Whether buying or selling, the success of an M&A transaction is determined in the early stages. In this best practices article, Dr. Tim Bauer outlines five essential requirements that entrepreneurs should keep in mind: from clear goal definition and structured process planning to due diligence and company valuation. A concise guide for anyone seeking to strategically develop their business.

For business owners to deem the sale of their company a success, a series of critical conditions must often be met: ensuring the company’s long-term continuity, preserving key locations, and safeguarding jobs as comprehensively as possible. However, in nearly all cases, achieving the highest possible price remains of paramount importance. M&A experts Henryk Ciesielski and Andrej Kirschke outline the strategic levers business owners can utilize to assess and optimize their company’s value, and explain how to maximize the transaction proceeds effectively.

Mergers and acquisitions are always a difficult task. When they take place on an international level between several countries, all with a different business approach, the shovel becomes much wider. What skills are needed to handle the task professionally? And looking at current Franco-German relations: Does M&A have what it takes to positively influence the economies and politics of both countries? A conversation with Ian Kayanakis, Managing Partner France, and Head of Corporate M&A at enomyc.