Merger & Acquisition Strategy and Consulting

What is M&A Strategy and Consulting?

M&A strategy and consulting involves more than just executing transactions. It’s about aligning deals with your business objectives, managing risk and building a foundation for lasting value. A successful approach begins with clear strategic intent, identifying why the transaction matters and what success should look like after the close. From assessing potential targets to planning integration, M&A consulting brings structured guidance to help organizations move with clarity and purpose.

Effective M&As require detailed planning and rigorous analysis at every stage. Without a well-structured strategy, deals can stall or fall short of expected returns. Weaver’s approach focuses on thorough due diligence, cultural alignment and operational compatibility. We address key transaction dimensions — from assisting with evaluating a target and potential deal issues to integrating systems and teams — to help avoid disruptions and preserve value.

Each M&A strategy is tailored to the specific dynamics of your business and market environment. We prioritize what drives sustainable outcomes, ensuring that your transaction is not only completed but also delivers results aligned with your strategic vision.

The stakes in any merger or acquisition are high. Any missed opportunities or flawed integration can lead to financial losses, reduced market share or cultural misalignment that can stall performance. M&A consulting is essential because it helps organizations identify and address these risks early, while building a structured roadmap for long-term value creation.

Strategic planning, rigorous due diligence and thoughtful integration are key to unlocking the benefits of a transaction. With the right guidance, companies are better equipped to evaluate potential targets, structure favorable terms, communicate effectively with stakeholders and integrate people, processes and technology for a lasting, positive impact.

Whether you’re in early-stage planning or navigating post close integration, we architect actionable insights, positioning your business for success.

• Corporate development support: We help you refine your acquisition or divestiture strategy to align with broader business objectives. This includes identifying growth opportunities, assisting in evaluating fit and mapping strategic priorities across potential deals.
• Preliminary valuation assessment: Gain a clearer picture of a target’s value before deeper diligence begins. Our valuation assessments provide directional guidance that support offer strategies and internal decision-making.
• Decision and execution support: Detailed project management keeps transactions on course. Our teams coordinate due diligence, address issues as they arise and maintain momentum through closing.
• Financial modeling and scenario planning: Recognize potential deal outcomes and associated risks through customized modeling. We can assist with performing scenarios analyses to support data-driven decision-making and stress-test assumptions.
• Tax structuring and planning: Maximize deal efficiency with forward-looking tax planning that considers structure, jurisdiction and long-term impact. We work closely with your tax and legal teams to uncover risks and optimize value.
• ESOP Feasibility Assessment: Evaluate whether an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) aligns with your financial and strategic goals. We assess structure options, tax implications and stakeholder readiness.
• IT review: Assess the readiness and compatibility of systems and infrastructure for post deal integration. This includes identifying technology gaps, cybersecurity risks and potential synergies.
• Purchase and Sale Agreement (PSA), closing mechanics and true-up support: Assist in helping minimize closing adjustments and true-ups post transaction.
• Management continuity planning: Plan for leadership transitions and organizational stability during and after the deal. We help assess key personnel risks and align leadership structures with future-state needs.
• Integration planning and execution: Build and execute a roadmap that brings people, systems and processes together effectively. Our integration approach emphasizes communication, culture and operational continuity.
• Quality of earnings (QofE) analysis: Understand the true financial performance of a target before committing. Our QoE analyses uncover potential red flags, normalize earnings and support better-informed negotiations.