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The Four Main Reasons Acquisitions Fail

By Brad Mewes
Published: May 3, 2017 | Last updated: May 10, 2017
Key Takeaways

Mergers and acquistions are hard enough without these surprisingly common reasons they can fail. Learn how to avoid these mistakes and strengthen your M&A strategy.

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Most acquisitions fail. The stark truth is that 70% to 90% of acquisitions fail to deliver the value the buyer anticipated. Yet, the data shows it is nearly impossible to build a world-class company on organic growth alone. And most of the largest companies in the world were built on at least one, if not multiple, deals. Within the automotive aftermarket, we continue to see companies generate massive success from well-executed growth strategies. So then why do most acquisitions fail?

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Give vs Get

Acquisitions fail when the company does not consider what an acquisition will cost the company and focus only on what an acquisition will deliver. Valuation is important to assess cost, but it is not the only metric. The same applies to metrics that take into consideration both the absolute projected return of the investment as well as the risk adjusted return on investment. Simply determining the best metrics to use to measure an appropriate return can be a daunting task (i.e. balance sheet metrics, P&L metrics, cost of capital metrics, or all of the above).

But a focus on give versus get goes further than simple valuation. Companies that engage in successful acquisitions focus on what the company will have to give up to reap the reward. I often quip that I can make anything look attractive on paper. The hard part is going out and doing what is talked about on paper and understanding the internal company resources that will have to be dedicated to achieve success.

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Acquisitions fail because they are distracting. They often are not part of a company’s core competence. Integration can be slow, and expensive. Identifying what your company will have to put into the deal, not just what it will pay to close the deal, can be the difference between success and failure.

What Do YOU Bring to the Deal

Acquisitions fail when the focus is exclusively on the target. Successful acquirers focus on themselves first, and the target second. Specifically, successful acquirers focus on the internal capabilities they can leverage to transform the target company. Just as successful acquirers focus on what they have to give up to for a successful deal, they also focus on the unique capabilities they can bring to the target company to render it more effective than it was as a stand-alone company.

Acquirers can add value in a number of ways. One of the more common ways is when big buys small. In this case, the larger acquirer may be able to apply the resources of a larger organization to a smaller organization. These resources may be a regional management structure, a national sales force, or a centralized purchasing department. These resources may help the smaller company increase revenues or decrease costs, or perhaps both.

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Successful acquirers focus on more than just price. Identifying the core capabilities that can be applied to the target company to maximize value separate the successful acquirers from failed acquisitions.

Frequent vs One-Off Acquisitions

Acquisitions fail when companies are not experienced in M&A. Studies show that more frequent acquirers have more success than less frequent acquirers. Companies that only occasionally engage in acquisitions have demonstrably lower outcomes than companies that are active acquirers. In fact, companies that are frequent buyers were nearly twice as successful compared to companies that only occasionally acquired other companies. Not only do successful acquirers buy frequently, they buy constantly. Whether a hot market or cool market, an economic recession or economic expansion, successful acquirers remain systematic in their purchases.

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Within the automotive aftermarket, there are a number of examples of frequent acquirers. The Boyd Group, parent company of Gerber has been a perennial acquirer of collision repair facilities. LKQ, one of the largest distributors of used and aftermarket automotive parts in the world, has increased revenues by nearly 14x over the past 10 years, primarily as a result of acquisitions. Monro Muffler has grown consistently through acquisitions as well, as have a number of lesser-known private companies. These are just a few companies in the automotive aftermarket that have created immense shareholder wealth as a result of consistent and frequent acquisitions.

Lack of a Defined Process

Acquisitions fail when a company does not have a defined M&A process. Perhaps the most important success factor in business acquisitions is a defined process. Companies with the best M&A track record have a defined process designed to maximize outcomes and minimize risk. Generally speaking, companies that successfully employ M&A to grow start with small acquisitions, build a dedicated team for deal making, develop and maintain a pipeline of targets and, most importantly, develop a clear set of guidelines for yes/no decisions.

Sam Rovit, former Partner at Bain and Company talks about it extensively in his book “Mastering the Merger”. Warren Buffett talks about it. Academics have identified it as a key strategic advantage successful private equity firms have over strategic buyers. And it is logical that a defined process yields superior results.

Conclusion

Your best bet is to seek outside assistance during your M&A process (someone who perhaps has done several, or is a repeat advisor or buyer for this process). However, if you are performing your own acquisition, make sure you are avoiding these four common pitfalls and planning for the future. Looking into merging brands or other market considerations early can help.

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Written by Brad Mewes

Brad Mewes

Brad Mewes is the founder of Supplement!, a strategic, financial and M&A advisory firm specializing in the automotive aftermarket industry worldwide. He has been featured in publications globally including ABRN, Driving Sales News, Aftermarket Business World, Repairer Driven News, Ratchet + Wrench, Australasian Paint and Panel, and Motor China Magazine.

Brad has an MBA from the University of California, Irvine with an emphasis in Finance. He graduated in the top 10% of his class. Brad received his undergraduate degree in International Economics with a concentration in Latin American Business from George Washington University in Washington, DC where he graduated with honors (cum laude). He has lived in both Mexico and Chile and has completed assignments in 14 countries on three different continents. Brad speaks Spanish fluently.

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