Webinar – M&A 101

Understanding mergers and acquisitions can be complex — but having the right strategy can unlock significant growth opportunities. .

In this M&A 101 webinar, Romain Ly, Senior Director, M&A and Finance, provides a practical, high-level introduction to the M&A landscape.

From deal structures to valuation methods and integration challenges, this session covers the essential elements business leaders need to know before entering an acquisition or sale process.

Whether you’re planning an exit, exploring acquisitions, or simply looking to better understand M&A, this webinar delivers actionable insights based on real-world experience.

What you will learn: 

Who is this webinar for?

✔ Corporate Development & Strategy Leaders
Head of Strategy, Corporate Development, Growth Leaders

✔ Finance Leaders
CFO, Finance Director, VP Finance

✔ Private Equity & Investors
Investment professionals evaluating acquisition opportunities

✔ Business Owners & Founders
Planning an exit or exploring growth through acquisitions

Webinar agenda:

• • Introduction to M&A and market overview
• • Types of M&A transactions: Horizontal, Vertical, and Conglomerate
• • M&A deal structures: Acquisitions, Mergers, and Strategic Investments
• • Sell-side process: From preparation to closing
• • Buy-side process: Strategy, sourcing, and execution
• • Common integration challenges and how to avoid them
• • Live Q&A session

Questions and Answers

Below you will find the answers to the questions raised during the webinar, prepared by our expert Romain Ly.

Please note that these answers are provided for general information purposes only and do not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice.

If you have questions related to your specific situation or that of your organization, we encourage you to contact us directly.

What tools do you use for your target list creation? 

Leyton uses its own internal tools developed by our tech team in Casablanca.  

How do you price your services (flat fee,% of deal value, etc.)? 

We typically use a flexible fee structure combining hourly or retainer fees with a success fee, with any upfront fees credited against the success fee to align incentives.

What industries and deal size do you target? 

We are largely industry-agnostic, and for deals outside our scope, we collaborate with partner firms—allowing clients to benefit from two advisors without negatively impacting the economics. 

What steps would you recommend to prepare a corporation for sale (internal processes, execution, sales strategy, pipeline, etc.)? 

Prepare early by cleaning up financials, strengthening management and processes, documenting operations and KPIs, building a clear growth story and pipeline, addressing risks, and running a competitive, well-targeted sale process to maximize valuation. 

Has a higher interest rate environment impacted valuation multiples or deal structures? 

Yes, higher interest rates have generally compressed valuation multiples and led to more conservative deal structures, including greater use of earn-outs, seller financing, and equity rollovers. 

How small of a business do you assist in selling or buying? 

For both sell-side engagements, we typically target companies with $5M–$65M in revenue and a minimum of 10% EBITDA margins. 

For buy-side engagements, we typically target companies with $3M–$65M in revenue and a minimum of 10% EBITDA margins. 

What can organizations do to prepare for integration? 

Organizations can prepare for integration by establishing a clear integration plan, aligning leadership and culture, identifying synergies early, cleaning and standardizing data and processes, and setting up dedicated teams to ensure smooth execution post-close. 

Does your sell-side analysis focus on future performance or past results? 

Our sell-side analysis is a blend of both historical performance and future growth potential, using past results to validate trends while positioning a compelling forward-looking story. 

Can you explain selling or buying a minority company structure? 

Buying or selling a minority stake involves acquiring less than a controlling interest, allowing founders to retain control while providing investors with participation in growth, typically with negotiated rights around governance, economics, and exit. 

What are the common methods used to value companies? 

Most common methods used to value companies include EBITDA multiple valuation, comparable analysis, precedent transactions, and DCF. 

What is the #1 issue in a sale that causes deals to fail? 

Some issues that cause deals to fail include a mismatch in valuation expectations between buyer and seller, critical issues uncovered during diligence that lead to price or structural renegotiation, and misalignment on integration plans in the final phase.