markus.salmijarvi

Physical cheques never gained popularity in Africa, though they remain in use in America; why is this? Slow transportation links, fraud, and limited access to formal banking were to blame on the continent.

Being ‘ahead of the curve’ often suggests that a company possesses innovative qualities, setting it apart from its competitors. Yet, proclaiming this without solid evidence could raise eyebrows among potential investors.

As rumours of the discovery of gold spread across the nation, the first millionaire of the California Gold Rush was not mining the gold itself but capitalising on the miners’ needs, selling picks, shovels, and pans. Companies can turn to this metaphor to evaluate whether their business model will stand the test of time, rather than chasing short-lived trends and ‘striking gold’.

The PE market is facing an impending maturity wall, but there is a glimmer of hope thanks to Cava Group’s (the VC-backed Mediterranean restaurant chain) listing on the NYSE in June 2023. As the most successful IPO for a US company since July 2022, Cava’s listing signals a potential resurgence in the IPO market.

Identifying synergies between companies is often the first and perhaps the most important step in the acquisition process, as it should in most instances form the foundational justification for a merger or acquisition.

Securing funding for a company is a complex task, and one of the most underestimated elements is the acknowledgement of competitors. It is a common mistake for founders and CEOs to claim that they face little or no competition. Such a scenario is, in fact, rarely the case and often serves as a red flag for potential investors.

Private markets are known for their illiquidity compared to public securities that allow investors to unwind positions quickly. However, private equity returns have historically outperformed public equities due to risk-return profiles.

In March and April 2023, China’s outbound payments were made predominately in Renminbi (RMB), a first for the currency.

There are benefits of consistently tracking your M&A pipeline – but once you have identified possible targets, how do you begin making acquisitions?