MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS BUY SIDE ―

SUCCESSFUL MERGERS AND Buy Side ACQUISITIONS HAPPEN WHEN OPPORTUNITY, EXPERIENCE, PLANNING, Companies seeking to expand their business & PERSISTENCE COMBINE. must consider a mix of strategic initiatives. Mergers/acquisitions can provide tremendous The objective of any merger or value, yet their impact on overall growth acquisition should be to maximize objectives must be thoroughly understood prior shareholder value. While this goal to moving forward. The most difficult part of an can be stated simply, the means of acquisition is often the integration that follows a achieving it are complex. successful transaction. Contemplating various integrations issues prior to embarking on an Merger, acquisition, divestiture, and acquisition helps better define characteristics of partnering opportunities are target companies and greatly improve the significant milestones in the life cycle likelihood of long-term success. of any company. The strategic, managerial, financial, and Gates and Company’s proven methodology organizational activities are involves the following steps: significantly different from typical day-to-day operating issues.  Clearly define and prioritize what you want Company leaders that get too and why (e.g., technology, market share, involved in M&A activities often revenue, control point, etc.). neglect operations, causing key  Develop criteria to identify opportunities in business initiatives to fail. terms of ideal product mix, service, technology, location, size, level of Gates and Company’s team of innovation, skills, etc. senior professionals has broad  Perform scouting to identify candidates. experience assisting clients in all Assess, screen, and prioritize the list. aspects of the M&A process. We  Approach candidates to determine participate with clients from the receptiveness to a “relationship”. This is earliest stage of helping to define done anonymously by Gates and Company objectives to the successful closing to avoid signaling strategic intent to of a transaction. And Gates and competition. Company can also help with  Complete due diligence on top implementation issues following a candidate(s): assess technology, transaction to ensure long-term management, products, financials, etc.; success. compute ; risk assessment; fit analysis; etc.  Structure and negotiate a win-win deal. Gates and Company  Integrate planning and implementation understands complex support. business transactions and has a history of success.

GATES AND COMPANY • 4001 Kennett Pike, Suite 206, Wilmington, DE 19807 USA • +1.302.428.1338 ext 16 • www.gatesandcompany.com

Sell Side Gates and Company has proven Whether a company looking for methods for negotiation that liquidity through the sale of its help clients get the best deal. business or a firm wanting to divest a non-core unit, selling a business at maximum value is a carefully orchestrated process. Understanding what prospective A Trusted Advisor buyers value most, creating documentation that highlights the Gates and Company’s compelling features of the business, specialists can help your company achieve its and coordinating and negotiating goals, with a proven process and successful track multiple offers are all ingredients that record. enable a business to be sold at maximum value. Gates and Company has an extensive network and substantial contacts to source candidates on As with buy-side work, selling a both the buy and sell side. Our direct business is something that is best involvement with a number of industry initiated in an anonymous fashion. organizations provides a constant flow of Gates and Company’s process emerging technology deals. involves the following steps: Gates and Company’s investment banking  Strategic positioning for value professionals have all had operating experience maximization. and understand the challenges that management  Financial analysis and valuation faces on a daily basis. of business.  Due diligence to speed process And Gates and Company’s management for prospective buyers. consulting business has domain experts with  Draft Offering Memorandum expertise to help businesses grow and maximize  Identification and ranking of their value. prospective buyers.  Anonymous contact and screening of potential buyers.  Coordination of accounting and legal activities related to the transaction. Please contact Gates and Company to see Negotiation and advisory  how we can help services to structure optimum maximize the value of deal. your next business transaction. Gates and Company has developed techniques and methods that can achieve transaction values in excess of a company’s market value.

GATES AND COMPANY • 4001 Kennett Pike, Suite 206, Wilmington, DE 19807 USA • +1.302.428.1338 ext 16 • www.gatesandcompany.com