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5: M&A Zing (Ep. 5) – The Top 10 Deal Killers in SMB M&A
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Welcome to Episode 5 of M&A Zing - a weekly show for acquisition entrepreneurs, search funds, and holdco builders across the UK and Europe. In this episode, Alfie Lambert and Gareth Hawkins break down the *Top 10 reasons* why small & mid-market M&A deals fail. Plus, they kick off with big news about recent SBA policy changes in the US - and how it might actually boost UK and EU dealmaking.
*Timestamps:*
[00:00:11] Introduction & Welcome
[00:00:35] This Week’s News: New SBA Foreign Ownership Ban
[00:05:16] Top 10 SME M&A Deal Killers
1. Valuation Disagreements [00:06:00]
2. Overly Complex Deal Structures [00:10:00]
3. Lack of Adequate Finance/Funding [00:13:00]
4. Revaluation from Quality of Earnings [00:16:45]
5. “Re-Trading” Tactics [00:20:00]
6. Protracted Legal Processes [00:25:00]
7. Regulatory & Legal Hurdles [00:28:30]
8. Shifts in Market/Economic Conditions [00:31:00]
9. Inadequate Advisory & Legal Support [00:35:00]
10. Cultural & Management Mismatches [00:36:30]
[00:39:45] Teaser for Next Episode: Interview with an Emerging UK Searcher
[00:40:46] Wrap-Up & Sign-Off – “Keep on Crunching!”
*Episode Highlights*
- *Valuation Disagreements*: Emotional vs. financial views on pricing
- *Complex Structures & Funding Gaps*: How buyers juggle leverage, deferred payments, & SBA-like loans
- *Surprises in Due Diligence*: Re-trading & quality-of-earnings adjustments
- *Culture Clash*: Why the ‘human side’ of M&A can be a deal-breaker
*Have questions or feedback?* Drop them in the comments, or join our BizCrunch Community for private AMAs and early access to eBooks like *Cultural Cohesion: Strategies for Integrating Teams Post-Acquisition*.
---
### About M&A Zing
Hosted by:
- *Alfie Lambert* – Co-Founder of BizCrunch (multiple-time startup founder, resident outreach expert)
- *Gareth Hawkins* – Co-Founder & CEO of BizCrunch (serial acquirer, M&A investor)
Each week, we dive into the real-world challenges of SMB M&A—especially in the UK & EU markets.
---
### Join the BizCrunch Community
If you’d like to attend our livestream recordings (and private Q&A), sign up here: https://www.bizcrunch.co/community
*Community Perks*
- Early access to new episodes
- Live Q&A with hosts & guests
- Networking with other acquirers & investors
---
### Thanks for Watching!
If you enjoy this episode, please *like*, *subscribe*, and turn on notifications. Got questions or feedback? Drop them in the comments—or join our community for the private AMA.
*#MergersAndAcquisitions #SearchFunds #Entrepreneurship #BizCrunch #Dealmakers*
*Timestamps:*
[00:00:11] Introduction & Welcome
[00:00:35] This Week’s News: New SBA Foreign Ownership Ban
[00:05:16] Top 10 SME M&A Deal Killers
1. Valuation Disagreements [00:06:00]
2. Overly Complex Deal Structures [00:10:00]
3. Lack of Adequate Finance/Funding [00:13:00]
4. Revaluation from Quality of Earnings [00:16:45]
5. “Re-Trading” Tactics [00:20:00]
6. Protracted Legal Processes [00:25:00]
7. Regulatory & Legal Hurdles [00:28:30]
8. Shifts in Market/Economic Conditions [00:31:00]
9. Inadequate Advisory & Legal Support [00:35:00]
10. Cultural & Management Mismatches [00:36:30]
[00:39:45] Teaser for Next Episode: Interview with an Emerging UK Searcher
[00:40:46] Wrap-Up & Sign-Off – “Keep on Crunching!”
*Episode Highlights*
- *Valuation Disagreements*: Emotional vs. financial views on pricing
- *Complex Structures & Funding Gaps*: How buyers juggle leverage, deferred payments, & SBA-like loans
- *Surprises in Due Diligence*: Re-trading & quality-of-earnings adjustments
- *Culture Clash*: Why the ‘human side’ of M&A can be a deal-breaker
*Have questions or feedback?* Drop them in the comments, or join our BizCrunch Community for private AMAs and early access to eBooks like *Cultural Cohesion: Strategies for Integrating Teams Post-Acquisition*.
---
### About M&A Zing
Hosted by:
- *Alfie Lambert* – Co-Founder of BizCrunch (multiple-time startup founder, resident outreach expert)
- *Gareth Hawkins* – Co-Founder & CEO of BizCrunch (serial acquirer, M&A investor)
Each week, we dive into the real-world challenges of SMB M&A—especially in the UK & EU markets.
---
### Join the BizCrunch Community
If you’d like to attend our livestream recordings (and private Q&A), sign up here: https://www.bizcrunch.co/community
*Community Perks*
- Early access to new episodes
- Live Q&A with hosts & guests
- Networking with other acquirers & investors
---
### Thanks for Watching!
If you enjoy this episode, please *like*, *subscribe*, and turn on notifications. Got questions or feedback? Drop them in the comments—or join our community for the private AMA.
*#MergersAndAcquisitions #SearchFunds #Entrepreneurship #BizCrunch #Dealmakers*
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