In today's robust M&A climate, whether you're buying or selling, it's too easy to make a million-dollar mistake.

PSMJ's AEC Mergers & Acquisitions Essentials pre-conference workshop teaches architecture and engineering firm executives how to make smarter decisions and drive better deals... based on actual transactions that are happening right now in today's market conditions.

Add this one-day foundations program to your AEC M&A Summit registration for a fast and effective primer on the core principles driving the most successful transactions. You'll build your confidence, learn how the best deals come together, hear war stories about unexpected pitfalls, and get the guidance you need to execute a merger, firm sale, or acquisition that achieves goals.

More than a seminar, this 6-hour workshop delivers an equal mix of learning and doing to keep you engaged from start to finish. It's packed with case studies, exercises, and data on valuations and structures from real M&A deals, and facilitated by a seasoned expert who has advised both buyers and sellers in dozens of AEC transactions.

Whether on the buy side or the sell side, entering into a merger or acquisition can be a very risky bet. Even a seemingly small oversight or error in judgement can lead to a catastrophically expensive mistake.

That's why every minute of AEC Mergers & Acquisitions Essentials Workshop focuses on the latest strategies for structuring win-win transactions… from assessing valuations and finding the right counter party all the way to implementing a successful integration.

Key Takeaways

• How changing market conditions are impacting AEC transactions
• What buyers REALLY look for in a seller
• How sellers can negotiate a more favorable valuation and deal terms, and save time
• Find buyers without letting anyone know the firm is for sale
• How to quickly separate high-quality sellers from sinking ships
• When to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement and terms to watch for
• Strategies to keep discussions moving and to avoid stalled deals
• Key early signs that it isn’t going to work
• How to move from discussions to negotiations to agreement
• Easy ways to avoid overpaying or leaving money on the table
• Proven strategies to bridge a valuation gap… and when to walk away
• Sharpen your skills with a hands-on valuation and negotiation exercise
• When is the time right to draft a Letter of Intent?
• Examples of actual LOIs and what goes into them
• What should be binding and what should be non-binding in an LOI?
• The biggest blind spot in due diligence… and how to avoid it
• How to deal with problems discovered in due diligence
• How to keep running your business when a buyer is conducting due-diligence
• Why deals fall apart after the LOI
• What goes into getting the deal closed and what you can’t afford to overlook
• How to make the big announcement to clients and employees
• Real examples of successful and comprehensive acquisition integration plans.