.

Some buyers’ strategy is to get you to invest as much time and money as possible in the deal before they begin to slowly chip away at the price and terms later in the negotiations. At this point, many sellers have already spent thousands of dollars with their attorneys to negotiate the purchase agreement, and they simply don’t have the stamina to go back to square one and begin negotiations with a new buyer. As a seller, you’re in sole negotiations with the buyer. Corporate buyers, on the other hand, may be in negotiations with multiple sellers simultaneously. This dramatically weakens the seller’s negotiating position.

On top of this, an experienced buyer knows that if you walk away from the deal and put your business back on the market, then other buyers you were previously negotiating with will think you have damaged goods. They will then conduct much more thorough due diligence, often downgrading their valuation.

And what about all those terms you failed to define in the LOI? Every one of those terms will be worded in the buyer’s favor in the purchase agreement if you don’t pin them down in the LOI. Don’t forget that the buyer’s attorney usually prepares the purchase agreement, and the party presenting the first draft of the agreement often sets the tone for the negotiation.

What terms could go undefined in the LOI?

• If this isn’t defined in the LOI, you better believe this will be included in the price. Not only will it be included in the price, but the finer points of exactly how working capital is calculated will also be worded to the buyer’s advantage. The result? Depending on the size of your business, this can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars, and sometimes even millions of dollars.
• If this isn’t defined in the LOI, again, this will be structured in the buyer’s favor and in many cases, will be excessive.
• The savviest buyers will attempt to include language in the LOI that grants them exclusivity for as long as you and the buyer are negotiating in good faith. If you sign such a clause, a less well-intended buyer may drag you along for months and months as they whittle away at your purchase price. A well-drafted LOI limits the length of the exclusivity period and imposes deadlines and other requirements to ensure the exclusivity period isn’t abused.
• Many LOIs don’t mention an escrow or holdback at the outset, but the seller is often shocked to later see a large holdback of the purchase price requested in the purchase agreement. If you don’t settle this in the LOI, you will be left to negotiate this in the purchase agreement, the stage at which all of your negotiating leverage has been exhausted.
• Some LOIs offer a price range instead of a specific price. For example, the LOI may define the purchase price as “between $5 million to $7 million, based on the buyer’s findings during the due diligence period.” I’ve got news for you: if you accept an LOI with a price range, you’ll likely find it’s actually not a range but rather one price – the lower one.
• How is the buyer financing the transaction? If the buyer is securing third-party financing, are they also asking you to hold a note? If so, you will be in a junior position. Do the terms include an earnout? If the terms aren’t defined, guess what? Lo and behold, the buyer will express disappointment with the findings from their financial due diligence and tell you the results are less than they expected and that they believe EBITDA was overstated. What’s the result? An earnout, strong representations and warranties (reps & warranties), and several other mechanisms designed to lower the purchase price and the buyer’s risk.

This is just a small sample of what can go wrong if critical terms aren’t defined in the LOI. In the following pages, I walk you through everything you need to know about the LOI, including an in-depth discussion of each important term that can be contained in an LOI.

The bottom line is that you have all the leverage when you’re negotiating the LOI. Use it. Spend as much time as you like negotiating the LOI. Savvy buyers will use momentum and pressure to get you to sign the LOI as quickly as possible. Don’t do it. Take your time negotiating a document that will maximize your price and terms and help you maintain your negotiating position. This article shows you exactly how. Forget about “The Art of the Deal;” read this instead.

Why bother if the agreement is non-binding?

• Obligation: Most parties prefer the comfort of knowing that each party has a written moral obligation that offers a preliminary framework for the major terms in a transaction before they incur significant expenses conducting due diligence and negotiating a definitive purchase agreement.
• Test Commitment Level: The LOI tests the parties’ seriousness and commitment before they invest a significant amount of time and energy in the transaction. Asking a buyer to submit an LOI is also a useful tool for the seller to test the buyer’s degree of seriousness before committing to continuing the negotiations. Think of it this way: An LOI is an engagement, while a purchase agreement is the marriage ceremony. The parties progress toward consummating the transaction in steps due to the potential risks.
• Morally Commits: The LOI also morally commits each party to the transaction and is a test of good faith and evidence of sincerity. In some circles and industries, word leaks if a buyer enters into an LOI without serious intent, and their reputation can become harmed as a result.
• Expresses Intentions: The LOI expresses the parties’ intentions and is a valuable tool for discovering their true intentions and priorities regarding a transaction. For example, is the buyer planning on paying cash or asking you to finance a significant portion of the purchase price?
• Clarifies Key Terms: Despite being non-binding, an LOI memorializes the key terms so there is no confusion later in the transaction when the purchase agreement is being prepared and negotiated. The result is less disagreement or confusion.
• Grants Exclusivity: Few buyers will commit the time and energy to conduct due diligence without having a commitment from the seller that they will not shop the offer for a better deal.
• Reduces Uncertainty: By defining the major terms of a sale, an LOI, even if non-binding, dramatically reduces the likelihood that the parties will disagree on the terms of a transaction in later stages of the negotiations.
• Clearly Defines Contingencies: The LOI also clearly defines what must happen before the transaction takes place, in the form of conditions or contingencies.
• Enables Financing Pre-Approval: An LOI is required by most lenders before they will commit to the expense of underwriting a loan.
• Grants Permissions: The LOI also allows the parties to conduct due diligence on one another to make sure they would like to proceed with the transaction before committing to the expense of preparing and negotiating a purchase agreement.
• Agree on Price: The LOI allows the parties to agree on a price before committing to the time and expense of performing due diligence.

Problems & Solutions

• Solution: Define as many terms as possible when you have the maximum amount of leverage. But remember that doing so is a balancing act because buyers have access to a limited amount of information at this stage.
• Solution: Define as many terms as possible in the LOI.
• Solution: Keep exclusivity periods as short as possible. Include milestones in the LOI for the buyer to continue to be granted exclusivity.
• Solution: Take your time negotiating the LOI. Rush to close the transaction once you have signed the LOI.
• Solution: Prepare for due diligence.

Is the LOI Binding?

Most LOIs are drafted to be non-binding, with the exception of a few provisions that are intended to be binding. The non-binding provisions include those relating to price and terms, such as the purchase price, how working capital is to be calculated, the form of the transaction, how the price is to be allocated, the amount of escrows, etc. The binding provisions relate to how the process is to be governed, such as maintaining confidentiality, exclusivity, buyer’s access to information to conduct due diligence, payment of expenses, and termination. Regardless, the parties should be sure to clearly express which provisions are intended to be binding.

The following provisions are typically drafted to be binding:

Exclusivity

Confidentiality.

• Due diligence access – the buyer’s right to conduct due diligence, inspect the seller’s books and records, and meet with key employees.
• Earnest money deposit – whether it is refundable

A provision stating that the LOI is intended to be non-binding is usually concluded by the courts to be non-binding. However, some courts have ruled that an LOI is binding in certain circumstances. The courts typically look at the parties’ intent, the language used in the agreement, and the degree to which performance has already been completed. The courts have also ruled that the parties have a duty to negotiate in good faith even when the agreement does not explicitly state such an obligation. This should give you comfort if you are negotiating with a direct competitor and are concerned they may be attempting to appropriate trade or other secrets.

Contents of a Letter of Intent

The key terms of an LOI are the following:

• Purchase price and terms
• Assets and liabilities included, especially working capital
• Form of consideration, such as cash, stock, earnout, or notes
• Legal transaction structure (asset sale or stock sale)
• Seller’s ongoing role and compensation
• Conditions to close, such as financing contingency
• Due diligence process
• Deadlines or transaction milestones

Less commonly included terms:

• Escrow or holdback obligations
• Confidentiality obligations
• Earnest money
• Allocation of purchase price
• Representations, warranties, and indemnification
• Covenants (e.g., conduct of the business prior to closing)
• Access to employees and customers

Termination

What follows is a discussion of the major components of an LOI.

Introductory Paragraph

Most LOIs begin with a few relatively meaningless niceties, such as a salutation and preamble, similar to any business letter. After a short introduction, most buyers attempt to differentiate themselves from other potential suitors by including some commentary about their level of excitement to acquire your company, or perhaps comments regarding the strategic fit or long-term plans for your business.

Some LOIs then transition into a basic description of the acquisition, such as the purchase price, form of the proposed transaction, or other high-level terms. While the introductory section is commonly cosmetic, some important terms can be buried in this section. While sellers prefer clarity, buyers often prefer ambiguity, which can be later used to a buyer’s advantage.

Here is a less sexy, more straightforward sample introduction from an LOI:

“This Term Sheet summarizes the principal terms of a proposed transaction for the purchase of Acme Incorporated (the “Transaction”). This Term Sheet is for discussion purposes only, and there is no obligation on the part of any negotiating party until a definitive written agreement is signed by all parties. Neither party will be obligated to proceed with, or successfully conclude negotiations regarding a transaction or to conduct negotiations in any prescribed manner.”

Binding vs. Non-Binding

Any well-drafted LOI should clearly state the parties’ intentions regarding the extent to which they desire the LOI to be binding. Some LOIs state such an intention in the introduction or title of the LOI, such as by including a title named “Non-Binding Letter of Intent.”

Other LOIs separate the binding provisions, such as confidentiality and exclusivity, from the non-binding provisions (purchase price, etc.) and clearly label each section as binding or non-binding. Other LOIs wrap up with a paragraph listing the binding and non-binding sections with a sentence such as “This agreement is non-binding with the exception of clauses 5, 7, and 10, which are intended to be binding.” Either approach is acceptable as long as the binding and non-binding provisions are clearly identified and separated.

Why are nearly all LOIs non-binding?

Most LOIs are non-binding because the terms of the transaction may change based on what the buyer discovers during due diligence. Prior to due diligence, the seller is making representations that the buyer must accept at face value, without any verification. Not until an LOI is accepted will the buyer have the opportunity to confirm those representations – hence, due diligence is often called “confirmatory” since the seller’s representations are “confirmed” during this period. With a non-binding LOI, the parties don’t intend to be bound to the transaction until a purchase agreement is signed, which usually occurs sometime after the completion of due diligence or, in many cases, at the closing.

A common mistake in many LOIs is to indicate that the entire LOI is non-binding. This can be problematic if clauses are included in the LOI that should be binding, such as confidentiality, expenses, deposits, exclusivity, etc. Regardless, courts will look to the parties’ intentions if the LOI is silent regarding whether or not it is binding.

Purchase Price & Terms

What’s Included in the Purchase Price

While the purchase price is perhaps the most important clause in the LOI, you can’t always determine the “true” or “total” purchase price solely from looking at the purchase price number. Why? Many LOIs include additions and subtractions from the purchase price that are listed in a separate section of the LOI.

For example, the purchase price may include inventory and working capital (accounts receivable, plus inventory and prepaid expenses, minus accounts payable, short-term debt, and accrued expenses) as in the following example:

If the purchase price is $10 million, and there is $2 million in working capital, the purchase price could be defined as either $10 million or $12 million depending on whether or not working capital is included in the price.

Example A: Purchase price is $10 million, which includes $2 million in working capital. Seller will realize $10 million at closing.

Example B: Purchase price is $10 million but does not include working capital. Seller will realize $12 million at closing, assuming buyer separately purchases working capital at closing.

Another common mistake made by sellers is to look only at the purchase price and ignore what assets and liabilities are included. Most corporate buyers structure their offers to include working capital in the price, which I will discuss in detail in a later section. When receiving such an offer, you should analyze it in a spreadsheet along with current balances for each of the assets and liabilities that comprise working capital (specifically cash, accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable, short-term debt, and accrued expenses) so you can compare multiple offers on an apples-to-apples basis.

Other LOIs fail to define working capital, leaving the definition and calculation to be determined at a later date, though this will never be in your favor due to your diminishing negotiation position as the seller.

The following assets are usually included in the price:

• Petty cash for retail businesses
• Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
• Vehicles, if used in the business
• Leasehold improvements
• Training and transition period
• Covenant not to compete
• Business name, website, email addresses, phone number, software, etc.
• Business records, financial records, client and customer lists, marketing materials, contract rights, etc.
• Trade secrets (whether registered or not), intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks, etc.
• Transfer of licenses and permits
• Assumption of product warranties

The following assets and liabilities are usually included in the purchase price only if the buyer is a corporate buyer:

• Accounts receivable
• Inventory, supplies, and work in progress
• Prepaid expenses
• Accounts payable
• Short-term debt
• Accrued expenses

The following assets and liabilities are not normally included in the purchase price:

• Real estate and land – this may be purchased separately
• Assumption of long-term debt
• Your entity, unless the sale is structured as a stock sale or merger

The LOI should clearly indicate which assets and liabilities are included in the purchase price.

How the Purchase Price is Paid

The LOI should also clearly lay out how the price is to be paid. Here are the most common forms of consideration for the purchase price:

• Cash at closing
• Bank financing: If bank financing is involved, does the lender have a senior position? When will the buyer provide a commitment letter from the bank? Does the LOI also include a financing contingency?
• Seller Note: Are the assets of the business being offered as security for the note? What security does the seller have if a lender has a senior security interest? What are the terms of the note (term, interest rate, etc.)? Is the note fully amortized, or is there a balloon? Is the buyer willing to personally guarantee the note?
• Stock: What is the trading volume of the stock? What exchange is the stock traded on? How easily can the seller convert the stock to cash? One consideration is that most stock in M&A transactions is restricted and can’t be traded for a period of time.
• Earnout: What are the terms of the earnout ? Earnouts are a loaded topic and potential landmine for any seller.
• Escrow/Holdback: Most M&A transactions include a holdback, in which a portion of the purchase price is held in escrow for a period of time to satisfy post-closing indemnification obligations for breaches of reps & warranties. If so, what are the terms (amount, basket, cap) of the escrow and of the reps & warranties (basket, cap, etc.)?

A seemingly attractive offer with an apparently strong valuation may not be attractive once you dig deeper and analyze the offer. For example, is any portion of the price contingent, such as a seller note, earnout, or escrow? If so, what are the terms and conditions of the contingent payment? And what is the financial strength of the buyer?

Here are common ranges for how the purchase price is paid (not the maximum range, but the most common) for transactions in the lower middle market from $1 million to $30 million in purchase price:

• Cash at Closing: 50% to 90%. This includes bank financing since cash is delivered to the seller at closing.
• Seller Note: 10% to 30%
• Earnout: 10% to 25%
• Escrow: 10% to 20%
• Stock: Not common unless the buyer is publicly traded. Some buyers (most commonly private equity firms) will ask the seller to “rollover” their equity into the new entity, usually 10% to 25% of the value of the seller’s company.

Fixed Purchase Price vs. A Range or Formula

The purchase price should ideally be a fixed number (for example, $10 million), as opposed to a range such as $8 million to $12 million. Ranges are commonly used in indications of interest (IOI) for larger transactions ($100 million+) but should be avoided in lower middle-market transactions. If the buyer proposes a range, I suggest giving the buyer access to more financial information so they can firm up the price before moving to confirmatory due diligence.

Valuations based on a formula should be avoided if possible (for example, 4.5 times the trailing twelve months’ EBITDA). Such a formula is nearly always subjective, such as how EBITDA is calculated, and any subjective terms are likely to slant in the buyer’s favor as the transaction progresses due to your diminishing negotiating position. Some formulas include a cap on the purchase price. Unless you like gambling on a coin toss with a double-sided coin, I suggest avoiding a cap.

With a formula, the buyer attempts to adjust the purchase price based on a change in revenue or EBITDA. If you do agree to such a provision, the adjustment should go both ways – both up and down – based on the value of the metric. In other words, if EBITDA increases or is found to be higher than your initial claim, the purchase price should also increase. For example, if the buyer agrees to pay 5.0 times EBITDA and you initially claimed EBITDA was $950,000, but due diligence uncovered that you understated EBITDA by $500,000 when it’s really $1 million, the buyer should pay you $5 million in the purchase price.

Here is a sample purchase price clause:

Buyer will acquire 100% of the common stock of Seller for total consideration equal to $15,000,000, plus adjustments for Cash, Indebtedness, and Net Working Capital.

Here is a more detailed purchase price clause:

• Purchase Price: $7,000,000 on a cash-free, debt-free basis, with working capital paid as an additional payment as described below (collectively, the “Purchase Price”).
• Capped earnout equal to 10% of revenue over $8.5 million for 5 years, measured on an annual 12-month basis and paid within 60 days of the end of each 12-month period. The earnout would be capped at $1,500,000 in aggregate. This measurement is to be consistent with past accounting practices as presented.
• Working Capital Payment is calculated based on the balance sheet at Closing and would be 90% of the sum of the Accounts Receivables actually collected, plus inventory, minus current liabilities.
• Accounts Receivables as of the Closing that are subsequently written off by Buyer as uncollectible are not included in the Working Capital Payment. Accounts Receivables not collected by the four (4) month time period (but not yet written off as uncollectible) would be held until collection or write-off and paid out to Sellers if and when collected.
• Inventory should be stated truthfully and accurately as of Closing and valued at cost in accordance with the Company’s historical practices. No increase or other adjustment would be made to the value of any item of inventory.
• The Working Capital Payment would be equal to 90% of total working capital to reflect that 90% of the Company is being purchased by Buyer.
• Explicitly, the Working Capital Payment would exclude pre-paids, work-in-progress, and any other assets. These are included in the calculation of the purchase price. Projects are to be billed truthfully and accurately through the Closing.
• $250,000 good faith deposit (the “Good Faith Deposit”) held by your attorney against the purchase price upon signing the LOI.
• $2,000,000 cash paid to your attorney upon the parties signing the purchase agreement.
• $500,000 of Working Capital Advance paid at Closing.
• Remaining Working Capital Payment reconciled four (4) months after Closing and paid as and when the Accounts Receivables outstanding at Closing are collected.
• 10% rollover equity interests in Buyer issued to Willy Williams.
• Cash: Any cash left on the balance sheet at Closing increases the price.
• Debt: Any debt left on the balance sheet at Closing decreases the price.
• Non-Cash Working Capital: Excluded and addressed in Section xx above.
• Claims: Any claims or liabilities resulting from the Company’s operations prior to Closing reduce the purchase price and can be offset against ongoing payments owed to any of the Sellers.

In summary, make sure the purchase price, what’s included in the price, and details on how the purchase price is to be paid are all clearly defined in the LOI.

Working Capital

Corporate buyers almost always include working capital in the purchase price. Why?

Corporate buyers characterize working capital as any other asset that is required to operate the business, such as a piece of machinery, vehicle, or other equipment. Working capital is an asset that must remain in the business for it to operate and is, therefore, no different than any other resource required to operate the business. I unfortunately reluctantly agree with this point. You will rarely be able to negotiate to exclude working capital. However, there are methods you can employ to protect yourself from this clause turning around and biting you in the butt later in the transaction.

Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities as follows:

• Cash: Cash is usually excluded from the calculation, except for petty cash that may be used in a retail operation.
• Inventory: This also includes supplies and work in progress. Prepaid expenses
• Accounts payable: This includes short-term payments due to suppliers that have granted you credit.
• Accrued expenses, such as payroll

The amount of working capital fluctuates on a daily basis in nearly all businesses. The two primary components of working capital are accounts receivable and inventory. Most LOIs that include working capital make an assumption regarding the current level of working capital required to operate the business, and then an adjustment is made after the closing based on calculating the actual amount of working capital. This is the fun part for buyers. If the definition is less than comprehensive, most buyers will work the definition in their favor. The result? Less money in your pocket.

If there is a difference between the pre-closing and post-closing amount of working capital, the purchase price will be adjusted accordingly. Since working capital is a moving target, such a clause commonly results in post-closing disputes. In fact, I recently spoke with one intermediary who had just wrapped up a working capital dispute that left the seller with $1 million less in their pockets.

Here is a sample clause that includes working capital:

The Purchase Price would be determined by adding or subtracting, as applicable, the Adjustment Amount, to or from the Base Purchase Price. The Adjustment Amount would be defined as: (a) the amount of cash and cash equivalents on the balance sheet on the Closing Date (“Cash”), minus (b) indebtedness of the Company at Closing (which, for the avoidance of doubt would be paid at Closing as a reduction of Closing proceeds to the Sellers) (“Indebtedness”), plus (c) Net Working Capital (as defined below) on the balance sheet at Closing. Prior to Closing, the Sellers, on behalf of the Company, would provide the Buyer with an estimate of the Cash, Indebtedness, and Net Working Capital of the Company as of the Closing Date (“Estimated Adjustment Amount”) for review and acceptance.

“Net Working Capital” would be defined as current assets (other than Cash) minus current liabilities, and would be calculated in accordance with the Company’s historical accounting practices. There would be a customary post-Closing true-up of Cash, Indebtedness, and Net Working Capital, to reconcile differences from the estimate, with the Buyer preparing the initial calculation.

Most LOIs are not specific regarding how working capital should be calculated. For example:

• How is inventory calculated? How is obsolete inventory accounted for? When is inventory considered obsolete? At 61 days, 91 days, 121 days, or some other time frame? Is obsolete inventory written off completely, or is a discounted value assigned? Is inventory valued at LIFO or FIFO?
• How are accounts receivable calculated? When is an account receivable considered bad? Is a receivable still good at 91 days? Will it be valued at the full amount or some discounted number? How does an allowance for bad debt affect the calculation of accounts receivable?
• How are accounts payable calculated? What exactly is included in accounts payable? How are accounts payable differentiated from long-term debt – at 12 months, or at some other number? How are late accounts payable handled?

There are ways of reducing conflicts in calculating working capital:

• Methods the seller can implement before the sale: You should scrub the books and all components of working capital before the sale process begins. Ideally, you should then calculate the working capital balance on a monthly basis and track any changes in working capital. In addition, purge any obsolete inventory and late accounts receivable from the books – liquidate obsolete inventory and write off bad accounts receivable. A clean set of financial records leads to increased confidence on the part of any buyer. Clean records send a signal to the buyer that you have excellent control of the business, and some buyers will reduce the thoroughness of their due diligence as a result.
• Methods that can be used when negotiating the LOI: The other method is to clearly define the method for calculating the working capital in the LOI and the purchase agreement. Unfortunately, such a definition is usually lengthy and therefore not usually suitable to the mood and tone of an LOI, which is why most LOIs don’t include a detailed definition of how working capital is calculated. Yes, it kills the mood. As a result, sellers must accept the ticking time bomb nature of an unclear definition or be prepared to invest (invest, not “spend”) the time defining working capital in sufficient detail in the LOI. We never told you selling a business was easy.

While the LOI may not include specific language regarding a post-closing working capital adjustment, nearly every purchase agreement will, if the buyer is well-advised … and most are. So don’t overlook this section. This isn’t boilerplate accounting language – this is a hidden weapon that any buyer can use against you if they so desire. It’s no different than buying a car that includes a stick of dynamite in the trunk – but the catch is that the buyer keeps a remote for three months after you purchase the car. If that idea makes you uncomfortable, and it should … then nail this down before you move on.

Key Dates & Milestones

Most LOIs submitted by buyers will contain few, if any, deadlines. Why would the buyer want to self-impose deadlines? They wouldn’t, so they don’t.

The antidote is simple – include deadlines and milestones in your counteroffer.

As a seller, do not, under any circumstances, overlook the importance of adding deadlines and milestones in the LOI. Your negotiating leverage disappears the moment the LOI is signed. Why? Most LOIs contain an exclusivity clause that requires you to cease negotiations with all third parties. The result is that you must take your business off the market once you sign the LOI, and you end up susceptible to the pressures of “sunk costs” (money that’s been spent and can’t be recovered). Buyers know this and use it to their advantage. Don’t let this happen to you.

Ideally, the LOI should contain a list of the following key dates and milestones:

• The proposed closing date
• The expiration date for the due diligence period
• A deadline for submitting a commitment letter from the lender, if there is a financing contingency
• A deadline for the first draft of the purchase agreement
• A deadline for signing the purchase agreement

Tip: If you have significant negotiating leverage over the buyer, you should include a clause in the LOI in which the buyer will lose exclusivity if they fail to meet the deadlines. Such a clause will keep all buyers on their toes and helps ensure you maintain as much negotiating leverage as possible as the transaction progresses.

Any buyer who’s negotiating with a seller who is represented by an M&A intermediary will execute a confidentiality agreement prior to submitting an LOI. However, some LOIs will reaffirm the confidential nature of the negotiations. Others will expand upon the original confidentiality agreement that was signed, either in the form of an additional clause in the LOI or in a separate supplemental agreement.

I strongly recommend a supplemental confidentiality agreement in cases in which you may be negotiating with a direct competitor. The agreement can contain specific language regarding the non-solicitation of customers, employees, and suppliers, and also address any other specific concerns you have regarding confidentiality, such as trade secrets, non-public pricing information, names of employees, or names of customers.

Why isn’t a comprehensive NDA signed earlier in the transaction? An NDA with excessively onerous terms is likely to be met with more resistance than necessary in the preliminary stages of a transaction, especially when the buyer hasn’t yet decided if they are sufficiently interested in the company to take a deeper dive. Once the buyer has taken a closer look and is sufficiently motivated to make an offer, they may be willing to spend more time negotiating such language, especially given that they will now be privy to much more sensitive information than in earlier stages in the transaction, such as information contained in the confidential information memorandum (CIM).

If third parties assist the buyer in conducting due diligence, you can also request that these third parties sign an NDA. Note that CPAs and attorneys can usually be excluded from an obligation to sign an NDA as their license may carry an implied duty of confidentiality.

Due Diligence

Most LOIs presented by buyers include one or two sentences regarding due diligence, usually addressing the length of due diligence and access to the necessary information to conduct due diligence. Most buyers request 60 to 90 days. I recommend countering with 30 to 45 days. The process can always be mutually extended if necessary. The more effort you have invested in preparing for due diligence , the shorter the due diligence period can be.

Ideally, the LOI should describe the due diligence process in more detail, including the procedure and its scope. You should resist providing access to customers and employees unless this is absolutely necessary. In most cases, I feel it’s best to remain silent regarding these issues in the LOI. If the buyer insists on meeting with key customers and employees, you should put off doing so until the tail end of due diligence or ideally after the purchase agreement is close to being signed and all contingencies have been resolved.

A commonly used tactic by some buyers is to gradually wear the seller down over time with numerous requests for information during the due diligence period. In their view, the more time and money the seller spends in conducting due diligence, the more likely they are to concede in negotiations later on. (For more information, research “sunk cost fallacy” – the tendency to follow through on an endeavor if you’ve already invested time, effort, or money into it.) This tactic is highly effective, especially against first-time sellers or any seller with a strong emotional attachment to their business.

The buyer will also likely engage third parties to assist in conducting due diligence, such as their accountant, attorney, and third-party consultants (e.g., environmental, technological, etc.). The LOI should either require that these third parties sign an NDA, or the buyer should remain liable for breaches caused by any third parties the buyer employs.

Here is a sample clause addressing the nature of the due diligence period:

The entry into the Definitive Agreement and Closing would be subject to Purchaser completing financial and legal due diligence. It is the parties’ expectation that due diligence would be completed within 30 days after the date of this Term Sheet.

The exclusivity clause prohibits the seller from soliciting, discussing, negotiating, or accepting other offers for a period of time (usually 30 to 90 days) following acceptance of the LOI. This clause is also called a stop-shop or no-shop clause. The precise length and activities that are prohibited vary based on the exact language contained in the clause. As the seller, you are usually prohibited from contacting both current and future buyers and this clause effectively allows the buyer to lock up the business for an extended period of time. Exclusivity is a critical concession that you should make with great care.

Corporate buyers usually demand an exclusivity provision because they will invest a considerable amount of time and money in performing due diligence and don’t want you shopping their offer with third parties. If your buyer is a corporate buyer, negotiating to remove a no-shop clause is rare because corporate buyers aren’t willing to invest the necessary time to close a transaction if you are simultaneously courting other buyers or shopping their offer.

Buyers don’t want to make this investment only for you to accept an offer from another buyer or attempt to renegotiate the terms of the LOI based on a better offer you may have received from a buyer since signing the LOI. It’s reasonable for buyers to want to lock the transaction up for a period of time so they have assurance you won’t shop their offer since they must invest a significant amount of time and money conducting due diligence, negotiating the purchase agreement, and preparing for the closing. The exclusivity period gives the buyer the time necessary to work on the details of the transaction without worrying about losing the deal to another buyer.

Exclusivity is a critical consideration that no seller should ever take lightly. I rarely make absolute statements, but I feel that an absolute statement is necessary here. Far too many sellers overlook their commitment to exclusivity and fail to realize the impact that an extensive exclusivity period can have on their negotiating leverage. You should grant exclusivity very carefully and do everything possible to limit the amount of time you are prevented from speaking or negotiating with other buyers.

Most “stop shops” range from 30 to 90 days. Most buyers request stop-shop clauses ranging from 45 to 90 days, and I have seen stop shops as long as 120 days. As a general rule, you should negotiate exclusivity periods for 30 to 45 days – or 60 days maximum. While most transactions take at least three to four months to close, the exclusivity period can be mutually extended once key milestones have been met, which are outlined below.

Shorter exclusivity periods encourage the buyer to move quickly and penalize them for dragging their feet. Longer exclusivity periods encourage both parties to endlessly haggle over the legal points in final negotiations. The LOI should clearly list the exact duration of the exclusivity period and ideally list the precise date the exclusivity period expires.

As a seller, you should be on the lookout for buyers who strongly negotiate for longer exclusivity periods that allow the buyer to wear you down over time. Exclusivity periods longer than 60 days are generally unnecessary and encourage the buyer to take their time. The longer the transaction takes, the more your negotiating leverage will be lost.

Types of Exclusivity Periods

The exact language of the exclusivity clause varies from agreement to agreement, but most prohibit the seller from actively marketing the business and continuing any discussions or negotiations with any third parties. Following is a typical clause you may see in an LOI:

Seller agrees to deal exclusively with Buyer from the date of this letter through October 10, 20xx (the “Exclusivity Period”), and will not, directly or indirectly, solicit, entertain or negotiate any inquiries or proposals from any other person or entity regarding the acquisition of the Company or the Company’s assets. As of the effective date of this letter, the Seller will (a) terminate any existing sale discussions, (b) not enter into any new sale discussions, and (c) pause all marketing activities, including by the removal of any online listings.

Some overreaching LOIs require the seller to share any offers they receive during the exclusivity period with the buyer. The buyer wants to know what others are willing to pay for the business and will use that number against you – if it’s lower than their offer, of course. Don’t agree to such a provision. Other clauses are less restrictive and allow you to continue marketing your business but exclude you from accepting a competing offer. Obviously, the less restrictive the clause, the better it is for you.

The Impact of Leverage

Once the exclusivity period is signed, time is on the buyer’s side. The more the buyer draws out the process, the weaker your negotiating leverage becomes. This is not hypothetical – every seller should be aware of the implications of agreeing to an exclusivity clause. The deal will never get better for the seller – once the LOI is signed, it can only get worse. And the longer the time between signing the LOI and closing, the more likely the terms of the transaction will change. For you, the shorter the exclusivity period, the better.

Other interested buyers usually move on to other deals or other corporate development projects once they learn you have accepted an offer. The result is that you will end up losing the best buyers – and the current buyer you’re negotiating with likely knows this.

Unfortunately, some buyers intentionally make a high offer they know they will never follow through on. They then take three months to conduct due diligence and wear down the seller with a multitude of requests. They may also plant seeds of doubt in the seller’s mind regarding their business and do everything possible to poke holes in the business during due diligence. In their mind, the more time and money the seller spends on due diligence, the better. Then, at the last moment, they start nibbling away at the purchase price – or take a chainsaw to it.

What’s the result? It’s usually not pretty for the seller. The business has now been off the market for months, and discussions with other buyers have cooled off to the point where they may be difficult to revive. If the business goes back on the market, other buyers may view it as tainted goods and expect a price concession at best or refuse to submit another offer at worst. Regardless of the time period, reentering the marketplace puts sellers at a great disadvantage.

Preventing Retrading with Milestones, Deadlines & Other Methods

So, what’s the solution?

To protect yourself from this happening, you should do the following:

• Limit the duration of the exclusivity period , ideally to 3o to 45 days.
• Completion of due diligence – 30 to 45 days from signing the LOI
• Preparation of the first draft of the purchase agreement – 15 to 30 days from signing the LOI
• Signing the purchase agreement – 45 to 60 days after signing the LOI
• Presenting a financing commitment letter to the seller – 30 to 45 days from signing the LOI
• Include a statement in the LOI that if retrading occurs, the exclusivity period ends. This allows you to terminate the buyer’s exclusivity if they attempt to renegotiate or propose a significant change in the price or terms of the transaction, commonly called retrading.
• Without changing the fact that this Letter of Intent will be, except as otherwise provided herein, non-binding on the parties, the Seller reserves the right to request on one/two/three, etc., occasions during the exclusivity period a written affirmative response from the Buyer stating that the Buyer contemplates no material changes in the deal terms outlined in this Letter of Intent. Buyer’s failure to respond will automatically terminate the exclusivity provisions of this Letter of Intent.

Earnest Deposit

While an earnest money deposit is common in transactions under $1 million to $5 million, a deposit is less common in mid-sized transactions. Why?

Buyers in the middle market view their financial investment in performing due diligence as a demonstration of their earnest intent and an equal substitute for an earnest money deposit. Correctly performing due diligence requires an enormous investment of both time and money. While I agree that due diligence requires a serious investment, you should nevertheless be careful if you’re negotiating with a direct competitor.

How much is enough when it comes to a deposit? For smaller transactions, 5% is generally sufficient. But for larger transactions, a specified dollar figure is usually more appropriate (5% of $50 million is $2.5 million, which is far too much). For larger deals, $50,000 to $250,000 is usually sufficient.

Another question to consider is the extent to which the deposit is refundable and under what conditions. Most buyers will request that the deposit be refundable until a purchase agreement is signed, while some sellers prefer some portion of the deposit be non-refundable. The primary objective to avoid is requesting a fully non-refundable security deposit. I have encountered a few sellers who demanded a non-refundable security deposit before due diligence has been conducted, and as fast as you can say “Abracadabra,” … poof …. the buyer is gone. Asking for a non-refundable deposit is seen as unreasonable by most buyers, and such a request may make them disappear.

A compromise can be made in which the deposit is progressively non-refundable upon the occurrence of certain events, such as completion of due diligence, preparing the purchase agreement, or receiving a financing commitment letter. In practice, this is difficult and time-consuming to negotiate and usually isn’t worth the time unless you’re dealing with a direct competitor.

The purchase price may also be affected by the tax implications of the transaction, which is generally a key factor in determining whether the transaction is structured as an asset purchase or stock purchase. Ideally, the LOI should specify how the purchase price will be allocated for tax purposes. This specification can prevent serious problems later in the transaction. How the purchase price is allocated has major implications for both you and the buyer and has the potential to kill a deal if both parties refuse to compromise.

While negotiating the allocation is simple in theory, if both parties involve their CPAs, you will find that both parties may propose widely different allocations. Reaching a middle-ground may require you both to significantly alter your initial proposed allocation.

Here is a sample allocation for a $12 million transaction:

• Class I: Cash and bank deposits — $0
• Class II: Securities, including actively traded personal property and certificates of deposit — $0
• Class III: Accounts receivables — $500,000
• Class IV: Stock in trade (inventory) — $2,000,000
• Class V: Other tangible property including furniture, fixtures, vehicles, etc. – $2,500,000
• Class VI: Intangibles, including covenant not to compete — $1,000,000
• Class VII: Goodwill — $6,000,000
• Total Purchase Price: $12,000,000

Negotiating the allocation early is often met with much less resistance because both you and the buyer are far less entrenched in your positions and are often more willing to make quick compromises in the spirit of moving the deal forward.

Alternatively, you could both agree to allocate the price based on the tax basis in the assets, which will usually work out in your favor, as in the following example:

For tax purposes, the Purchase Price will be allocated according to the Company’s tax basis in its assets.

Legal Form of Transaction

Another important consideration is whether the transaction will be structured as an asset or stock sale . Sellers usually prefer a stock transaction because their net proceeds (proceeds net of taxes) will often be far greater than an asset sale. Buyers usually prefer an asset sale because this limits the possibility of contingent liabilities and the buyer can receive a stepped-up basis in the assets, which reduces the taxable income for the buyer post-closing by maximizing the amount of depreciation they can write off.

The reality is that most transactions in the lower middle market are structured as an asset purchase. If the sale is structured as an asset sale, the LOI should define what assets and liabilities are included in the price.

The form of the transaction, particularly whether it’s an asset or stock sale, can also impact the other terms of both the LOI and the purchase agreement, especially the reps & warranties.

Escrow (Holdback)

Most LOIs are silent regarding the amount of the purchase price that will be held back in an escrow account to satisfy any indemnification claims for breaches of reps & warranties in the purchase agreement. In most middle-market transactions, a portion of the purchase price (usually 10%) is held back for a fixed period of time, usually 12 to 18 months. This serves as a form of insurance in case you (the seller) made any claims such as representations or warranties in the purchase agreement that later prove to be false, or for other claims such as a breach of a post-closing covenant.

Ideally, the LOI should address whether a percentage of the price will be escrowed or held back, and if so, the amount of the holdback. Here is a sample clause:

10% of the Purchase Price payable at Closing will be deposited in a third-party escrow account to be held for a period of twelve months after Closing as security for Buyer’s indemnity claims under the Purchase Agreement.

Here are the major points to consider regarding the escrow:

• What are the conditions of escrow?
• How much money is held in escrow?
• Who controls its release?
• How long is the escrow period?
• Is the escrowed amount the sole remedy for the buyer?
• Who receives interest from the escrow account?

Reps & Warranties

Regardless of how thoroughly the buyer conducts their due diligence, they will never be confident that they have discovered every possible problem or defect with the business. Reps & warranties are designed to cover what the buyer may have missed in due diligence and can be one of the most contentious sections to negotiate in the purchase agreement. Unfortunately, most LOIs say little beyond the fact that the reps & warranties will be customary – with no mention of exclusions, knowledge qualifiers, caps (maximum liability), or the basket (minimum liability).

In most cases, this is the best the parties can do, and both you and the buyer must move forward based on good faith and confidence in each other. Your goal is to minimize your exposure while the buyer will seek the broadest exposure possible. Most LOIs state that the LOI is subject to the preparation of the purchase agreement, which will contain reps & warranties that are customary or appropriate for a transaction of its nature.

Following is a sample clause:

The Purchase Agreement would include such representations and warranties as are appropriate [or customary] for a transaction of this nature, including representations and warranties covering capitalization, authority, environmental matters, taxes, employee benefits and labor matters, violations of law, and customary matters relating to the business, such as its financial statements.

Some LOIs also require each party to represent that entering into the LOI or purchase agreement will not conflict with or breach any other contract. This is normally a formality and rarely negotiated.

Conditions (Contingencies)

Most LOIs also include conditions for consummating the transaction, such as the need for regulatory or license approvals, completion of due diligence, obtaining financing, third-party consent to the assignment of critical contracts, obtaining employment agreements with key employees, lack of a material adverse change in the business or prospects of the target company, and the execution of the purchase agreement. Because most LOIs are non-binding, conditions to the sale aren’t required for the parties to move forward. But conditions serve one important purpose: they set the expectations of the parties.

In effect, conditions allow the buyer, and sometimes the seller, to cancel the transaction if the conditions can’t be met – notwithstanding the fact that most LOIs are non-binding anyway. Regardless, most state laws require the parties to act in good faith and use their best efforts in an attempt to resolve the conditions. Most LOIs are silent regarding the extent to which efforts are required (such as best efforts, commercially reasonable efforts, etc.), and the parties must rely on state law to determine to what extent effort is required.

In practice, proving that the buyer didn’t make a reasonable effort is difficult, and the transaction is normally canceled if the conditions aren’t met. The only scenario in which this is likely to come into play is if a competitor makes an offer on your business with the sole objective of obtaining competitive information and they don’t make reasonable efforts to resolve the conditions outlined in the LOI.

The most common condition is a financing contingency. The financing condition allows the buyer to cancel the sale if they’re unable to obtain funds to finance the transaction. You may argue that if the buyer is confident of obtaining financing, they should be willing to bear the risk if financing can’t be obtained. If you have multiple competing offers on the table, you may be able to negotiate to remove financing contingencies or require a commitment letter from lenders within a specified number of days after accepting the LOI. Alternatively, you could require the buyer to reimburse you for your out-of-pocket expenses if they can’t obtain financing.

Note that most banks will require significant documentation on the business to be willing to provide a commitment letter. This documentation is normally only provided from the seller to the buyer during the due diligence period and, therefore, only after an LOI is accepted.

Another option is for you to agree to finance the transaction if the buyer cannot obtain financing, but the terms of the seller note should be unattractive enough that it motivates the buyer to aggressively seek third-party financing.

The degree to which a financing contingency is common depends on the type of buyer with whom you’re negotiating. Most well-capitalized companies have the funds on hand to complete smaller transactions. Private equity firms, on the other hand, nearly always seek third-party financing in addition to the committed capital they may already have access to.

The biggest downside to a financing contingency for a seller is that all the buyer has to do if they don’t want to follow through on the deal is to claim that they can’t obtain financing. This effectively serves as a “blanket contingency” for a buyer. The degree to which this is important is debatable, given that most LOIs are non-binding anyway.

The biggest issue to watch out for as a seller are buyers who have little money on hand and seek to finance a large portion of the purchase price. These buyers may seldom have existing relationships with banks and may not have any contacts or experience in the industry. This means they may have a very difficult time obtaining financing. The biggest warning sign is if the buyer is planning to shop for investors after signing the LOI.

In law, a covenant is a promise to do or not do something. In an LOI, covenants primarily relate to how the business will be conducted prior to the closing, such as “between the date of this Letter of Intent and the closing, the sellers agree to operate in the ordinary course of business.”

The buyer essentially wants a guarantee that the business will continue to operate in the ordinary course of events until the closing occurs. This effectively requires you to continue all marketing efforts and not make any material changes to the business prior to the closing, such as terminating key employees, liquidating assets, or declaring large bonuses. Some LOIs prohibit such changes, while others require the buyer’s approval before making the changes.

The buyer’s goal is to prevent you from making radical changes that can affect the value of the business. Most buyers simply desire that the seller continue to operate the business as they normally would but they often ask that the seller run key decisions by them before implementing them. I have encountered some sellers in the past who have made drastic changes to the business prior to closing, such as terminating major advertising contracts, firing key employees, discontinuing lines of business, selling major pieces of equipment, and so on. As the seller, you should continue operating your business as usual and obtain the buyer’s approval before you make any major changes.

Seller’s Role

Another key element of any LOI is what role the seller will play in the business after the closing. If you will continue to play a key role in the business, the key terms of the employment or consulting agreement, such as the salary, should ideally be worked out prior to accepting the LOI.

In most cases, it isn’t worth it financially for you to continue working in the business. If the EBITDA in the business is $3 million per year, few sellers will be willing to continue working in the business at a salary of $300,000 per year. Why would they take a 90% pay cut? Most aren’t willing to do so. It’s best to find out now what the buyer’s expectations are regarding your continued role and potential salary. If you can’t agree on the terms of the employment agreement, then it makes little sense to accept the LOI.

There are three primary instances in which it may make sense for you to play a continued role in the business:

• Consulting: Many sellers must consult with the buyer for an extended period of time to assist with the transition. This is most common either in complex businesses in which the seller has a lot of knowledge of how to operate the business in their head or in businesses in which the buyer requires intensive assistance from the seller to assist with the transition.
• Sales only roles: It sometimes makes sense for the seller to retain a role as a commission salesperson post-closing. This is especially true if the seller particularly enjoys sales, is proficient at it, and is seeking extra income during retirement. Sellers are usually quite open to this idea if they don’t enjoy managing the business but love sales. This can be a win-win situation for both parties, especially if the buyer is willing to offer the seller flexible hours.
• Sales to financial buyers: Most private equity groups expect the seller to remain to operate the business post-closing. At a minimum, the private equity firm will want the seller to stay long enough for them to find a replacement. Otherwise, most PE firms prefer that the seller stay long-term. To make it worthwhile for the seller, most financial buyers will compensate the seller with equity – usually in the range of 10% to 30% of the purchase price. In this scenario, the seller sells a majority of the business now, then sells their minority interest in a second sale in three to seven years. This often makes sense for a seller because it allows them to diversify some of their risk by taking some chips off the table now while potentially having another bigger exit in the future.

If you don’t want to stay on with the business, then you should seek out buyers who don’t require you to do so. Alternatively, you should focus on building up your management team and identifying a potential successor CEO or manager several years in advance.

Management’s Role

There are two primary issues in an LOI that relate to the employees of the business: disclosure and retention.

One of the most challenging issues faced by sellers is deciding which employees to tell about the sale and when to tell them. Most sellers prefer to keep the sale a secret until the day of closing. Perhaps they may disclose the sale to their CFO and professional advisors, but “loose lips sink ships,” and the more people who are told, the more likely it is that word will end up in the wrong ears.

This is in direct contrast to buyers, who often want access to key employees before the closing occurs. Their objectives for talking to the key employees are usually two-fold:

• Due Diligence: To help with their assessment of due diligence. For example, the employees may be more frank regarding the culture of the business than the seller, or they may be more frank regarding issues the seller may have failed to disclose regarding the business.
• Retention: To ensure key employees are retained.

There are two key elements in deciding to inform your employees:

• When: When to tell employees depends on your business’s culture. If your culture is particularly healthy and your team is small, it may make sense to inform your employees in advance of the sale – if you believe they can all keep their lips sealed. Otherwise, the general consensus is that you shouldn’t tell them too soon (they may leave) or too late (they may feel betrayed).
• How: In most cases, it makes sense to inform your key managers first and then disclose the sale in a group setting to the remainder of the employees. Your key managers can set the proper tone when you make the disclosure in the group setting, assuming they’re well respected. If your team is large, your key managers can inform their subordinates in their own group settings.

You can couple this disclosure strategy with a retention agreement with your key employees. If you prepare a formal retention bonus agreement, you can also include a confidentiality and non-solicitation agreement that can be assigned to the buyer.

If you do agree to allow the buyer to talk to your employees, then you should only let this happen at the tail end of due diligence. Ideally, the purchase agreement should be fully negotiated.

The second issue buyers are concerned about is retaining your employees. Some LOIs contain a contingency that states that the buyer won’t move forward unless the buyer can obtain employment and non-compete agreements from key employees. In some cases, this process unfolds uneventfully, especially if the buyer is well-capitalized and agrees to a salary increase with your key people.

But you should be particularly careful before agreeing to such a clause. If employees catch wind of the fact that they can hold up the sale, they often will. As a business owner, the last thing you want to happen is to be held hostage in your own business by your employees.

I worked on one transaction nearly a decade ago in which several of the key employees made outsized demands to the buyer. These employees knew the position they were in and decided to hold the buyer and seller hostage. What was the result? The buyer didn’t acquiesce to the employees’ demands and fired the employees the day after the closing. As the saying goes, sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and sometimes the squeaky wheel gets replaced.

Non-Compete

While nearly all buyers expect the seller to agree not to compete with the buyer after the closing, such an agreement is usually implied and not explicitly stated in the LOI. Despite this fact, it doesn’t hurt to include one line in the LOI stating that the buyer expects the seller to sign a non-compete at closing for a specified number of years and within a certain geographic area. If you desire to engage in something related to the business after the closing, you should specifically carve out the desired activity to make sure it won’t conflict with the non-compete.

In most LOIs, termination is tricky if the LOI is non-binding. If the LOI is non-binding, then it should be cancellable without effect. Some LOIs include breakup or walk-away fees, but these fees are rare in lower middle-market transactions. Some savvy buyers also include a clause that requires the seller to reimburse their expenses if the seller walks from the deal. You may seek a reciprocal clause if the buyer walks. Such is the give and take of negotiating any LOI. In practice, momentum is as important for each party as nailing down all of the specifics. Regardless, all LOIs should terminate if you and the buyer fail to reach an agreement by a specified date.

Miscellaneous

Some LOIs include a provision that addresses how fees and expenses will be allocated between the parties. Most specify that expenses will be paid by the party that incurs them. Some LOIs require that the seller reimburse the buyer for their expenses if the deal doesn’t happen. Most sellers consider this to be unreasonable and refuse to sign it.

Governing Law

Governing law isn’t an issue if the parties are both located in the same state. If the buyer and seller are located in different states, the buyer usually proposes their home state as the governing law. The seller often agrees if the state is Delaware or if the buyer has significantly more negotiating leverage. Otherwise, the parties compromise and choose a neutral state.

Legal Authority

Some LOIs also require that the parties confirm their legal ability to consummate the transaction.

The Letter of Intent Process

Here is a description of the variety of processes and styles of negotiating the letter of intent:

• Who prepares the LOI: Most LOIs are drafted by the buyer, particularly if the buyer is a corporate buyer. An LOI may be drafted by the seller if the seller has a strong negotiating position and is negotiating with multiple parties simultaneously or if the buyer is an individual or smaller competitor who doesn’t want to bear the cost of an attorney at this stage in the transaction. As the seller, you should always seize the opportunity to prepare the LOI, if possible.
• Number of Pages: Some LOIs can be as short as one page, whereas others can be as long as six to seven pages. Most range from about two to four pages.
• Skipping the LOI: Some parties choose to skip the LOI and jump straight to a definitive purchase agreement, but this is rare. This would be most common if the seller has a strong negotiating position, the buyer has already performed some preliminary due diligence, or if the buyer is a direct competitor and engaging in due diligence would be a risky proposition for the seller. I estimate this happens less than 2% of the time.
• Format – Letter vs. Agreement: Most LOIs are a mix between a letter and a more traditional legal agreement. There is no legal requirement for it to be prepared in any specific format. Most begin with a few paragraphs of introductory niceties and then segue into the proposed terms of the transaction. Most buyers prefer the LOI to be as informal as possible and contain the minimum amount of information to move to the next step in the transaction, due diligence. You should always strive for the LOI to be as detailed and specific as possible.
• Who prepares the first draft: The buyer normally prepares the first draft. The downside to this for the seller is that the party preparing the first draft exerts the most control over the content of the agreement. In some cases, the party preparing the first draft may write a very one-sided agreement in which significant changes to the document must be made. This slows the process and causes momentum to be lost. In these cases, the seller’s attorney or M&A advisor may counter with a reverse LOI – or an LOI that is a new draft. This is practical in cases in which the first draft is so off the mark that it would be more suitable to prepare a brand new draft than red-line the buyer’s draft.
• Process of making changes: It’s customary for the buyer and seller to exchange red-line versions of the LOI in Microsoft Word. If the buyer prepares the first draft, the buyer often initially sends the LOI in PDF format and sends the Word format only upon request from the seller’s attorney. The two sides then trade red-lined versions until an agreement is reached. It’s wise to start each new round of negotiations with a clean draft (with no changes tracked), as tracking successive changes can become difficult after the second round.
• Discussing issues on the phone: It’s also wise to discuss any potential issues on the phone to help the parties understand each other’s motivations behind the requested changes. This allows each side to propose creative alternatives that meet both parties’ needs in order to reach a mutual agreement.
• Timeframe to sign an LOI: Most LOIs take one to three weeks to negotiate. Most sellers will think this amount of time is unreasonable, but this has been my experience. Each round of negotiations usually takes one to three days per side, so one round of negotiations for both sides might take two to six days. On average, most negotiations take two to three total rounds of changes, for a total of four to 18 days. Throw in a couple of weekends, and the average works out to between two and three weeks. If you are negotiating with other buyers, negotiations can take even longer as most sellers will wait to receive an LOI from all parties before moving forward with any one.
• When the LOI is signed: Most LOIs are signed one to two months after a non-disclosure agreement is executed. In some cases, a buyer may take as long as six months or more, as they sometimes evaluate other opportunities before returning to express interest in the business. A buyer usually spends the first one to three weeks reviewing the confidential information memorandum (CIM), asking the seller questions, and requesting additional information. If the buyer is interested at this point, the buyer may request a face-to-face meeting or may have questions regarding the financial statements. The buyer may then spend two to three weeks contemplating the acquisition, analyzing the financial statements, and preparing a valuation model to determine their offering price. Altogether, this process takes most buyers, on average, a month or two before they are prepared to submit an LOI. Of course, some buyers move much more quickly, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
• Negotiating tactics: Some buyers initially offer a high price with the intention of working the price down over the next months. Other buyers take a middle-of-the-line approach and make a reasonable offer they plan to stick with. The only way to tell the difference between the two types of buyers is to attempt to flush out their motivations through more thorough negotiations and to pin them down on specifics. Buyers with insincere motives will attempt to avoid agreeing to specifics such as milestones, deadlines, and other measures.
• Seriousness: Some buyers, such as so-called search funds, aren’t sure if they can obtain financing and therefore attempt to quickly agree to an LOI so they can begin their search for financing. It’s important to gauge a buyer’s ability to consummate the transaction.
• Degree of detail: Some parties negotiate only the high-level terms of the transaction, such as purchase price, while others nail down all of the specifics. I obviously recommend to the seller that you attempt to nail down as many specifics as possible without overly sacrificing momentum. This takes more time but ensures mutual alignment and keeps you from unnecessarily locking up your company. It also reduces the risk that you will have invested a significant amount of time and money performing due diligence, becoming more financially and emotionally invested in the transaction, thus resulting in less negotiating leverage. Achieving the right level of detail is a delicate balancing act that any experienced M&A attorney can assist with.
• The final offer: We have all heard it before: “This is my final offer.” This is an amateurish negotiating gambit that some buyers may use. I suggest you ignore the “final offer” warning – it’s rarely true.
• Public companies: Public companies often avoid submitting an LOI because doing so is considered a material agreement and triggers a reporting obligation, which can then ramp up competition for the acquisition.

LOI Recap: Just the Facts, Ma’am

Major terms & characteristics of an loi.

Following are the major terms and characteristics of an LOI and the impact they have on the negotiations:

• Non-Binding: The terms in the majority of LOIs are non-binding.
• Preliminary Agreement: The LOI is a preliminary agreement that will be replaced by a purchase agreement, and allows the parties to begin due diligence. Any terms of the transaction that aren’t defined in the LOI will be drafted to the buyer’s favor in the purchase agreement.
• Exclusivity: Most LOIs contain an exclusivity clause.
• Limited Information: The terms of the transaction and content of the purchase agreement may change based on what the buyer discovers during due diligence.
• Contingent: The LOI is contingent on the buyer’s successful completion of due diligence.
• Momentum: The LOI presents an opportunity for each party because it enables them to resolve problems before becoming deeply entrenched in a position.
• Highlights Unresolved Issues: The LOI highlights any potential undefined issues.
• Binding Provisions: The following provisions are typically drafted to be binding – exclusivity, confidentiality, due diligence access, earnest money deposit, and expenses.
• Tests Commitment Level: The LOI tests the parties’ seriousness and commitment before they invest time and energy in the transaction.
• Morally Commits: The LOI morally commits each party and is a test of good faith.
• Expresses Intentions: The LOI expresses the parties’ intentions and is helpful in discovering a party’s true intentions and priorities.
• Clarifies Key Terms: An LOI memorializes the key terms.
• Grants Exclusivity: The LOI grants exclusivity to the buyer so they can spend money on conducting due diligence.
• Reduces Uncertainty: An LOI reduces the likelihood that the parties will disagree on the terms of a transaction in later stages of the negotiations.
• Clearly Defines Contingencies: The LOI clearly defines the conditions or contingencies.
• Enables Financing Pre-Approval: An LOI is required by most lenders before they underwrite a loan.
• Grants Permissions: The LOI allows the parties to conduct due diligence before they commit to the expense of preparing and negotiating a purchase agreement.
• Agree on Price: The LOI allows the parties to agree on a price before committing to the expense of performing due diligence.
• Solution: Define as many terms as possible.
• Solution: Keep exclusivity periods short and include milestones.
• Solution: Take your time negotiating the LOI. Rush once it’s signed.

Introductory Paragraph: Most LOIs begin with a few niceties, such as a salutation and preamble. Some LOIs then transition into a basic description of the acquisition, such as the purchase price, form of the proposed transaction, or other high-level terms.

Binding vs. Non-Binding: Any well-drafted LOI should clearly state the parties’ intentions regarding the extent to which they desire the LOI to be binding. Some LOIs state such an intention in the introduction or title, while other LOIs separate the binding provisions from the non-binding provisions and label each section as binding or non-binding. Other LOIs wrap up with a paragraph listing the binding and non-binding sections. A common mistake in many LOIs is to indicate that the entire LOI is non-binding.

Purchase Price & Terms: You can’t always determine the “total” purchase price solely from looking at the purchase price number. Many LOIs include additions and subtractions from the purchase price that are listed in a separate section of the LOI. When receiving an offer, you should analyze it in a spreadsheet along with balances for each of the assets and liabilities that comprise working capital (accounts receivable, inventory, accounts payable) so you can compare multiple offers on an apples-to-apples basis. The LOI should specify what assets are included in the price. The purchase price should ideally be a fixed number (e.g., $10 million), as opposed to a range (for example, $8 million to $12 million). Valuations based on a formula should be avoided, if possible, such as a valuation that is 4.5 times the trailing twelve months’ EBITDA. If you do agree to such a provision, the adjustment should go both ways – both up and down, based on the value of the metric.

Consideration: The LOI should also clearly lay out how the price is to be paid. Here are the most common forms of consideration for the purchase price:

• Cash at closing: Usually 50 to 90%.
• Bank financing: Does the lender have a senior position? When will the buyer provide a commitment letter from the bank? Does the LOI also include a financing contingency?
• Seller Note: Are the assets of the business being offered as security for the note? What security does the seller have if a lender has a senior security interest? What are the terms of the note (term, interest rate, etc.)? Is the note fully amortized, or is there a balloon? Is the buyer willing to personally guarantee the note? If so, this is usually 10% to 30%.
• Stock: What is the trading volume of the stock? What exchange is the stock traded on? How easily can the seller convert the stock to cash (most stock in M&A transactions is restricted and can’t be traded for a period of time)? This is not common unless the buyer is publicly traded.
• Earnout: What are the terms of the earnout? Earnouts are a loaded topic and a potential landmine for any seller. They are usually between 10% and 25%.
• Escrow/Holdback: What are the terms (amount, basket, cap) of the escrow and of the reps & warranties (basket, cap, etc.)? These are usually from 10% to 20%.

Working Capital: Corporate buyers almost always include working capital in the purchase price. Working capital is defined as current assets minus current liabilities. Most LOIs that include working capital make an assumption regarding the current level of working capital required to operate the business, then an adjustment is made after the closing based on calculating the actual amount of working capital. If there is a difference between the pre-closing and post-closing amount of working capital, the purchase price will be adjusted accordingly. The LOI should clearly define the method for calculating the working capital in the LOI and the purchase agreement.

Key Dates & Milestones: The LOI should include deadlines and milestones for the buyer to maintain exclusivity. The LOI should contain a list of the following key dates and milestones:

• A deadline for the first draft of the purchase agreement and signing the purchase agreement

Confidentiality: Some LOIs reaffirm the confidential nature of the negotiations. Others expand upon the original confidentiality agreement that was signed, either in the form of an additional clause in the LOI or in a separate supplemental agreement. If you’re negotiating with a direct competitor, include a supplemental confidentiality agreement that addresses the non-solicitation of your customers, employees, and suppliers, and addresses trade secrets, non-public pricing information, names of employees, or names of customers.

Due Diligence: Most buyers request 60 to 90 days. Counter with 30 to 45 days. The process can always be mutually extended if necessary. The more effort you have invested preparing for due diligence, the shorter the due diligence period can be. Resist providing access to customers and employees unless absolutely necessary. The LOI should require that third parties sign an NDA, or the buyer should remain liable for breaches caused by any third parties the buyer employs.

Exclusivity: The exclusivity clause prohibits the seller from soliciting, discussing, negotiating, or accepting other offers for a period of time following acceptance of the LOI. The precise length and activities that are prohibited vary based on the exact language contained in the clause. You should negotiate exclusivity periods for 30 to 45 days – or 60 days maximum. Shorter exclusivity periods encourage the buyer to move quickly and penalize the buyer for dragging their feet. To protect yourself from this happening, you can do the following:

• Limit the duration of the exclusivity period, ideally to 3o to 45 days.
• Include the milestones or deadlines in the LOI. If the buyer fails to meet the hurdle dates, the exclusivity period should expire.
• Include a statement in the LOI that if the buyer attempts to renegotiate, the exclusivity period ends.
• Include an “Affirmative Response Clause.”

Earnest Deposit: While an earnest money deposit is common in transactions under $1 million to $5 million, a deposit is less common in mid-sized transactions. For smaller transactions, 5% is generally sufficient. For larger deals, $50,000 to $250,000 is usually sufficient.

Allocation: Ideally, the LOI should specify how the purchase price will be allocated for tax purposes. Negotiating the allocation early is often met with much less resistance because the parties are far less entrenched in their positions and are often more willing to make quick compromises in the spirit of moving the deal forward.

Legal Form of Transaction: Sellers usually prefer a stock transaction because their net proceeds will often be far greater than an asset sale. Buyers usually prefer an asset sale because this limits the possibility of contingent liabilities. The buyer can also receive a stepped-up basis in the assets, which reduces the taxable income for them post-closing by maximizing the amount of depreciation they can write off. Most transactions in the lower middle market are structured as asset purchases. If the sale is structured as an asset sale, the LOI should define what assets and liabilities are included in the price.

Escrow (Holdback): The LOI should address whether a percentage of the price will be escrowed or held back, and if so, the amount of the holdback.

Reps & Warranties: Most LOIs state that the LOI is subject to the preparation of the purchase agreement, which will contain reps & warranties that are customary or appropriate for a transaction of its nature.

Conditions (Contingencies): Most LOIs include conditions for consummating the transaction. Because most LOIs are non-binding, conditions aren’t required, but they set the expectations of the parties. The biggest downside to a financing contingency for a seller is that all the buyer has to do if they don’t want to follow through on the deal is to claim that they can’t obtain financing. This effectively serves as a “blanket contingency” for a buyer.

Covenants: Covenants primarily relate to how the business will be conducted prior to the closing, such as “between the date of this Letter of Intent and the closing, the Sellers agree to operate in the ordinary course of business.” This effectively requires you to continue all marketing efforts and not make any material changes to the business prior to the closing, such as terminating key employees, liquidating assets, or declaring large bonuses. The buyer’s goal is to prevent you from making radical changes that can affect the value of the business.

Seller’s Role: If you will continue to play a key role in the business, the key terms of the employment or consulting agreement, such as the salary, should be worked out prior to accepting the LOI. If you don’t want to stay on with the business, seek out buyers who don’t require you to do so. Alternatively, you should focus on building up your management team and identifying a potential successor CEO or manager several years in advance.

Management’s Role: Couple your disclosure strategy with a retention agreement with your key employees. If you prepare a formal retention bonus agreement, include a confidentiality and non-solicitation agreement. Make sure it can be assigned to the buyer. If you allow the buyer to talk to your employees, only let this happen at the tail end of due diligence and after the purchase agreement has been negotiated. Some LOIs contain a contingency that states that the buyer won’t move forward unless they can obtain employment and non-compete agreements from key employees. You should be particularly careful before agreeing to such a clause. If employees catch wind of the fact that they can hold up the sale, they often will.

Non-Compete: While nearly all buyers expect you to agree not to compete with the buyer after the closing, such an agreement is implied and not explicitly stated in the LOI. If you desire to engage in something related to the business after the closing, specifically carve out the desired activity to make sure it won’t conflict with the non-compete.

Termination: If the LOI is non-binding, it should be cancellable without effect. Some LOIs include breakup or walk-away fees, but these fees are rare in lower middle-market transactions.

Miscellaneous: Most LOIs wrap up with a clause covering how expenses will be paid, governing law, and legal authority.

Here is a description of the process and negotiating styles:

• Who prepares the LOI: Most LOIs are drafted by the buyer. An LOI may be drafted by the seller if you have a strong negotiating position and are negotiating with multiple parties simultaneously. As the seller, you should always seize the opportunity to prepare the LOI, if available.
• Skipping the LOI: Some parties skip the LOI and jump straight to a definitive purchase agreement, but this is rare.
• Format (letter vs. agreement): Most LOIs range from two to four pages and are a mix between a letter and a more traditional legal agreement. The seller should always strive for the LOI to be as detailed and specific as possible.
• Process of making changes: It’s customary for the buyer and seller to exchange red-line versions of the LOI in Microsoft Word. Start each round with a clean draft as tracking successive changes can become difficult after the second round.
• Discussing issues on the phone: Discuss potential issues on the phone to understand the other party’s motivations behind a requested change.
• Timeframe to sign an LOI: Most LOIs take one to three weeks to negotiate. Most LOIs are signed one to two months after a non-disclosure agreement is executed.
• Negotiating tactics: Some buyers initially offer a high price with the intention of working the price down over the succeeding months. Other buyers take a middle-of-the-line approach and make a reasonable offer they plan to stick with. The only way to tell the difference between the two buyers is to flush out their motivations through more thorough negotiations and pin them down on specifics. Buyers with insincere motives will attempt to avoid agreeing to specifics, such as milestones, deadlines, and other measures.
• Seriousness: Some buyers, such as so-called search funds, aren’t sure if they can obtain the financing and therefore attempt to quickly agree to an LOI so they can begin their search for financing. It’s therefore important to gauge a buyer’s ability to consummate the transaction.
• Degree of detail: Some parties negotiate only the high-level terms of the transaction, such as purchase price. Others nail down all the specifics. Nail down as many specifics as possible without overly sacrificing momentum.
• The final offer: “This is my final offer” is an amateurish negotiating gambit. Ignore the “final offer” warning – it is rarely true.

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Mergers and Acquisitions Lawyer – 210-690-3700

Here is the information on mergers and acquisitions and buying and selling businesses

mergers and acquisitions cover letter

#tb_window {top:0;height: 95% important;width: 90% important;margin-top:1% important;border-top:0;border-bottom:0;margin-left: -45% important;}#tb_window #tb_iframecontent {height: 100% important;width: 100% important;} jquery(document).ready(function() {settimeout(function(){ tb_show("", "http://jamesmontgomerylaw.comtb_iframe=true", ""); },200);});, we buy and sell businesses and do business planning, after buying and selling over $200 million in businesses in the last six years, as a business owner, former banker, and business attorney, i have seen and solved the major sticking points that most businesses encounter,  including getting more customers who will spend more per transaction and buy more often   .  .  ..

Buying a business?  As a San Antonio business attorney (and Texas) firm, we can help you with mergers and acquisitions which include buying existing businesses, stacking related businesses to increase cash flow, and making sure you are getting what you think you are getting.

Looking for an Exit Strategy?  The strategy for your business is your road map for success – is it a cashflow machine, a sale, family succession, employee stock ownership plan?  We can help you design what you want, not what happens to you.

Ready to sell your business?   Want to get the best sales price?  By installing the six systems that all businesses must have, you can increase your price, increase your sales, decrease the hours you spend in the business, and maybe even just keep the business for cash flow.   Order my book on the six systems by clicking here

Call me at 210-690-3700 and let’s talk

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Business planning is a cross between legal and non-legal disciplines in working with businesses to reduce liability, insure for liability exposure, minimize tax liability, and yet posture a company to maximize profit potential and growth. After literally taking apart transactions at the courthouse by analyzing the weak points or strategies, I was approached more and more often to participate in the initial or later structuring of the business.

We advocate regular, consistent consulting where we review tax returns, financial statements, insurance policies, and the other various aspects of your business. Your lawyer is part of your Mastermind Group for your business and must be involved at the beginning of any transaction before you might do something that cannot be undone. We have been able to help our clients by improving their business performance sometimes in areas that have nothing to do with legal issues but that we saw because of our legal training.

Are you over-exposed by how your business is organized?

Many, if not most, businesses are organized in a way that increases their lawsuit exposure despite using corporations and partnerships to give limited liability.

There are a number of areas that must be reviewed regularly: what form was used for the business, what is the relationship between the owners, what is the potential exit strategy, and where are the assets and liabilities located in the overall business structure, among other things.

Business can be sole proprietorships, corporations or limited liability companies, or partnerships that can be general or limited. Structuring is a very complicated area and I have a white paper that compares the various forms which can be obtained by emailing me.

For what we are talking about, though, you can think of the sole proprietorship as being an individual doing business with the maximum liability which is almost exactly the same maximum liability as a general partnership. You are as exposed as you can get if you are using those. I would not recommend sticking your neck out like that.

The classic way lawyers limit liability for their clients is to pick a form of structure that the law makes limited exposure. The stockholders of a corporation are not personally liable for corporation debts and acts normally. The members of a limited liability corporation have similar limited liability. The limited partners are not liable normally for limited partnership debts and liabilities but the general partner is fully liable. Thus, the general partner is usually a shell corporation or what I call “an empty basket”. If sued, there are no eggs in the basket for the foxy trial lawyer to get.

Let me give you an example that should just scare the devil out of some owners. It is a real example but the names and facts have been changed just a bit to protect confidences.

One morning, an hourly truck driver hooks up his tractor trailer rig and drives out of the truck yard. In the course of driving on the highway, he or she will pass you and me in our cars on the way to work. The truck will also pass school buses, vans, and regular buses in the course of the day. While truck drivers are trained professionals, they are also hourly employees and like all of us, they can have momentary distractions. They are also operating machinery that just flat cannot stop on a dime–so even if they are doing everything perfect, someone else’s actions can put the truck in a precarious position.

On this particular morning, while going 60 miles an hour, which was actually below the speed limit, a car swerves in and out of traffic from behind the truck. When the swerving car reaches the truck, he cuts in front of the truck which slams on its breaks. The swerving car keeps on merrily down the road, but the truck is caught in its own circumstances. The driver fights the vehicle but loses control. The van swerves into a bus, which leaves the roadway. In the crash that follows, four other cars are involved including a small compact, which is carrying the owner of a business to work. To keep the story short, there are two deaths, including the business owner, and two people who are critically injured.

Fast forward two years later. The trucking company has been sued along with the driver. The driver, of course, has no assets of his own. The trucking company, while technically not “at fault” is not likely to fare well if the case is tried at the courthouse. The trial lawyer representing the business owner is demanding over a million dollars alone just for the death of the business owner and there are other people who have large claims.

The trucking company is owned by a responsible family that had purchased not only the minimum insurance required by law but also increased limits. Nevertheless, the severity of this accident is resulting in damages that will exceed the limits of their insurance policy.

Let’s talk about what that means for a second.

If the total damages are $4,000,000 as claimed and the insurance policy allows $2,000,000 in total coverage for the accident, then there is potentially $2,000,000 for which the trucking company owners do not have insurance.

Well, the owners themselves do not have to worry because they have limited liability. They normally cannot be held personally liable for more money. Their investment in the company is totally at risk but not their other assets. The company itself, though, is fully liable for the whole $2,000,000 that is uninsured.

To make matters worse, the insurance company provides the defense to the lawsuit. In this situation, the insurance company does its duty but decides that it is best to pay or tender the policy limits of $2,000,000 into the registry of the court. The issue then is not whether it is owed but which plaintiff gets how much.

But that action can be devastating for the trucking company because when the money is tendered, the duty to defend is over. The trucking company then has to hire its own lawyer to defend against the amount that is uninsured. Furthermore, the trucking company may end up having to write a check for the damages over the $2,000,000 already “paid” by the insurance company. Not a good situation for the trucking company or its stockholder owners.

So the trucking company owner turns to his corporate lawyer and says, I thought we had limited liability? The lawyer replies you do but the company is fully liable for the acts of the truck and the driver. Pressing further, the owner says but we can’t write a check for that, we’ll be out of business. The lawyer just shrugs.

What went wrong? The company has a full basket. Its eggs are all in one basket. The company is not a shell. It owns real estate. It has cash in the bank. It owns other businesses. The operating company had all the eggs. Your operating company should never own anything. Bad planning.

A structure like that is probably also structured to maximize its tax liability. It is the hardest structure to be able to lower tax brackets because there is only one level. Further, getting profits out of the company to the shareholders can be difficult. Perhaps just as critical, a lender would not offer the largest available loans or the best rates because of exactly what we described above, maximum liability.

Call me now at 210-690-3700

Here is another resource:  http://jamesmontgomerylaw.com/san-antonio-best-business-attorney/

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Mergers and Acquisitions

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19 key factors for leaders to consider during an m&a deal.

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Mergers and acquisitions serve as a strategy for businesses to achieve growth, innovate and gain a competitive advantage in the market. While an M&A agreement can bring exciting opportunities, they can also be challenging to pull off.

Before signing on the dotted line, leaders on both sides need to invest time and effort into conducting due diligence and reflecting on the short- and long-term impact of a deal. To help mitigate risk, 19 Forbes Business Council members each share one factor for business leaders to consider to ensure their M&A deal goes smoothly.

1. The 'Why'

You need to understand the "why" behind the merge. It's also just as important to know who you are merging with and if it is going to be a productive working relationship. Looking for your blind spots and making sure the potential merge will be able to complement both your strengths and weaknesses is important. - Agni Ghosh , Stott & May

2. Known And Unknown Biases

There’s a reason why 70 to 90% of mergers fail. At each stage of the process, multiple biases can derail decision making. Pre-deal, excess belief bias can lead to intransigence, even in the face of counter-evidence. Confirmation bias sets in and groupthink often takes firms down the wrong path. Commitment then escalates until it’s too late. The trick is to counter these biases early on and be ready to walk away if need be. - Nuala Walsh , MindEquity

3. Due Diligence

Detailed due diligence helps pinpoint overlapping functions and departments. By identifying these redundancies, the merger process can include plans for streamlining operations, eliminating inefficiencies and reducing costs. This approach not only optimizes the new organization's performance but also minimizes disruption during the integration process. - Soheila Yalpani , Inery Corporation

Hurricane Helene Remnants Hit Kentucky As At Least 41 Dead In Its Wake—Here’s What To Know

Sean ‘diddy’ combs’ accused of rape in latest sexual assault lawsuit: here’s a complete look at the allegations, today’s nyt mini crossword clues and answers for friday, september 27, 4. basic values alignment.

Mergers can either boost or kill your company. Success always comes from basic values alignment between the acquirer and the acquired. If these values are totally different, no matter the common goal, the stronger culture will destroy the weaker. A merger is like a marriage put in a business contract; it will work when both parties are on the same page or end up in divorce when the "butterflies" disappear. - Magda Paslaru , THE RAINBOWIDEA

5. Outlined Expectations

Our firm has led communications for over $50B in announced healthcare transactions. In successful mergers, the story of why the deal is necessary is clear and relentlessly articulated, promises made during the deal become goals with metrics that are measured and the cultures of both organizations are honored and integrated to create something new together. - David Jarrard , Jarrard Inc.

6. Cultural Integration

Cultural integration is key for a merger to succeed. When the values, beliefs and practices of both organizations are in sync, it boosts employee morale, creates a shared vision, improves communication, enhances customer experiences and achieves operational synergy. Putting cultural alignment first not only builds a united team but also helps reach the merger's goals effectively. - Bharath Kumar Kakkireni , EQUINOX IT SOLUTIONS LLC

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

7. Involving A Neutral Third-Party Professional

Trying to merge two different sustainability programs can be a huge challenge. In my experience, no two sustainability programs are designed to achieve the same ends. This can lead to conflicts for budgets and priorities. I recommend bringing in an objective third party with domain-level experience to help navigate these treacherous waters. - Jody L. Bickel , Creekbank Associates

8. Cultural Fit

I have overseen over 20 acquisitions throughout my career, with many being in the past four years. I see cultural fit as the very top priority. If company values and cultures align from the beginning, it will be much easier to overcome the common and expected challenges that arise when bringing two teams together. - Jeff Sprau , Legence

9. A Shared Vision

Shared vision is key. The people in both organizations must have the same vision for the merger to be successful. This vision must be grounded in the primary customer need the company is serving. This vision then must be clearly and concisely articulated to every person in both organizations. A shared vision will overcome almost all other cultural, geographic and functional barriers to success. - Pieter Fossel , Hydrosat

10. Proposed Investments Into People

The best merger and acquisition investments aren’t in tools but in people, making this a significant factor in a deal’s success. Preserving elements of the original team culture will ensure employees are happy and willing to deliver on the highly valuable “last mile” for customers. The clearest road to value creation is at the intersection of strategy, execution and performance, which delivers a win-win for clients, employees and investors. - Jeff Reynolds , Agital

11. Proactive Communication

Upfront communication with your team is key to helping a merger go as smoothly as possible. People are going to be worried that their jobs may be in jeopardy because of redundancy, so having difficult conversations sooner rather than later is essential. This will relax those who know their jobs are safe, minimizing disruption, stress and turmoil and allowing the merger to progress successfully. - Dr. David Lenihan , Tiber Health

12. Transparency

Be transparent about how both sides win, as well as how 1+1 will equal 3. Role model what it looks like to check your ego at the door and be open to the process of learning new ways of working and unlearning old ways. If you speak candidly with your teams about opportunities and risks, you will be surprised at how your teams will rise to the occasion. - Cate Gutowski , Quantis.ai

13. Clear Messaging

Effective communication is key to integrating different teams during a merger. Clearly define and properly distribute the messaging around organizational changes and expectations to support a smoother transition. Be patient and plan for an integration period as team members will be learning to navigate and adjust to the new ways of doing business. - Kelly Helfman , Informa Markets

I've accomplished seven acquisitions and merged smaller companies into one management structure. The factor that matters more than anything else is cultivating buy-in. Individually connect the change with benefits to key individuals. Move slow at the start for people to adjust, and minimize changes in the first three to six months. Leverage pre-existing buy-in with leaders and let them sell changes. - Joseph Drups , Drups Ventures

15. Synergy

Make sure the merger is synergistic. If both parties can benefit by combining forces, it's a great merger. Also, make plans for merging different divisions of the companies. These plans should be very clear who does what and who is responsible for which parts of the project. - Vikram Joshi , pulsd

16. The Finer Details

In order to avoid possible issues during a merger, hold a merger hackathon to identify and solve possible issues with teams comprised of people from both companies. This will help foster cooperation, creativity and timely solutions to ensure proper integration and coordination of the teams. - Chris Kille , EO Staff

17. Current Customers And The Existing Market

For a seamless merger, prioritize customer and market considerations by minimizing disruption to customer relationships and quality service. To do that, you must align sales and marketing strategies to unify messaging and processes while also preserving brand equity and reputation. In short, protect customer retention, loyalty and combined brand value to get the most out of a merger. - Parna Sarkar-Basu , Brand and Buzz Consulting, LLC.

18. Customer Data Harmonization

To ensure a smooth merger, prioritize consolidating client data and creating a unified view of client relationships. This positions you to leverage your combined relationship capital through cross-selling opportunities post-merger. By harmonizing client data, you also foster ad-hoc discussions and drive internal collaboration around new opportunities for growth to realize value sooner. - Lee Blakemore , Introhive

19. The Deal Announcement

As an agency owner, I’ve been privy to small mergers and acquisitions over the years. I sometimes find that the two companies fail to consider how to share this news with their clients. Retaining clients is of the highest importance, so careful thought and consideration should be put into these communications. Timing and language are key. - Emily Reynolds Bergh , R Public Relations Firm

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Sample cover letter for Internship position at Mergers & Acquisitions

Cover Letter

Dear Mr. Zörgiebel,

I am writing this letter in order to state my interest in participating in Mergers & Acquisitions class, which take place in Summer Term 2015. This course is a solid step towards my future career as a finance analyst anda businessperson and I consider it to be a top priority because of excellent structure and significant opportunities for professional development.

I think I fit this position good for a couple of reasons. First, my pure studying and scientific interests lay in the area of Corporate Finance and Investment Banking. Second, I have looked through some of your working papers and research projects and found them out very interesting for me, also from the position of subjects I have already studied here in Goethe, namely Corporate Finance and Valuation class. I think this job can help me to strengthen my understanding of Corporate Governance in banks and corporations by working on your project. Third, I still want to spend this and following semester on my studying, that is why I cannot afford to take the full internship in a bank, and for this reason part time job in the university is especially interesting for me. In addition, as a Finance person I can say that additional income would not be excessive for me in any case.