Buy and Build Strategy
A strategy used by private equity firms looking to generate value and grow their returns
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What is Buy and Build?
The buy and build strategy is when a company expands its operations by acquiring a platform company with developed expertise that it can then build out. When a business requires growth and expansion, there are several possibilities to consider. The company can develop its internal capabilities that will drive the expansion, or it can buy a business with an already developed expertise in that area of specialization and build it out further.
The buy and build strategy adopts the latter option. The effect can create great value since the operations of several smaller firms combine to add value to the new firm. However, the success of the combination heavily depends on the platform company, which may result in destroying value if the strategy is not properly executed.
Benefits of Buy and Build
The buy and build strategy brings with it lots of benefits. The strategy is a platform for an organization to expand and grow. It enables organizations to expand through acquisitions that add value to their business. The development of skills in an organizational setting takes time and denies the organization the required expertise to flourish.
However, this time could be saved through the acquisition of such a strategy. The growth of an organization requires skills and expertise that support doing business and expanding to other markets successfully. The disadvantage of this strategy is that it will reduce the number of resources over time.
The acquired businesses, to some extent, determine the success of the merger. When buying existing firms, the company should go for firms that can work together as a team since it is easier to flourish together as a team. The buy and build strategy is common among private equity firms with a short holding period of between three and five years.
When investors put their funds into private equity, they do so expecting a reasonable amount of interest after an agreed period of time. The availability of these funds for short-term investments supports a private equity firm’s preference for the buy and build business model.
The acquisition process is challenging due to the sensitive nature of the company integration process. The implementation process, therefore, requires top-notch precision to press the right buttons for the strategy to work. The management team should be appropriate since they run the entire portfolio of companies.
Factors to Consider in a Buy and Build Strategy
1. Assess the capability
When engaging in the growth process, a company should first assess its capability to finance and manage the small entities that come together through a buy and build strategy. Certain entities can comfortably support the acquisition of such platforms and companies while others cannot. The approach that the company adopts should suit its growth and expansion plans.
Growth is a long-term strategy, and every entity should aim at expanding to other markets and localities, which should be reflected in increased revenue and profits. However, any miscalculation can see an entity on a decline rather than improve, due to wrong growth and expansion strategies.
2. Roll out strategically
The acquisition and, later, the integration of a platform company with the other companies can be an uphill task if not well thought out. The process should, therefore, be strategically taking every acquisition singly and with utmost care.
Every acquisition should be carefully embedded into the rest of the group carefully without the hurry to acquire the next company. This ensures that the management makes the right choices of companies that also blend in perfectly with other acquired entities. Otherwise, the organization would be based on a shaky foundation, which could lead to failure.
3. Invest in the right Industry
The industry, to a large extent, determines whether the buy and build strategy would work. Some industries are characterized by a lack of maturity and profitability, especially for short-term investments. The management team should pick a lucrative sector that will grow, blossom, and flourish within a short period.
Furthermore, the platform company should be best suited for the sector in question. The expertise will guide the organization towards a profitable future if the industry is the right one. The acquired companies should, therefore, be related to the sector, which ensures fast blending and saving time and money.
4. Achieve value from the merger
One of the main intentions of a buy and build strategy is the addition of value. When smaller entities are acquired and merged into an organization, the resulting combination should be a perfect match. The acquired companies should complement each other and add value to the combined entity.
For example, merging the smaller companies should make the cost of doing business lower, reduce operating expenses, and increase the volume of profits. The primary focus of any business is to make reasonable profits and pay its dues without difficulties. Expansion is also a priority, but the timing and roll-out strategy matters.
5. Prioritize customers
Customers are an essential component of any business because they bring in sales, profits, expenses, and the establishment itself. The business should prioritize the welfare of its customers since, without them, there would be no business to transact. When making any changes to the business, such as bringing in new small components through the buy and build model, customers should be informed of such intentions in advance.
Each of the acquired small companies should work to attract and retain their loyal customers into the combined business model. Show concern on their part and convince them of the benefits of the changes that occur in the business.
At the end of the buy and build strategy exercise, the customer should feel convinced that the move was necessary. Loyal customers can also be rewarded with discounts and prizes to spread the positive image of the organization.
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