Solomon Partners’ Post

🧩 M&A are high-stakes undertakings, with massive financial, operational and reputational risks for CEOs and their boards. In some cases, the future of an entire enterprise, not to mention the livelihoods of its employees, hangs in the balance. 👉🏻 Discover about the competitive edge for long-term success in the investment banking industry by Marc S. Cooper, Solomon Partners CEO, in his most recent Forbes Finance Council article “Beyond Gordon Gekko: The Business Case For Integrity” #m&a #megers #acquisitions #investmentbanking #businessethics #leadership #finance

Transitioning to a new country or jurisdiction throws up challenges for investment bankers to be successful! Piers Ronan, Managing Director, and Head of DCM Syndicate at Truist Securities in New York knows this better than most having moved to New York after 16 successful years building his career in London. I learnt from Piers that you need to develop relevant memory; he explained it as a synthetic memory 🧠 . He shared when you show up cold in a new jurisdiction or a new market, and you don't know any of the history of what has happened to the clients, how those companies have been formed, the deals that they've done, then you don't really have the context to cover those clients and to do business in that jurisdiction or that industry. So, you need to read a lot about what has happened in the past and internalize that, as well ask questions and be curious. Creating this ‘synthetic memory’ is critical to be successful in the new market. In addition to building memories, building a new network rapidly is critical. Given you do not have the benefit of growing up, with people from the graduate training program and so on, means putting in the extra effort to go and meet people and build relationships is key. 🎧 Tune in to this week’s episode to enjoy all Piers Insights: #leadership #investmentbanking #transition #altrum #dealtoys #growth https://lnkd.in/eG-NbgVm

Pricing a wealth management relationship can be one of the thorniest conversations had between relationship manager, management, and private client - particularly if the client has a gnawing feeling that he/she is getting ripped off and management won't entertain discounts. How much lower can wealth managers go before losing credibility and profitability? And how can wealth managers effectively stop this race to the bottom? Please join William Trout and David Lincoln to discuss these and other critical strategic pricing considerations for wealth managers. https://lnkd.in/gU2pbXew #pricing #compensation #humancapital #segmentation #talent #fees #technology #vision #strategy #revenue #sales #growth #innovation #banking #trust #Fiduciary #trustadministration #feerealization #pricing #privateclient #investments #banks #digital #leadership #Insights #wealthmanagement Luke Albertalli Danny Martin William Trout Lisa A. Brignoni Asher, CFA James Wolstenholme Lindsay Aenchbacher Amanda Pasicznyk Linda Venezio Jennifer Ham Michelle Cassis Boe Whitney Sale Vinod Jain Anne Houston Heidi Winkler Datos Insights David Lincoln

Phrase of the day: “Just because something is inexpensive doesn’t mean it’s a bargain.” In business valuation, this is especially true for distressed companies. A low price may seem attractive, but when debt is involved, strategy often shifts to creditors’ control. Without strong fundamentals—cash flow, market position, and recovery potential—a ‘cheap’ deal can quickly become a costly mistake. #strategy #businessvaluation #enterprisevalue #distressedbusiness

📢 I had the pleasure of interviewing Larry Grafstein, Deputy Chairman, Global Investment Banking at RBC Capital Markets. 📢 Larry is an Investment Banking titan with over 30 years of experience and over 1 trillion dollars in completed transactions. 💲🤝💲 Below are 11 key takeaways if you want to be successful in your role. 1) Don’t be afraid to ask for help 2) Don’t be afraid to say you don’t know something 3) Prioritize your relationships with your team & client 4) Take time to check in with people and build a network 5) Learn from everybody but be your authentic self 6) Work on interesting things and learn 7) Enjoy what you do 8) Make the most of the places you visit rather than just seeing it as a grind. 9) Down cycles help you build skills and strengthen relationships – Crises teach you new things, present opportunities and prepare you for the next one. 10) Don’t be anxious and ask yourself regularly, what’s really important? 11) Don’t be hard on yourself for the mistakes, we all make them, make sure you learn from them! Want to hear more from Larry, check out the link below for loads more insight and advice that will help you grow and develop into a top leader! https://lnkd.in/gFSXXd7K #investmentbanking #success #growth&development #dealtoys #financialtombstones #altrum

At Objective, Investment Banking & Valuation, we specialize in creating a strategy-driven sale process tailored to your unique situation that is designed to maximize your outcomes. Our approach diverges from the norm, offering insights and understanding that clients have found refreshingly honest and unprecedented, often leading them to observe, 'No one’s ever said that to us before’. Having worked with hundreds of CEOs to sell their business, one thing I know to be true is the importance of having a conversation with yourself about not only the technical and financial elements of the sale process, but also of the emotional elements that all too often get pushed aside - only to blindside the CEO (and their team) once the process has begun. Among the lengthy list of questions you should consider, some examples are: 1. How do I envision my role post-sale, if any? 2. Do I have a clear understanding of the post-sale financial implications for both the short-term and my future financial goals? 3. Have I considered the potential benefits of waiting or the risks of delaying a sale? 4. Do I have a clear investment strategy for the sale proceeds to ensure financial security? If you are interested in having a confidential conversation about your unique situation and walking through the questions I have seen to be critically important when creating a successful sale, reach out to me directly. #sellingmybusiness #ceo #entrepreneur #mergersandacquisitions #investmentbanking #exitplanning #ObjectiveIBV

What investment industry opportunities and challenges are most important to you as a business leader? Read about seven securities business trends to watch and contact me to discuss your priorities. https://lnkd.in/gzshT6Cm

What investment industry opportunities and challenges are most important to you as a business leader? Read about seven securities business trends to watch and contact me to discuss your priorities. https://lnkd.in/gFYzszAx

When hubris meets high finance, the result is a cautionary tale of epic proportions. The ultimate example of corporate warfare, "Barbarians at the Gate" by Bryan Burrough and John Helyar is all this and more. One of the most significant and controversial business deals in history, it details the dramatic 1988 leveraged buyout (LBO) of a blue-chip company, RJR Nabisco. It is all about a spendthrift CEO who, being obsessed with the low share prices of his firm, decides to address it through fancy financial engineering or LBO, which was in vogue in the '80s. The bidding war that followed was nothing short of a humdinger and makes the true story worth a read just for the thrills it provides. There were takeaways too: ▶ CULTURE IS KEY: RJR Nabisco's lax culture and lack of accountability on the part of the leader created an environment ripe for exploitation. ▶ COMPLACENCY IS A KILLER: The company's leadership became too comfortable and underestimated the threat posed by wading into the uncharted waters of high finance just for personal ambition. ▶ FINANCIAL ENGINEERING HAS ITS LIMITS: RJR Nabisco's reliance on quick fixes and financial gimmicks ultimately failed to address its underlying problems. ▶ EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP: RJR Nabisco’s CEO, Ross Johnson, illustrates the dangers of hubris in decision-making. CEOs must remain vigilant in navigating complexities and conflicts in high-stakes deals. ▶ ETHICS MATTER: The story is another reminder of the perils of sacrificing integrity for greed. ▶ ADVISOR IMPACT: Investment bankers, lawyers, and consultants play critical roles in M&A deals, and their expertise should be valued and carefully utilized. ▶ STRATEGIC NEGOTIATION: The intense bidding wars demonstrate how much of a chess play goes into high-stakes deals. Nothing is final until it is final. Recommended for a weekend read. #BarbariansAtTheGate #BusinessWarfare #CorporateFinance #LeadershipLessons

CEO Marc S. Cooper explores the factors holding back a full recovery in the overall M&A market and what it will take for it to rebound. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eFc7jHxG Forbes Finance Council #mergersandacquisitions #investmentbanking #PE #inflation #finance #interestrates #USeconomy