M&A Red Flags That Can Kill Your Deal (and How to Avoid Them)

Guest:

Nicholas Spezio

Host:

Melissa Aarskaug

Episode Overview:

In today’s high-stakes M&A market, fortunes are made—or lost—in the fine print. Nicholas Spezio, Head of Transaction Services at Expo Group, joins Executive Connect to reveal the deadly mistakes and red flags that derail deals before they even close. From churn misclassifications to aggressive EBITDA add-backs, Nicholas breaks down the subtle traps that erode trust and value, and explains how both buyers and sellers can safeguard the purchase price. Whether you’re a founder preparing for acquisition, a CFO navigating due diligence, or an investor seeking clarity, this episode is packed with practical insights to help you spot the pitfalls before it’s too late. What You’ll Learn:

• The #1 red flag: churn and misclassified recurring vs non-recurring revenue
• The Adjusted EBITDA gap—and why aggressive add-backs kill credibility
• What great financial, tax, and operational due diligence actually looks like
• A smarter approach to working capital that saves time, cost, and conflict
• How SaaS/FinTech founders and AI startups should prepare for a deal
• The seller’s playbook for protecting the purchase price

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