Capstone Webinar:
Finding Opportunity for Growth in Tough Times
CPE Credit Awarded
Thursday, April 8, 2010; 1:00 PM ET

David Braun, CEO of Washington, DC- based external growth consulting firm Capstone, is hosting a webinar.

David will focus on where you can find opportunity for growth in the toughest economy in a generation.  His main message remains, “If not now, when?”

You and your company may be trying to simply weather the current storm, but others, perhaps even your competitors, are getting stronger now and positioning themselves for the future.  David will offer solutions for how you can take advantage of the current climate.

After completing this course, you will be able to:
•    Use Statistical Evidence and Trends to Discuss Today’s Economy from a Historic Perspective
•    Define the Five Growth Options for Your Company
•    Explain why External Growth (Acquisition, Joint Venture, etc.) Can Be the Best Option for Your Company
•    Describe the Current State of the M&A Market Using Relevant Statistics and Indicators
•    Begin to Develop a Formalized Step-by-step M&A Process for Your Company

David will speak for approximately 50 minutes followed by a question-and-answer session.

Date:  Thursday, April 8, 2010
Time: 1:00 PM ET/ Noon CT/ 11:00 AM MT/ 10:00 AM PT

No Prerequisites or Advanced Preparation needed!

To register, click here:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/692231858

Registration Fee: $79

IMPORTANT PAYMENT INFORMATION:  Once you register, we will send you a request for payment via PayPal (may take up to 24 hours).  Once payment is confirmed, your registration will be approved and you will receive the log-in information for the webinar.

CPE Credits – 1 CPE credit in Business Management and Organization will be given for those attending this webinar
Program Level:  Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet-Based

Mark your calendar for our upcoming webinars for CPE Credit:
•    Thursday, May 6, 2010 1 PM ET: “Identifying the Right Markets for Expansion” - 1 credit in Business Management and Organization
•    Friday, June 5, 2010 1 PM ET: “How to Find Top-Notch Companies” - 1 credit in Business Management and Organization

Please feel free to forward this information on to anyone who might be interested in corporate growth strategies.

Refund policy: Requests for refunds must be received in writing by 1:00 PM ET Wednesday, April 7 and the money will be refunded in full within 5 business days.  After 1:00 PM ET on Wednesday, April 7, a credit will be given for a future webinar.  In the event of a cancellation, you will be given the option of of a full refund or applying your fee to a future webinar.

For questions or concerns, please contact Matt Craft, Capstone’s Marketing Coordinator, at 703-854-1910 or mcraft@capstonestrategic.com

Capstone Strategic, Inc. is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy as a sponsor of continuing professional education of the National Registry of CPE Sponsors.  State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit.  Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors, 150 4th Ave N, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219-2417. Website: www.nasba.org

Technorati Tags: Acquisition Strategy, acquisitions, business acquisitions, Capstone, Cisco, CPE, David Braun, demand, External Growth, M&A, M&A News, mergers, Mergers and Acquisitions, webinar

There was an excellent profile in last weekend’s Wall Street Journal of Cisco Systems and its CEO, John Chambers. Cisco is a company that “gets it”.  In some of the most difficult economic conditions of our lifetime, Cisco is not hiding its head in the sand.  Here is Chambers’ philosophy:

Even in this downturn, we intend to be the most aggressive we’ve ever been.

That is saying something for Cisco.  Since Chambers took over as CEO in 1995, Cisco has been a bold acquirer.  As the article says:

Cisco’s growth plan has combined audacity in acquisitions and attacking new markets with strict, even ruthless control over costs.

The result of this growth plan?  I could lay it out in words, but you know that a picture says it better - look at Cisco’s performance against the major stock indices since 1990:

Cisco is represented by the blue line.

Pretty impressive.  Being aggressive during down times and constantly calibrating with targeted acquisitions have paid off big time for Cisco and its investors.

Technorati Tags: Acquisition Strategy, acquisitions, business acquisitions, Capstone, Cisco, David Braun, External Growth, M&A, m-and-a, mergers, Mergers and Acquisitions

A recent study confirms what we’ve been saying for months: companies that are bold in these troubled economic times will reap the benefits of their actions.  As the study’s authors state:

“Companies with M&A in mind should be emboldened by our analysis: fortune favors the brave. Fears that M&A is riskier post-Lehman seem to be misplaced.”

The study cites Cisco as one company that has been making acquisitions during this time and has outperformed the major indices. Cisco is a classic example of a company making consistently making small, targeted acquisitions to calibrate their business.  One quote that has stuck with me in the past few months comes from Cisco CEO John Chambers this past March:

“Without exception, all of my biggest mistakes have come because I have moved too slowly.”

Technorati Tags: Acquisition Strategy, acquisitions, business acquisitions, Capstone, Cisco, David Braun, External Growth, Lehman Brothers, M&A, M&A News, Mergers and Acquisitions