Paris Aden Contributor Bio

Bio

Paris Aden is the founding Partner of Valitas Capital Partners. Since 1994, he has been involved with more than 100 M&A transactions with an aggregate value exceeding $80 billion. He has advised clients at Morgan Stanley, Credit Suisse First Boston and RBC Capital Markets and has acted as a private equity investor at Clairvest Group where he served on portfolio company boards. Paris was also a co-founder of Alluence Capital Advisors, a mid-market M&A advisory boutique that focuses on cross-border transactions.

Paris is recognized as an expert in business strategy, M&A and corporate finance. Previous roles and speaking engagements include:

Lecturer at the Stephen J.R. Smith School of Business at Queen's University in their Master of Finance (MFIN) program
M&A subject matter expert for Moody’s Analytics’ Advanced Capital Markets Program for capital markets professionals
Three-time expert panel moderator for the Toronto Business Transitions Forum
TEC Canada “2018 Speaker of the Year” recipient
Guest speaker for various industry and business leadership organizations

Paris formed Valitas to meet the unanswered needs of ambitious business owners seeking to:

At least triple their business value in five years or less; or
Are seeking an elite advisory boutique as their trusted advisor for their complex, mission-critical transactions.

Articles by Paris Aden

Neutralizing the Due Diligence Grind

Initial indications can be tactically inflated to ensure the acquirer gains access to your confidential information after which this price is systematically reduced, citing negative findings during due diligence – also known as the due diligence grind.
Know Your Buyer

Business owners need to consider the types of buyers that are in the market, how those buyers perceive value and their advantages and disadvantages.
The Initial Price May Not Be Real

The Due Diligence Grind is often practiced by sophisticated acquirers to reduce the purchase price of a business by citing negative findings during due di
Getting Your Bang for Your Buck in Today’s Pricey M&A Market

Strategic planning is a necessary part of a successful M&A deal. Make sure your newest acquisition will survive the sale. Here's how.
Making Sense of Private Market M&A Advisory Fees

Fees are as customizable ad the business you run. How do you find the fee structure that will work for your business at time of sale? This article overviews some great points developed from Divestopedia's M&A fee survey, with input from our founder.
Hiring an M&A Advisor: What’s the Value?

M&A advisors exist for one very good reason: to provide you with the best chance possible of landing the deal you need to have a successful transition. Whether you are selling or buying, an advisor will help you avoid many pitfalls.
The Exclusive Negotiations Fallacy

Timing, Risk and Competition: A Balancing ActWe often hear business owners say, “A competitor just approached me about buying my business. I’ll just sit down with him and cut a deal.” The assumption is that this approach...
How to Retain Key Employees During a Sale Process

This article is co-authored with Paul Pittman: Founder and president of The Human Well, fellow of the Institute of Administrative Accounting, and an accountant by training. Paul has more than 25 years of experience in...
Avoiding the Exclusive Negotiations Trap

We often hear business owners say, “A competitor just approached me about buying my business. I’ll just sit down with him and cut a deal.” The assumption is that this approach will be quick, easy and quiet. It rarely works...
Minimizing Inevitable Risks in the Sale Process

From the moment you make initial contact with any potential bidder to the time you close a sale transaction there is a window of vulnerability where you and your business are exposed to three inevitable risks: Completion...
The Window of Vulnerability in an M&A Transaction

From the moment you make initial contact with any potential bidder to the time you close a sale transaction, you and your business are at risk. If you’re considering selling your business, you’re likely concerned about...
Developing a Proactive Acquisition Strategy for Mid-Market Businesses

An Acquisition Program uncovers more proprietary acquisition opportunities that make strategic sense and are available at better valuations.