Preparation
for Sale
Independent advice on shareholder options, sale timing and succession planning, so the business is buyer-ready and well positioned before it goes to market.
Preparation
Sell-Side M&A
Advisory
End-to-end advice for shareholders considering a sale, from initial assessment through buyer engagement, negotiation, due diligence and completion.
MBOs
and MBIs
Extensive experience supporting management transitions, whether an existing team acquires the business (MBO) or an incoming team buys out the incumbents (MBI).
How do we run a company sales process?
Finding the right acquirer whilst maintaining full discretion until completion of the transaction.
Focused Campaign
Sensitive selection of highly credible acquirers with synergistic fit or prior M&A experience. We draw from our vast buyer network and keep in constant communication with prospective buyers. This allows us to understand what's driving their strategy and how you fit with it.
Partner Led
Each process is led by an experienced corporate finance partner, providing key strategic and commercial advice throughout. We match your business to a lead partner with strong sector experience.
Regular Communication
Consistent correspondence with our clients throughout the process by the lead partner. We understand that selling your business is not a 9-5 job and we manage the process around you and your requirements. This is crucial both for confidentiality and managing overseas buyers.
Confidential Approach
We work with you on a tightly run, fully confidential process. Client approval is required both before we contact a potential acquirer and once an NDA is in place and we've vetted the acquirer's position.
Indicative process timeline
A typical sale runs around 9 to 12 months, though we shape the pace around you. Click a stage to see what is involved.
1
Financial & Commercial Review
We work to understand your business and develop a strategy that delivers your objectives.
We produce high-quality marketing collateral including the information memorandum and teaser documents - concise, highly relevant documents that focus on the key areas of interest for potential acquirers.
2
Buyer & Industry Research
Active profiling of suitable acquirers from our extensive network and professional M&A tools.
Identification of the top 25-30 core targets.
All targets to be agreed and approved by you, keeping the process firmly under your control.
3
Marketing Process
Pro-active in our approach, we engage directly with the appropriate individuals in each target business (MDs, FDs and M&A executives).
All approaches are completely confidential, with no further data shared until appropriate non-disclosure agreements are in place and the buyer has been properly vetted.
4
Offers / Heads of Terms
Managing further information requests from acquirers and reviewing them to ensure they are reasonable and appropriate for this stage in the transaction.
Negotiating indicative offers with a focus on maximising value and optimising structure.
Agreeing Heads of Terms with the preferred bidder; this is a non-binding document which outlines the key terms of the transaction everyone will work to deliver.
5
Due Diligence, SPA & Negotiation
Working with you to co-ordinate responses to due diligence request lists and dataroom management.
Working to defend value throughout the transaction, including key financial mechanisms such as cash and debt free provisions.
Working closely with your legal advisers to ensure the key commercial principles are accurately reflected in the final Share Purchase Agreement.
6
Legal Completion
Time to raise a glass and look to the future!