3 Bridges Every Deal Needs

Table of Contents

• Welcome to the M&A Mindset!

  • Interesting Infographic

  • M&A Topic Briefing

  • Articles of Interest

  • Educational Resources

  • Spreadsheet Tips & Tricks

  • Good Reads This Week

  • From The Benchmark Blog

  • Industry Associations

  • Friends of the M&A Mindset

  • Lighten Up!

  • M&A Merch

  • Rate This Week's Issue

INTERESTING INFOGRAPHIC

Each week, I feature a visually engaging infographic that distills a key M&A subject area into an easy-to-digest format. These quick reference guides aim to deliver clarity, insight, and practical understanding at a glance.

3 Bridges Every Deal Needs

M&A TOPIC BRIEFING

In this section, I provide a clear, concise overview of a specific topic, trend, or concept within the realm of M&A. The goal is to educate, inform, and spark discussions on relevant subjects, helping you deepen your knowledge and better navigate the complexities of M&A more confidently.

5 Assumptions That Break Deals

The Smart Money Is Already Moving

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ARTICLES OF INTEREST

• Goldman Sachs: M&A Volume Expected to Surge - Goldman Sachs expects a meaningful increase in M&A volume, driven by improving financing conditions, AI-driven strategic activity, and renewed corporate confidence.

• A Small Business CFO's 10-Point Checklist Before Selling Your Company - A CFO outlines a 10-step playbook for owners preparing to sell, emphasizing clean, credible financials, operational readiness, and early preparation to maximize valuation and avoid surprises during diligence.

• Selling Your Business? Ask Your Buyer These 5 Questions To Ensure A Good Fit - Before closing a deal, sellers should vet the buyer’s intentions, values, financial capability, and plans for the business and team, because the right fit is critical to preserving legacy and ensuring long-term success.

• M&A in the AI Era: What Buyers Can Do to Confirm and Protect Value - As AI becomes a central driver of deal value, M&A transactions require deeper diligence, more complex deal structures (like earnouts), and stronger contractual protections to address risks around data, model performance, and regulation.

• M&A Success Rate Rises to 70% But Firms Must Navigate 7 Potential Missteps - While M&A success rates among experienced, repeat acquirers have improved to around 70%, most deals still fail without disciplined execution.

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

• Wall Street Oasis: Elite Modeling Course

• Coursera: Introduction to Finance & Accounting (Wharton - UPenn)

• Wall Street Prep: How To Build A 3-Statement Model

• Corporate Finance Institute: Introduction to Mergers & Acquisitions

• Data Camp: Financial Modeling in Excel

SPREADSHEET TIPS & TRICKS

Master Financial Modeling from Elite Practitioners

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GOOD READS THIS WEEK

FROM THE BENCHMARK BLOG

My firm, Benchmark International, a global, award-winning sell-side M&A company, has a ton of great resources that help anyone considering selling or buying a business get more educated on all aspects of the process. Below is just one helpful article. Check out Benchmark International for many more useful articles, news, and resources.

• Why Multi-Party Sale Processes are an Opportunity for Buyers

INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS

Trade Associations in the M&A Industry

• Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)

• Alliance of Mergers & Acquisitions Advisors (AMAA)

• The M&A Advisor

FRIENDS OF THE M&A MINDSET

From time to time, we’ll highlight newsletters and podcasts we genuinely read, listen to, and respect across M&A, PE, and the broader deal ecosystem.
No paid placements. No mass promotions. Just thoughtful, high-quality content that complements the M&A Mindset.

Here’s a few newsletters that I’ve signed up for and found interesting. Thought you might enjoy checking them out.

Have something to suggest that we should know about? Reach out. 

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LIGHTEN UP!

In the fast-paced world of M&A, we can sometimes take things (and ourselves) a bit too seriously, so it’s good to remember to enjoy a lighter moment now and then.

Inside The AI Startup Elon Musk Is Betting $60B On

M&A MERCH

Here’s a find for us finance folks to grab some M&A-inspired swag. Stuff for those of us that speak fluent EBITDA. If you find others that have great deal-themed gear, send them this way so we can let everyone know. Enjoy!

• Merch & Acquisition Co. - Dress Like You Just Closed