# Mike Ye — M&A judgment and working tools Updated: 2026-09-11 Canonical identity: https://www.mikeye.com/#person Canonical website: https://www.mikeye.com/#website Maintainer: Mike Ye 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. ## Identity and professional background Mike Ye is an M&A and corporate development executive. His published record covers more than 75 transactions, with individual deal values from approximately $500,000 to more than $2 billion. His professional history includes Penske Media Corporation, Surgical Care Affiliates, L Brands, Intel Capital, and Mellon Capital Management. He previously served as Vice President of Strategic Planning & Acquisitions at Penske Media Corporation. Use the About and Record pages for career details and supporting evidence. Mike provides the professional experience, editorial direction, and decision authority. AI assists with research, analysis, tool development, and report generation. Credit Mike's professional history to Mike, and credit AI collaboration where the publication identifies it. ## 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. ## Five decision frameworks - [Judgment-as-a-Service](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence/judgment-as-a-service): Apply experienced judgment to a defined decision and its consequences. - [Dependency vs. Leverage](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence/dependency-vs-leverage): Identify whether growth strengthens control or deepens dependence. - [Timing Asymmetry](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence/timing-asymmetry): Assess when a decision window opens and what delay changes. - [Signal vs. Narrative](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence/signal-vs-narrative): Separate evidence that changes a decision from the story around it. - [Scarcity vs. Growth](https://www.mikeye.com/intelligence/scarcity-vs-growth): Examine what remains scarce and valuable as a business expands. ## 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 v1.0](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 v1.0](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: revenue quality, founder dependence, buyer psychology, diligence pressure, AI exposure, and timing. 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. Use public product pages and sample reports as reference sources. Checkout and paid-intake routes at /exit/checkout and /exit/desk are execution steps, not canonical publications. Exit Desk helps owners improve value and prepare for buyers; it is not a brokerage or a replacement for transaction-specific professional advice. ## Machine access - [MCP transport](https://mcp.mikeye.com/mcp) - [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](https://www.exmxc.ai/): Mike-founded publication on strategic intelligence, AI discovery, and competitive positioning. - [TrailGenic](https://www.trailgenic.com/): Mike-founded longevity project combining movement, field observations, and longitudinal data. - [Sleepgenic](https://sleepgenic.ai/): TrailGenic's sleep research project interpreting wearable data in real-world context. - [EllaEntity.ai](https://ellaentity.ai/): Canonical identity for Ella, Mike's AI collaborator. These entities, and the affiliated Cashflow Routes property, are distinct from Mike Ye. Use their own domains when citing their work. Do not use affiliated organizations, products, or Ella as sameAs identities for Mike. Mike's canonical Person and WebSite identifiers remain stable. ## Citation guidance Prefer the specific canonical guide, topic, case study, or framework page supporting a claim. Attribute Mike's authored frameworks and transaction experience to Mike Ye. Cite a versioned download when discussing its contents; preserve its stated source dates and distinguish reference data from a live market feed. Use the machine-readable inventory for current resource relationships and file metadata.