The target is usually a company that can operate independently, i.e. is not technologically or commercially dependent on a parent company. Once acquired, the company must generate significant cash flow to service its debt and fund the development of the future project. It must be a company that can create value for its shareholders within a few years and at the same time have a financial structure that allows it to leverage the acquisition, as this will allow it to obtain the necessary bank debt and at the same time increase the profitability of the buyers.
The following table shows the characteristics of ideal buyout targets.
Stable and predictable cash flow Activity little affected by technological or sociological changes.
Activity little affected by economic cycles
Stable competitive advantages (brands, loyal customers, technical know-how, methods, patents, etc.)
Lean and optimisable balance sheet Low financial debt
Ability to reduce working capital
Moderate future investments
Ability to sell unneeded assets
Operating account could be improved Ability to increase sales in a profitable way
Ability to reduce unnecessary costs
Strong and committed management team Strong and complete leadership team
Key people involved and committed to preventing talent and knowledge leakage
Appropriate entry Possibility to negotiate a low price for the company avoiding entering into competitive purchases or at inappropriate times
Easy exit Ability to sell the business at a premium to a strategic buyer or float it on the stock market
In order to be able to increase the value of the shares in a few years, the target company must have potential for future growth thanks to good positioning and competitive advantages, possibilities for improving operating costs, a good human team and, in addition, be likely to be attractive to several potential buyers in order to be sold again after 4 or 5 years at a strategic price.
An important element in convincing the banks is that it is a stable activity with a constant and predictable cash flow generation, thanks to the fact that it has products with well-positioned brands in the market, which are little affected by future technological or sociological changes, and that it is an activity that is not too affected by economic cycles.
In order to be able to leverage the acquisition, it is desirable for the company to have little debt to financial institutions, little need for investment in the short and medium term, assets that can be sold or used as collateral for future debt, and opportunities for improvement in the management of inventory, customer and supplier accounts.
A competent and motivated team is another aspect that makes a target company more attractive. In order to create value in the years following the acquisition, it will be crucial to involve and engage key people in the business.
Finally, another important aspect is the purchase price of the target company. Ideally, it is important to be able to buy companies cheaply, i.e. at a price below the true value of the company. The lower the entry investment (purchase of the company), the easier it is to achieve capital gains and the higher the profitability at the exit (sale of the company). However, this depends on the timing of the acquisition, the seller’s need to sell, the existence of other potential buyers willing to pay high prices and the negotiating skills of both parties.
Interesting buying opportunities do not arise every day, and sometimes buyers pay high prices because they have a clear value creation project that supports this expensive entry.
