M&A Target Search Process

This workflow is designed to walk you through every stage of the M&A search process from creating your search criteria to sending your Letter of Interest (LOI).

INFO: For step-by-step guidance on creating, editing, managing, and running workflows, read Getting Started with Process Street: The 5 Stages of Process Building.

INFO: Tasks in this workflow have been assigned using Dynamic Role Assignments. Read more about Role Assignments in our Knowledge Base or watch the video below.

INFO: The following task uses the Conditional Logic feature. Conditional Logic utilizes if/then logic to build paths that can change depending on which actions you take. Read more about it in our Knowledge Base, or watch the video below.

Use this task to record all the pertinent details about the M&A Target search. 

INFO: If the person completing the workflow is not the search team leader, or not involved in the search, then additional fields will appear. If not, those fields will remain hidden with Conditional Logic.

Before you even begin your search for a Target company, you need to determine your strategic rationale. 

Common rationales for top-performing deals include:

• To improve company performance
• Consolidate to remove excess capacity
• Improve a product's time-to-market
• Acquire technology, expertise, products, and/or resources
• Exploit economies of scale in specific industries
• Invest in a young company with a high level of promise

Think carefully about the specific parameters you're looking for, what you're willing to accept, and what is a deal-breaker. 

Document a clear picture of the ideal Target so you don't waste resources on unsuitable candidates. 

INFO: The next task is an Approval. Approvals help streamline any processes that require authorization. Read more about Approvals in our Knowledge Base, or watch the video below. 

INFO: The next task utilizes a Stop Task. This stops the workflow run at a given point. No tasks past that point (or the workflow run itself) can be completed until the stop task is completed. Read more about Stop Tasks in our Knowledge Base, or watch the video below. 

Now that you've determined your search criteria, it's time to conduct your search. The most common search channels are:

• Online searches
• Industry databases
• Trade associations

If your search yields 25 or more results, you have the basis for an M&A program.

This task utilizes two specific workflow features: the Dropdown List field and the File Upload field. Read Getting Started: How to Use Form Fields for detailed instructions, or watch the video below. 

For each of your potential Targets, you need to assess the following criteria to determine if the Target is worth pursuing. 

This task utilizes the Subtasks feature. Read more about Subtasks in our Knowledge Base. 

After the initial assessment, rank your potential Targets in order of priority based on which parameters they fulfill. 

This task includes the Email form field. To learn how to add form fields, read this Getting Started guide. 

Document your top 5 Targets here. 

While an investment banker will generally prepare the actual LOI for you, use this task to document the specific details for your records. 

INFO:  This task uses Dynamic Due Dates. Read more about Dynamic Due Dates in our Knowledge Base. 

INFO: This task can be further customized using our Automations feature. In addition to the thousands of integration options available through Zapier, we also have first-party integrations with Salesforce, DocuSign, and others.

For more details, watch the video below, or read the following resources:

Process Street Knowledge Base: Automations
4 Workflows to Get Your Started with Automations
Webinar: Automations in Process Street

Congratulations! You've completed the Target search process and found your ideal match!

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