Navigating Ag Consolidation, Overcoming M&A Complexity, and Managing Strategy as a Portfolio of Opportunities

Welcome to the third edition of The Pacesetter Blog. A newsletter for agribusiness leaders looking to deliver great results through better M&A and strategy execution.

Healthy Soil Creates the Conditions for Strategy Success | Ep38

Strategy is the seed of business growth and long-term prosperity. But seed attributes and quality alone do not produce a harvest.

You cannot grow a bountiful crop without healthy, nutrient-rich soil. And thus, your efforts to plant, grow, harvest, and deliver the benefits of strategy are no different.

We need a better appreciation for creating the soil conditions from which a robust strategy emerges.

In the November 29 episode of The Pacesetter Pod, we break down a critical but routinely overlooked aspect of developing and executing strategy:

Show highlights include:

• The unexpected power of simply forming a point of view [04:03]
• The allure and danger of making big, non-consensus bets on the future [05:42]
• Exploring whether confidence is a liability or an asset [07:53]
• The importance of turning new data into new insights? [13:39]
• Does ability matters when it comes to executing strategy? [16:18]
• And the three “nutrients” required for successful strategic growth [19:49]

Access the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Overcoming M&A Integration Challenges and Complexity with Colin Steen of Legacy Agripartners | Ep39

It’s one thing to prognosticate on the pitfalls of M&A integration but another thing to have the experience that shines a light on how to prepare for, and navigate, those inevitable obstacles to success.

On December 6 Colin Steen, CEO of Legacy Agripartners, joined me on The Pacesetter Pod and gave generously of both his time and wisdom.

In our light-hearted but value-dense discussion, Colin guided us through the crucial aspects of strategic alignment, effective go-to-market strategies, and the importance of considering the perspectives of front line employees and customers during M&A transactions.

Show Highlights:

• How venture capital shapes the agribusiness landscape [02:18]
• The importance of organic growth and nurturing relationships to unlock hidden business opportunities [05:40]
• Unveiling the hidden dynamics of deal flow when evaluating potential M&A deals [11:29]
• What is the value of embracing risk-sharing and diversification? [14:39]
• Realize the finite timeline of private equity investment and strategize exits accordingly [16:01]
• How to ensure responsible investments and capitalize on untapped resources [18:53]
• Are the parts worth more than the sum in agribusiness? [23:42]
• How to navigate post-acquisition challenges and risks? [26:38]
• The importance of having informed employees and excited customers [34:37]
• How do you know if a challenging integration is worth the cost? [38:26]

Access the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts

The Untapped Potential of Managing Ag Strategy as a Portfolio of Opportunities | Ep40

If you take a good long, hard look in the mirror you might be surprised how the decisions you’ve made differ from the intentions you’ve stated.

Specifically, look to where you have committed time and deployed capital. Do those efforts reflect the most impactful and important drivers of your company strategy?

Too often the real honest assessment shows that there is a significant break and misalignment between company strategy and investments.

In the December 13 episode of The Pacesetter Pod, we examine issue in detail and talk about the huge upside available to agribusiness companies by leveraging portfolio management.

We talk about the problems portfolio management solves, the common approaches of winning organizations, how the way we talk about the process creates a barrier to adoption, and why – despite the very real upside – portfolio management is such a rare commodity in agribusiness.

Show highlights include:

• Why you need more than a strategy to guide business decisions [01:59]
• Uncovering the benefits of portfolio management in the agricultural sector [02:24]

• How portfolio management aligns projects and investments with strategic objectives [04:57]
• What portfolio management looks like in a winning organization [14:00]
• Unpacking the opposition to portfolio management in agribusiness [17:25]
• Exploring whether portfolio management is beneficial to companies of all sizes [21:31]

Access the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Navigating Agribusiness Consolidation with Jim Byrum of Riveron | Ep41

Consolidation across the ag supply chain has been a constant in agribusiness for more than a decade.

And while the last three years looked very different from the previous thirty, the forces on consolidation did not loose steam. In fact, they accelerated.

On December 20, Jim Byrum of Riveron joined me on The Pacesetter Pod to share his insights on what is driving continued M&A appetite in agribusiness and what you need to know as you look for avenues to growth in the years ahead.

Jim guided us through the diverse motivators for acquisition and consolidation including the financial strategies of non-traditional investors, technological advancements, supply chain disruptions, and the emerging opportunity of niche dominance to counteract the influence of large incumbents.

Show Highlights:

• Uncovering the current hot spots in food industry consolidation [04:10]
• The effect of size in regulatory scrutiny and enforcement [08:43]
• Who benefits from volatility? Assessing merits and risks of being small vs. diversified [10:34]
• The motivators of Big and Mid Ag acquisition and consolidation [14:25]
• The banking expertise gap that is opening the door to private equity [19:03]
• Protecting yourself while remaining agile to capture opportunities amid an acquisition surge [26:02]

Access the episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.

Mosher Consulting Group helps food and agribusiness leaders execute strategy, de-risk M&A, and exceed growth objectives.

Visit us at www.moshercg.com to download our whitepaper, Integration Pacesetter: Winning the Agribusiness M&A Game, and learn more about our process and how we develop plans that deliver M&A deal value and protect your investment.