The success of a deal depends on a number of factors. One of the most important is whether the target company’s financial performance and projections are solid enough to sustain the deal over the long term. A healthy balance sheet and steady growth in revenue are good indicators. Other aspects to consider are the ability to scale operations, and the existence of valuable intellectual property such as trademarks and patents.
A successful deal also depends on meticulous planning and execution. A thorough due diligence exercise can aid in identifying potential roadblocks and potential pitfalls that can be addressed prior to the deal. This is particularly crucial when dealing with deals that require the large amount of cash or stock.
A successful method of deal sourcing is to develop and maintain a strong network of industry professionals and investor. These relationships could provide an early access to a variety of off-market opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable. A real estate developer, for example could establish relationships with investors and brokers to get early access to commercial property before it hits the market.
Acquirers judge the success of a deal based on the goals they set like revenue growth and synergy gains. These targets are often reached or even exceeded by the acquirers, which encourages them to believe that they have made a difference. However, this may be costly to the company that’s already in operation, and may struggle to perform as expected after the acquisition.