10Minutes on making divestitures successful

Download 10Minutes on making divestitures successful

Market dynamics have changed dramatically since the second half of 2007. The credit crisis, volatile stock markets, and recession have put sellers at a disadvantage: they face fewer buyers, more caution, and lower deal multiples. At the same time, those same market forces are exposing marginally performing businesses and are compelling companies to explore multiple options—including divestitures—as a way to raise cash, shed debt, or improve performance.

In such an environment, the onus is on the seller to get the deal done. It begins by understanding which dynamics have changed and how effective sellers are operating within the new constraints. The reality is that for the most part, the fundamentals of effective deal making haven’t changed; it’s just never been more important to apply them.

Highlights

• A well-managed divestiture process allows the seller to evaluate the business from a buyer’s perspective and best position it for sale.
• Avoiding delays in deal execution is critical to protecting the value of the sale.
• Sellers must start separating the operations of the unit and the parent company at the same time as they start preparing for a deal.
• Market uncertainty has many buyers waiting for the right time to act. Smart sellers are preparing for the unexpected, including dual-track transactions (sale or spin-off) or other alternative structures.