Adelaide’s Don Manifold: Working through Challenging Deals. Image provided by Don Manifold
Don Manifold is the Joint Managing Director at Equity & Advisory and the founder of Manifold Advisory Partners.
Over his storied career, he’s advised on deals valued at more than $3 billion, including capital raising, IPOs, divestments, and acquisitions. Most notably, he handled the contentious sale of S. Kidman & Co to a joint venture company when he was managing partner at Ernst & Young in Adelaide.
Having covered both South Australia and the Northern Territory while at EY, he was driven by finding value for all parties. The independent expert reports and valuations he’s prepared for a variety of top-tier clients are in excess of $25 billion and his diligence has earned him the respect of some of the powerful business professionals in the world.
While based in Australia, Manifold has worked in London and advised on transactions in Papua New Guinea and Croatia. From agriculture, consumer goods and manufacturing to information technology, Manifold has a methodical approach, going into every venture with fresh eyes, avoiding the pitfalls of assumptions while working to logical conclusions.
Don Manifold is motivated by both finding information and presenting it in ways that the clients can easily absorb. He’s an objective party, and executives trust him to outline the deal, highlight the trouble spots and weigh in on the viability of the transaction. From identifying the target to structuring its financials, he leaves no stone unturned.
As the head of his own firm, he’s expected to stay on top of every stage of his deals. When it comes to the complex nature of mergers and acquisitions, there are a lot of facets to align. From the size of the workforce to the public perception of the sale, Manifold must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of multiple scenarios. Each recommendation is backed up with hard data, and Manifold is adept at customizing his reports to meet the needs of the client in question.
His past clients have praised him for his efficiency when working through the most time-consuming steps. He also has a keen interest in discovering win-win solutions wherever possible. Having served in senior leadership roles for more than 15 years, his transaction advisory skills are second to none. After having worked with some of the most successful service firms in the world, he’s learned how to triumph over stumbling blocks of nearly every variety.