Top Five Mergers and Acquisitions Consulting Firms

Summary: Discover more about some of the best-known mergers and acquisitions consulting firms that could help you in your next deal.

When you need help and serious business advice, it’s only natural to want to work with the best possible consultants you can get. But in the world of M&A, who are the best? This will largely depend on what country you are in and the nature of your business. Are you an international business – or trying to go international? Are you looking to buy or expand a business in another state or province? When it comes to narrowing down the list of merger and acquisition consulting firms you could work with, you must be clear on your own needs to ensure a good fit.

Here are, arguably, the top five M&A consulting firms in North America. Since this list is debatable, we have allocated the fifth spot to a very well-known group of consultancies often referred to as the “Top 3” and the rest of the list is comprised of the “Big 4”. Since this list is compiled in no particular order or ranking, the placement on the list does not infer superiority or inferiority.

• Deloitte
• Ernst&Young (EY)
• KPMG
• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
• McKinsey, BCG, and Bain & Co

What makes for a great mergers and acquisition consulting firm? First and foremost the quality of the services offered must be scrutinized and pass the highest standards. Lastly, you need to see the breadth of services and if one consultancy is capable of carrying the ball all the way through to touchdown. If you start with one firm will you need another to finish? Will you need to outsource some services? It’s important that you choose a mergers and acquisition consulting firm that is capable of handling your deal from the early days of target analyses to post-merger integration phases. Mergers and acquisition consulting can take a big chunk of your revenue of a sale, so you want to be sure you are spending that money wisely.

Deloitte and PwC

These two merger and acquisition consulting firms are powerhouses in the field. Their names are known far and wide, and for good reason. These two firms are often lauded for their analytic abilities and their use of data science. They are very well reviewed by their clients and have good advisory services for raising capital and investment banking information.

Bain & Co

This firm is considered to be in a league of its own when it comes to private equity. Their annual private equity report is considered an incredible resource on leadership in the private equity sector. They are a credible source for industry data and are often referenced for their research and studies. Interestingly, Bain & Co released figures in 2018 that demonstrated there was $1.7 trillion in capital available for M&A deals, but no suitable targets could be found.

Not Listed

There are many fantastic firms not listed or spoken of herein. Honestly, there are simply too many to mention. It is important to point out that some of the great, yet significantly smaller firms, fall under the “Boutique” category. These firms can be more nimble, more affordable and capable of handling end-to-end deals as well, but their brand recognition is usually lacking because of their size. Don’t be afraid to set up a meeting with these firms and see what they have to offer you. You might very well be surprised.

Depending on your goals as a corporation or a business looking to grow, having a reputable mergers and acquisition firm on your side could be the key to your success. It’s also important to recognize that as your business evolves and grows that your needs may change. You should always review your needs and goals and weigh them against your current consulting firm to ensure they are meeting your needs.