In this episode of The Forward Thinking CFO, we were joined by the hugely knowledgeable Paul Lines, Corporate Finance Advisor and Consultant at Garwood Solutions, a firm that advises Professional Services and IT firms, as well as their investors.
Paul specialises in helping firms to grow and develop through mergers and acquisitions, and having been in the business for over 20 years, he’s practically a lifelong M&A practitioner, with a wealth of deals under his belt. In this episode Paul talks about his career to date, the many reasons why firms consider mergers and acquisitions, and the key steps involved in the process.
During their discussion, Stephen and Paul explore a number of topics, including:
- The compelling reasons for firms to consider M&A as a growth driver, even in challenging times.
- Why sellers must be prepared for negotiations – with their financial house fully in order.
- The current upswing in the M&A market, fuelled by pent-up demand and private equity activity.
- Common pitfalls to navigate, especially when contemplating international acquisitions.
- The need for buyers to be crystal-clear on their strategic objectives to identify their ideal acquisition targets.
Paul also offers valuable advice to those who may be interested in specialising in M&A. So whether you’re a business leader, just starting out in your career, or an established CFO with an interest in M&A, this fascinating conversation will give you plenty of real, actionable advice to prepare you for the road ahead.
We’re keen to hear your thoughts on this episode, so please do get in touch below with any feedback you have.
If you want to find out more about Paul, check out his LinkedIn profile – https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-lines/?originalSubdomain=uk
If you want to learn more about Garwood Solutions, take a look at their website – http://www.garwoodsolutions.com