M&A and Strategic Advisory
Lazard is known globally for leadership and innovation in M&A and strategic advisory. As close, trusted advisors, our senior bankers distinguish themselves through deep knowledge of their clients’ industries and specialized sector transaction expertise.
We partner with public and private corporate clients to deliver world-class independent advice on all financial, strategic and tactical elements of evaluating and executing M&A transactions, as well as formulating comprehensive strategies to grow their businesses.
Beyond executing transactions, we frequently collaborate with clients on the strategic and financial questions that precede them.
Lazard’s long history, global nature, reputation for discretion, and lack of institutional conflicts of interest make us uniquely qualified to advise on and execute transactions which require particular sensitivity, expertise, and judgment.
Advisors in Strategy & Execution
We help clients identify, devise, and pursue strategies to serve stakeholders, accomplish their goals, and maximize shareholder value.
A significant part of our work begins well before the transaction process does. We advise clients on portfolio reviews, capital allocation, expansion and adjacency opportunities, and counterparty landscapes. Where that work concludes that a transaction is not the appropriate course, we advise accordingly.
Where a transaction is the right course, the context that shaped the strategy also informs its execution. We integrate deep sector, policy, regulatory, financial, and shareholder base knowledge to deliver the best outcomes for clients.
Key Capabilities
Mergers & Acquisitions
We advise on transactions across the size spectrum, from mid-market businesses to the largest and most complex multinational transactions. Our senior bankers are organized by sector and bring specialized knowledge of their clients’ industries together with detailed sector transaction experience. Our advice covers valuation, structure, negotiation, financing considerations and the sequencing of stakeholder engagement.
Cross-Border Transactions
With more than 175 years of history in key, global business centers and colleagues established across the world’s developed and emerging markets, Lazard is among the most multinational of independent advisory firms. Our professionals combine the local experience needed to navigate local capital markets, governments and regulatory environments, tax considerations and cultural factors, with the broader perspective of a coordinated global team.
Separations & De-Mergers
We help clients optimize the value of their corporate asset portfolios with innovative structural alternatives to unlock shareholder value and maximize future business performance. By evaluating transformational transactions like separations and de-mergers, we guide companies through periods critical to their corporate identities with the highest-quality financial and strategic advice, and help to set newly independent companies up for success.
Takeover Defense
Lazard helps its corporate clients defend themselves from unsolicited approaches from both strategic acquirers and activist shareholders. Our takeover defense practice draws on all of Lazard's vast resources and deep expertise to devise preventative and responsive measures to unsolicited activity, allowing clients to maintain control of their own destinies and maximize shareholder value on their own terms.
Independent Board & Special Committee Advisory
Lazard has a long history of representing independent directors and special committees of boards of directors in M&A and strategic contexts in which objectivity and discretion are of particular importance. We provide corporate decision-makers with advice and insights into shareholder concerns unencumbered by conflicts of interest, backed by strong analysis, and built on a proven track record.
Private Capital Connectivity
Private capital participates as a counterparty in a substantial share of strategic transactions. Our M&A advice is informed by continuous engagement with financial sponsors and, through Lazard CL, with the institutions that provide their capital, which allows us to advise clients on where sponsor interest and capital are currently concentrated.
Our Sector Expertise
Our M&A and Strategy professionals are organized into sector groups that offer our clients domain depth, regional fluency, global reach, and independent perspective.
