# Mike Ye — M&A judgment and working tools Updated: 2026-09-10 Canonical identity: https://www.mikeye.com/#person Mike Ye brings 25 years of experience across acquisitions, divestitures, corporate development, and strategic finance. MikeYe.com connects transaction experience with practical decision tools. Exit Desk is the seller-facing product; Acquisition Lens remains in development. ## Start here - [Home](https://www.mikeye.com/): Mike's experience and selected resources. - [About Mike](https://www.mikeye.com/about): Professional history and selected transactions. - [Record](https://www.mikeye.com/about/record): PMC masthead evidence of title and tenure. - [M&A Library](https://www.mikeye.com/m-and-a): The master catalogue of 22 resources. - [Downloads](https://www.mikeye.com/tools-and-models): 16 main downloads, including 15 Excel workbooks and one Markdown memo template. - [Decision frameworks](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence): Five named judgment lenses. - [Glossary](https://www.mikeye.com/glossary): Definitions and distinctions. - [The Mike Ye Briefing](https://www.mikeye.com/podcast): Published podcast episodes; the later season arc is planned. ## Transaction path Seven ordered stages and thirteen decision gates organize the transaction. Topics organize subject matter, not process order. 1. Mandate (Gate 0 · Mandate approved): Why acquire instead of build, partner, or do nothing? [Acquisition Mandate & Target Screen](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/acquisition-mandate-target-screen). 2. Thesis & Targets (Gates 1–2 · Thesis and target approved): What must be true, and which targets fit and can actually be bought? [Acquisition Target Pipeline & Deal Funnel](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/acquisition-target-pipeline-deal-funnel). 3. First Look & Underwriting (Gates 3–4 · Access and economics approved): Do access, standalone economics, financing, and downside support a bid? [Valuation models and working tools](https://www.mikeye.com/tools-and-models). 4. LOI & Diligence (Gates 5–6 · Exclusivity approved and diligence launched): Are core terms clear, and can the team test the conditions behind the thesis? [LOI Economics & Risk Allocator](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/loi-economics-risk-allocator). 5. Re-underwrite & Sign (Gates 7–8 · Re-underwriting and signing approved): Does the deal still work on the facts and terms now in front of the buyer? [M&A Investment Committee Memo](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/ma-investment-committee-memo). 6. Close & Day 1 (Gates 9–10 · Closing approved and Day 1 stable): Can funds and control transfer while the business keeps working? [After the Deal: Keep the Business Working](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/after-the-deal-keep-the-business-working). 7. Value Delivery & Review (Gates 11–12 · Value delivery confirmed and program closed): Has the buyer delivered the underwritten value, and what should change next time? [Synergy Underwriting & Value Bridge](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/synergy-underwriting-value-bridge). ## Ten topics - [Corporate development](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/corporate-development): Set the acquisition mandate, prioritize targets, and carry evidence from sourcing through investment approval and operating ownership. - [Valuation](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/valuation): Build a defensible valuation range, separate standalone economics from buyer-created value, and connect evidence to price discipline. - [Financial modeling](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/financial-modeling): Turn operating assumptions into cash flows, valuation ranges, and acquisition decisions using five downloadable company models. - [Comparable-company analysis](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/industry-comps): Choose comparable public companies, review trading multiples and financial definitions, and support a valuation range. - [Deal structure & negotiation](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/deal-structure): Separate price from funding, compare forms of consideration, and assign unresolved risks before committing to acquisition terms. - [Due diligence](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/due-diligence): Test earnings, transferability, and operating dependencies with a 112-item diligence checklist that connects findings to deal consequences. - [Synergies](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/synergies): Turn synergy claims into risk-adjusted cash benefits, separate buyer-created value, and assign the operating work required to deliver it. - [Integration](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/integration): Protect business continuity, assign operating decisions, and track acquisition value with a 104-action post-deal integration checklist. - [Divestitures & carve-outs](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/divestitures): Define what transfers, expose seller dependencies, and plan the path from Day 1 continuity to independent operations. - [Strategic finance](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-topics/strategic-finance): Compare buying with alternatives, test liquidity and downside constraints, and set a private acquisition price ceiling. ## Resources - [Acquisition Target Pipeline & Deal Funnel](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/acquisition-target-pipeline-deal-funnel): Manage acquisition targets from thesis through close with explicit next decisions, seller and control signals, evidence quality, private price discipline, and a durable pass-and-reopen record. [Download Excel v1.0](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69499e76d9c11f22288abc28/6aa3118be7d8bb3bee10243f_MikeYe-Acquisition-Target-Pipeline-Deal-Funnel-v1.0.xlsx). - [M&A Investment Committee Memo: From Analysis to Approval](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/ma-investment-committee-memo): Turn mandate, valuation, diligence, deal structure, synergies, affordability, downside, and integration into one decision-ready M&A approval memo—with a worked NVIDIA–Hugging Face example. [Download Markdown v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/ddf955a7705481a558bc45b9658c107a806a76be/public/resources/MikeYe-MA-Investment-Committee-Memo-Template-v1.0.md). - [Public Company Comps Workbench](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/public-company-comps-workbench): Build a reviewed peer valuation with a reusable Excel template and populated Capital IQ reference comps covering 254 companies across 12 sectors. [Download Excel v1.1](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/69499e76d9c11f22288abc28/6aa32541fc85292130a74dcc_MikeYe-Public-Company-Comps-Workbench-v1.1.xlsx). - [Capital Allocation & Deal Affordability Tool](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/capital-allocation-deal-affordability): Compare buying, building, partnering, and doing nothing; test funding and downside constraints; and set the buyer's private hard price ceiling. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/38b4a618cd3a4803f8fc1013c67e77938f7b4538/public/resources/MikeYe-Capital-Allocation-Deal-Affordability-v1.0.xlsx). - [Carve-Out Perimeter & TSA Planner](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/carve-out-perimeter-tsa-planner): Define what transfers, map seller dependencies, plan temporary services and their exit, and separate Day 1 readiness from independent operations. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/18d505122f8b4ebb69e974f3056a41ec80e56b0b/public/resources/MikeYe-Carve-Out-Perimeter-TSA-Planner-v1.0.xlsx). - [Acquisition Mandate & Target Screen](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/acquisition-mandate-target-screen): Decide why to acquire, compare the alternatives, and prioritize targets against clear requirements, evidence, and a credible path to ownership. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/00d7d6fd497644cadf65fa347c8420da058fffca/public/resources/MikeYe-Acquisition-Mandate-Target-Screen-v1.0.xlsx). - [LOI Economics & Risk Allocator](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/loi-economics-risk-allocator): See how cash, stock, rollover, deferred payments, and closing conditions change the price, funding need, and risk of a deal. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/7dbfacd24c1e5fbae5c0d8154613cbc6b1505856/public/resources/MikeYe-LOI-Economics-Risk-Allocator-v1.0.xlsx). - [Synergy Underwriting & Value Bridge](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/synergy-underwriting-value-bridge): Turn synergy claims into risk-adjusted cash value, an explicit seller-sharing decision, and an operating delivery plan. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/16a04396666e13b6e3aa95c9c7bb6ecbf9fc975a/public/resources/MikeYe-Synergy-Underwriting-Value-Bridge-v1.0.xlsx). - [The M&A Deal Workflow: From Mandate to Value](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/ma-deal-workflow-checklist): A 156-action, 13-gate buyer-side checklist from acquisition mandate through post-close review. [Download Excel v1.0](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/052f5c09a8033eff17025f08615c4a6f27c1a59a/public/resources/MikeYe-MA-Deal-Workflow-Checklist-v1.0.xlsx). - [NVIDIA: valuing an AI infrastructure business](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/nvidia-ai-infrastructure-valuation-model): Connect demand for computing to product economics, supply commitments, and the cash that growth can produce. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/122684a0aad30a99e7cc44878b79a4633558cdd2/public/resources/NVIDIA_NVDA_Valuation_Model-v1.2.xlsx). - [Surgery Partners: valuing a healthcare-services business](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/surgery-partners-healthcare-valuation-model): Follow cases, reimbursement, and facility ownership through to the cash the parent company can actually keep. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/122684a0aad30a99e7cc44878b79a4633558cdd2/public/resources/Surgery_Partners_SGRY_Valuation_Model-v1.2.xlsx). - [Ziff Davis: valuing a digital media business](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/ziff-davis-media-valuation-model): Look past the audience headline to repeatable revenue, platform dependence, and the businesses actually being valued. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/122684a0aad30a99e7cc44878b79a4633558cdd2/public/resources/Ziff_Davis_ZD_Valuation_Model-v1.2.xlsx). - [Salesforce: valuing a software business](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/salesforce-software-valuation-model): Connect recurring revenue to the cost of keeping customers, delivering the service, and funding growth. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/122684a0aad30a99e7cc44878b79a4633558cdd2/public/resources/Salesforce_CRM_Valuation_Model-v1.2.xlsx). - [Gap: valuing a retail business](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/gap-retail-valuation-model): Start with what customers buy, what the retailer keeps, and how much cash sits in inventory. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/122684a0aad30a99e7cc44878b79a4633558cdd2/public/resources/Gap_Inc_GAP_Valuation_Model-v1.2.xlsx). - [After the Deal: Keep the Business Working](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/after-the-deal-keep-the-business-working): A 104-action post-deal integration checklist and practical guide for protecting revenue, maintaining Day 1 continuity, and realizing synergies. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/052f5c09a8033eff17025f08615c4a6f27c1a59a/public/resources/MikeYe-Post-Deal-Integration-Checklist-v1.0.xlsx). - [Before You Buy: Follow the Work](https://www.mikeye.com/ma-resources/before-you-buy-follow-the-work): A 112-item M&A due diligence checklist and practical guide for testing earnings quality, workflows, dependencies, transferability, and deal consequences. [Download Excel v1.2](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/052f5c09a8033eff17025f08615c4a6f27c1a59a/public/resources/MikeYe-MA-Due-Diligence-Checklist-v1.0.xlsx). - [Exit readiness checklist](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/articles/exit-readiness-checklist): An existing seller-preparation checklist, organized around what buyers will examine. - [Long Beach Outpatient Surgery](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/articles/long-beach-surgical-case-study): A controlling investment and the operating work behind a multi-specialty expansion. - [Sourcing Journal](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/articles/sourcing-journal-case-study): Founder clarity, partner alignment, and the timing of a capability acquisition. - [BuzzAngle Music](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/articles/buzzangle-case-study): A strategic investment in music data, viewed through competitive position and capability. - [The five decision frames](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence): Judgment, dependency, timing, signal, and scarcity: the frames behind consequential decisions. - [Business valuation scenarios](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/valuation): Explore the existing Exit Desk calculator and its indicative positioning scenarios. ## Evidence and versions Cite the HTML guide for method and the versioned download for its contents. The Comps Workbench v1.1 combines the reusable template and dated Capital IQ public-company reference: 254 companies, 12 sectors, and 36 peer groups. It is not a populated precedent-transaction database. Company models use the information dates stated in their guides. Practitioner transaction cases, public-company teaching models, the NVIDIA / Hugging Face worked example, and fictional Exit Desk samples are distinct evidence types. The IC memo's [NVIDIA / Hugging Face worked example](https://github.com/Trailgenic/my-exitdesk/blob/ddf955a7705481a558bc45b9658c107a806a76be/public/resources/MikeYe-NVIDIA-Hugging-Face-IC-Memo-Worked-Example-v1.0.md) is a companion to the memo template. The seller calculator's email-gated workbook is a separate distribution path. Neither is counted among the 16 main catalogue downloads. ## Applied products - [Exit Desk](https://www.mikeye.com/exit): Seller readiness, value improvement, and preparation for a business sale. - [Valuation calculator](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/valuation): Today, optimized, and pre-market scenarios. - [Free diagnostic](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/score): Eight questions produce five indicative scores from the owner's answers. - [Sample reports](https://www.mikeye.com/exit/sample): Four reports based on fictional business profiles. - Paid reports: 26-question intake, six buyer lenses. Main Street Edition is $199 for annual revenue under $1M; Full Report is $499 for $1M or more. AI generates the report using Mike's framework and the submitted inputs. ## Machine access - [Resource inventory](https://mcp.mikeye.com/datasets/ma-library.json) - [Ontology](https://mcp.mikeye.com/ontology.json) - [Tool registry](https://mcp.mikeye.com/.well-known/tool-registry.json) - [Diagnostic structure](https://mcp.mikeye.com/exit/diagnostic.json) ## Related entities exmxc.ai, TrailGenic, Sleepgenic, Ella, and Cashflow Routes are distinct affiliated properties. They are not alternate identities for Mike Ye. Mike's canonical Person and WebSite identifiers remain stable.