Since 2005, we have a history of helping others achieve what they didn’t think they could. We do this by not telling you what you want to hear, but often helping you understand what you need to hear. We are a reality check, validating what you think you know, or identifying what you need to do.
About CoPilot
Our value is having you control your destiny, whether buying or selling, but you always know we are there to guide you. To enable you through direct involvement, but mitigate the risks of doing something metaphorically dangerous by yourself.
The Goal
The goal of our engagement is a positive, beneficial M&A transaction that is successful for both buyers and sellers, as that is the point of engaging in it. Success comes from humans being engaged, not in theory, but in practice; being lead by experienced consultants who know what, when and how to get things done. That is the goal, win-win; on time, low stress, high value.
Our Teams
Our teams consist of a project manager who is the organizer of all things. Planning and scheduling the pace of success, running the necessary collaboration to validate assumptions into facts, and communicate regularly to build and maintain confidence in the ‘deal’. Deal dependent, we bring in legal, financial and specific due diligence expertise. Each deal is aligned with a sponsor who has expertise in your industry to guide the process, but critically align it with success for both buyers and sellers.
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”You are neither right nor wrong because the crowd disagrees with you. You are right because your data and reasoning are right.
Warren BuffetOracle of Omaha
”Our Business is really simple. When you look at deal and its structure looks like an octopus or a spider, just don't do it.
Timothy SloanCFO Wells Fargo
Understanding the Acquisition Curve
1
This is the stage when you are looking for a company. This is where you define whether you are going scope or scale. Scope adding services to what you do not do, or scale, adding services to grow what you already do.
2
Narrowing down a few opportunities, doing an LOI, NDA and starting the due diligence process. This is where you will succeed or fail. Don’t let assumptions, no matter how small become facts. Your due dilligence shapes both the deal AND the integration plan.
3
Uh oh. Reality is here, the pain (y) to the P&L and emotional effort is very high. The CFO is involved now and asking questions. The ‘slope’ of the curve defines how many meetings you’ll attend to explain the problem.
4
People are usually fired here, and the founders of the acquired company want to renegotiate their earn out (or quit). This is a serious time, where a public company might need to provide the pubic a negative update on M&A results. No joke here. It impacts stock price or if private, the future value of your company.
5
Most don’t get here after hitting the valley (#4). It usually takes external resources to fix it, renegotiate earnouts and daily project meetings. A KPMG study indicates that 83% of merger deals did not boost shareholder returns
6
This is the goal, making an acquisition to add value, on the P&L and future forecast (both of which are part of company valuations). It also can be done without the emotional pain, physical effort and meetings to prepare for other meetings.
7
Few get here. The path isn’t that hard, just needs to be proactive at Step 1. Invest in a team that is tactical in their approach, makes no assumptions and is motivated for future success, not just getting the deal done. Schedule time with CoPilot
A KPMG study indicates that 83% of merger deals did not boost shareholder returns. It can be avoided, just need to be proactive with the right team, with the right experienced aligned with true success, not just getting the deal done.
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”When you see a merger between two giants in a declining industry, it can look like the financial version of a couple having a baby to save a marriage.
Adam DavidsonCo-Founder NPR Planet Money
”Every single time you make a merger, somebody is losing his identity. And saying something different is just rubbish.
Carlos GhosnBrazillian Businessman
Our Services
Stablize
Optimize, Tune Up
Optimize, Tune Up
We act as your advisor as if we are buying your company. We look at your sales, marketing, operations, financials and human resources. We drive profit to you and prepare you for SEC level due diligence.
Tune Up Now
Target Identification
Find & Filter
Find & Filter
Find and filter based on criteria; flexible enough to not miss diamonds in the rough, and disciplined to not waste anyone’s time.
Find a Business
Due Diligence
Ask & Verify
Ask & Verify
Ask smart questions, validating the answers is due diligence. Asking wrong questions and trusting the answers is called risk.
Verify a Business
Merger Integration
Plan & Execute
Plan & Execute
The deal is not done when the deal gets signed. It is just the beginning. This is where you get the results you need.
Merge a Business
We often align M&A activity with dating; finding the right company, spending time to get to know them, and then coming together to create something better than you were before. It is the essence of M&A, but often forgotten.
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”Go for a business that any idiot can run - because sooner or later, any idiot probably is going to run it
Peter LynchBusinessman and stock investor
”I have never cared what something costs; I care what it's worth.
Ari EmanuelTalent Agent
TuneUp & Selling Your Business
CoPilot helps you do an internal evaluation and identifies those things going well and those things you need to fix, with a specific action to get it done. All of which drives your valuation higher, speeds the process and mitigates problems; the trifecta of good deal making.
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”As you travel down life’s highway…whatever be your goal, you cannot sell a doughnut without acknowledging the hole.
Harold J. ShaylerLegendary Sales Guru
”“Dealmaking [is] a profession unto itself – the world’s highest paying profession. Things don’t just fall into place by accident. A good dealmaker understands that it’s his job to finesse things into place.”
AnonymousUnknown Smart Person
”If I had to run a company on three measures, those measures would be customer satisfaction, employee satisfaction and cash flow.
Jack WelchGE CEO / Guru
Buying a Business
CoPilot is right there with you, defining the approach, finding, filtering and acting as the extension of your plan. We know the process, the pitfalls and how to mitigate your risks. This is the time to do it right, validating assumptions, documenting details now, saves a failed deal or worse, failed business later.
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”The safest way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket
Frank McKinney HubbardCartoonist, Humorist and Journalist
”Explain the value and justify the cost - People don’t mind paying; they just don’t like to overpay.
Chris MurraySelling with EASE
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”Contact Us and we'll get back to you for an initial consultation. We'd like to talk about your goals, timeline and concerns with buying or selling. We've been in your shoes, let us help you know what we know, avoid mistakes, solidify your plan and jumpstart your future.
Dave ArmstrongCoPilot Founder & Managing Partner