Professor of Corporate Finance
When it comes to growing your business, there are various options, each operating at its own different pace. Organic growth is usually slow and requires a lot of energy. To get ahead faster, mergers or acquisitions are often a good choice. According to Mathieu Luypaert, Professor of Corporate Finance and M&A, ‘we are still seeing a lot of untapped potential, particularly when it comes to SMEs. I’m convinced that many of them would be able to grow both faster and smarter were acquisitions also on their radar. It’s not just a question of scaling up – there are also the benefits of synergies to consider. I see a lot of fear around initiating the acquisitions process, with many SME owners/managers not really knowing how or where to start’. To that end, Mathieu invited three entrepreneurs and two investors to attend a breakfast meeting session as part of Vlerick’s annual Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts Conference – and they shared the lessons they have learned.
How do you prepare your business for an acquisition?
Vlerick’s Centre for Mergers, Acquisitions & Buyouts develops and collates insights and best practice from across the M&A field – covering everything from the end-to-end deal process to financing and integration. The Centre brings its research and knowledge together to share with anyone involved in mergers, acquisitions or sales.