An ebook by Dr. Tom McKaskill
Breakthrough Publications (299 pages, 1.5 MB)
Ultimate Acquisitions sets out a systematic and pragmatic process for identifying, evaluating, valuing and integrating financial and strategic acquisitions. Dr. McKaskill draws extensively on his own experience as a CPA, entrepreneur and academic as well as his personal experience with acquisitions and the sale of his businesses. His approach brings a systematic and comprehensive approach to growing the business through acquisitions. Tom combines his personal and professional knowledge with advice from successful entrepreneurs, business advisors and venture capitalist to create his unique Acquisition Strategy Index and the Operational Management Index.
"Successful acquirers know that there is a lot more to achieving a positive return on an acquisition investment than buying cheap or opportunistically. An acquisition needs to fit into a long term strategy of the company and must be evaluated thoroughly to ensure that the company has the capability and capacity to exploit its potential. At the heart of the evaluation is the problem of cultural fit. Successful acquirers know that the existing culture of the newly acquired business is the best predictor of ultimate successful integration and thus turn away from acquisitions which will be difficult to absorb. The risks inherent in any acquisition are substantially reduced by proper planning and due diligence and by having the right people to manage the acquired business."
TESTIMONIALS:
“This book will change the way you think about acquisitions and it
should improve your ability to select, evaluate and manage acquisitions.
Too often the acquisition literature uses a ‘one size fits all’ approach
to how acquisitions are evaluated and integrated. I found the way that
Dr McKaskill dealt with the various types of acqusitions the most useful
aspect of this book. It certainly made me think about the acquisitions
we have done in a different way. I think there is a natural assumption
that the acquired business must be integrated, but this book breaks that
paradigm. The pragmatic approach set out in this book should greatly
help companies grow and prosper.”
Christian Larsen, Director Mergers and Acquisitions, Runge Limited
“Having worked through a merger since 2000, as CEO of the merged entity I can really relate to what I’ve read in Ultimate Acquisitions. Shortly after our merger I searched Amazon for something to guide me. Nothing of use was available except a wordy treatise written for large corporations that was totally useless for small businesses.
Your book struck a chord with me and would have been a real god send if I had had the opportunity to read it five or six years ago. You’ve filled an important market gap.”
Ken Fife, CEO, AutoIT
“I commend this text as a very practical guide for entrepreneurs looking to
grow by acquisition. Tom stresses the need for the acquirer to be ‘match
fit’ and for there to be a good cultural fit between the businesses to be
merged. My experience is that without these foundations, your acquisition is
very unlikely to succeed.”
Jim McElwain, Director, McElwain Consulting Limited