The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) market is a messy, fragmented space. Business owners looking to sell often find themselves caught between two extremes: the high-volume, low-value world of brokers or the rigid, transaction-focused approach of traditional M&A advisory firms. Neither truly serves the best interests of sellers or unlocks the full potential of their businesses. At Deal Leaders International (DLI), we do things differently. Our process is not just about closi

The value of M&A transactions in South Africa's mining sector in the 12 months to June 2024 was over $10 billion (according to PwC's annual SA mine report). To put it in context, that was more than the cumulative total of the five preceding years. Why is there robust deal activity when SA macroeconomic indicators is nothing to write home about? When delving into SA mining, production levels have not trended in the right direction. A more pertinent question at this stage - can

Companies planning their mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategies must take proactive steps to position themselves for optimum success. With many businesses approaching their financial year-end in February, now is the time to assess market readiness and fine-tune exit strategies. Deal Leaders International (DLI) recently held a discussion on the critical factors that business owners should consider when preparing for an M&A transaction in the coming year. 7 Key Steps to E

The Facilities Management industry is experiencing a period of significant growth, attracting interest from different acquirers ranging from trade players to Private Equity and Investment Holding Companies. Several key factors are driving this growth, from the rise in outsourcing services to the growing emphasis on sustainability, technology integration, and South Africa’s private and public sector infrastructure expansion. As businesses seek specialised expertise to optimi

Businesses in the IT, technology and software sectors are having to adapt to rapid technological advancements, creating a fertile mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape. A key trend is the growing interest from international buyers in South African tech and software companies. Canadian, US, European and UAE-based buyers, in particular, are increasingly drawn to South African businesses for their high-quality intellectual property (IP) and cost-effective solutions. We’re

Selling a business is a significant milestone – one that often defines the legacy of an owner’s life’s work. At Deal Leaders International, we understand this. As such, our clients achieve higher offers on their businesses compared to what they might expect from a typical valuation. In 2024, Deal Leaders was able to achieve an average premium of 30% on valuation expectation; 82% of the clients received multiple offers; empowering them with choice to help identify the right bu