The slap-dash roll-up sits on shaky ground

The industry roll-up was a hot investment vehicle last year. The technique can be very lucrative when used sparingly, but it is now overused. Nonetheless, if you are dead-set on doing a roll-up, you will have to be exceptionally skillful at choosing the right management to operate the companies, making certain that your acquisitions achieve market impact and discourage competitors, maintaining flexibility to seize opportunity when it presents itself, and integrating companies quickly and efficiently. The final key in doing a successful roll-up is the lender, which must be flexible and able to move quickly when a roll-up is in progress.