In August 2021, Walker Sands, a B2B tech agency, acquired March Communications, a Boston-based PR agency. As a combined company, they make the fifth largest technology-focused firm in the country that deals with M&A finance processes.
To understand what an M&A process looks like from a financial side, we have invited Liz Hosman, VP, Finance and Business Partner at Walker Sands, and Mark Miller, Senior Vice President of Finance at Walker Sands. They share tips, tricks, and best practices they've learned along the way during the acquisition.
In this episode, we discuss Walker Sands and March M&A transaction, M&A tips, tricks, and best practices, and how to drive strategic value to grow revenue in margin, amongst other interesting topics.
The Walker Sands' M&A Strategy
Acquiring March Communications was a strategic move from Walker Sands, which had two components. One being that the target company should focus on the B2B tech space. The other was that they were keen to establish a foothold on the east coast of the United States.
“We had a rough stint with COVID, and it was time for a change. We needed something positive and uplifting for our employees. And we knew that most people wanted to stay. So we wanted to give people more opportunities. And I think that's what attracted us to Walker Sands.”
Learning Tips and Tricks for a Successful Finance M&A Process
Have a reliable system of managing the financial records and reports. Make sure that everything is password protected or on a secure server. Having all the processes and procedures documented is vital. Also, be transparent with changes through regular staff communication. Put in place a support system so that employees can have all their questions answered in a timely manner.
“If a company is looking ahead to selling, having well-defined and documented processes and procedures is really important, especially as a professional services company”
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