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Are revenue synergies or cost synergies easier to predict?

Usually cost synergies are easier to predict because they involve cutting a specific expense. For example, after an acquisition, there is no need for 2 headquarters, so they may shut down one headquarters and save on rent expense. The rent expense would be relatively easy to identify and quantify. R...
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What are the types of synergies in an M&A deal?

Synergies can be classified between revenue synergies and cost synergies. Revenue synergies are benefits from the merger or acquisition that can enhance revenue. They include: Cost synergies are benefits from the merger or acquisition that can lower costs. They include:...
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Pitch me an M&A deal.

Prepare a 30 to 60 second M&A pitch which covers the strategic reasons why the acquiror would want to buy the target. It’s great if your idea follows a current industry trend, such as consolidation of a certain sector by larger players, and can point to past successful acquisitions in the spac...
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What’s the difference between a merger and an acquisition?

A merger is usually a “merger-of-equals” between two similarly sized companies and it’s presented as more cooperative. An acquisition is usually done in a straightforward way and it’s clear who the acquiror is right away as the acquiror is often materially larger than the target. A stock dea...
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What would you sensitize in a merger model?

You can sensitize key model assumptions like price paid, premium paid, and the amount of cash, debt, or equity used in the acquisition, etc. You can also sensitize synergies as there is often a large variance in what that can be. Finally, you can sensitize key operating metrics for the target compan...
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Between horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate acquisitions, which category is the most effective acquisition strategy?

Horizontal acquisitions tend to be the most effective acquisition strategy. A horizontal acquisition strategy involves buying businesses that offer similar product / service offerings to cross-sell to existing customers, expand into new markets or geographies, enhance existing market position / shar...
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