The decisions that are yours to make
A sale starts with choices only the owner can make. Our role is to inform them, not to make them for you.
- Scope: a full, majority or minority sale, with or without certain activities or assets.
- Timing: when to go to market, given current trading, recent results and your personal plans.
- Your role after the sale: leaving, a transition period, or staying on in the management team.
- The type of buyer: a trade buyer, a financial investor or a management team, depending on what you want for the business afterwards.
Headline value versus what you actually receive
The price quoted in an offer is not always what you will receive. Between the value placed on the company and the cash paid to the seller sit net debt, price adjustments and payment terms.
Part of the price may be deferred, made conditional on future performance (an earn-out), or reinvested in the acquiring structure. Each of these changes how certain your proceeds are and when you receive them. They often come with obligations: warranties and indemnities, non-compete clauses, support for the new owner.
We help you read each proposal as a whole. Our article Headline price versus cash received explains these notions.
How we work
Four stages, adapted to each situation.
Defining your sale project
Clarifying the scope of the sale, your valuation expectations and your role after the transaction. Identifying what needs preparing before approaching the market.
Clear objectives and a defined negotiating framework.
Approaching acquirers
Preparing the company presentation and confidentially contacting relevant industrial and financial buyers. Qualifying their interest and organising initial discussions.
A targeted search conducted with full confidentiality.
Defending the terms
Comparing offers, maintaining several discussions where possible and negotiating price, deferred payment, any reinvestment and your involvement after the sale.
Proposals assessed on the full set of their terms.
Managing through to completion
Coordinating exchanges with buyers, lawyers and other advisers during due diligence and the negotiation of the agreements. Following open matters through to completion.
Continuous oversight through to completion.
What the adviser actually does
The person who reviews your project leads the discussions with buyers, prepares the key decisions with you and follows open points through to signing. Where several serious buyers show interest, we organise the discussions so their proposals can be compared. Where a single buyer is involved, we focus on its terms, its financing and its timetable.
The aim is for you to decide with full information, on negotiated terms.
Working alongside your lawyer and accountant
Legal and tax matters remain with your own advisers. We work with them on timing, due diligence preparation and consistency between the negotiated terms and the documentation. We do not replace their advice.
Sector understanding
The sectors we cover include technology, industry, services and healthcare. Understanding how a buyer looks at your customers, assets, people or contracts helps identify the right counterparties and defend what drives your company's value.
Confidentiality
A poorly managed sale can unsettle employees, customers and suppliers. Approaches are prepared with you and information is shared progressively: an anonymised presentation where appropriate, qualification of counterparties, then detailed information under a confidentiality agreement, on terms agreed with you and your advisers.
Questions owners often ask
Is my company ready to be sold?
Suitability, feasibility and a realistic timetable are reviewed in the first discussion, based on your situation and objectives.
I have already received an offer. Is it too late to get advice?
No. An unsolicited offer can still be assessed and negotiated. See I already have a buyer: why use an adviser?
Next step
A first confidential conversation lets us review your project, your objectives and a realistic timetable, with no commitment. If you are thinking about bringing in investors instead, see Capital raising.