Advisory · M&A and transactions
The most important deal you will ever make.
The purchase or sale of a business is decided by the preparation, not the negotiation. We advise buyers and sellers from the first consideration to closing, with the numbers, the tax and the structure in place.
The value of a business is not set on the day of negotiation. It is set in the years before.
Who it is for
For owners considering a sale, in full or in part. For businesses and investors looking to acquire. And for management teams facing a merger or restructuring.
We keep each transaction team small, and the same partners stay with you from start to finish. Confidentiality is not a clause in the agreement. It is how we work.
What we deliver.
- Sale preparationNumbers, structure and documentation in order before buyers start looking.
- ValuationA well-founded assessment of the value of your business and the factors that drive it.
- Financial due diligenceNumbers, earnings and risks reviewed on the buyer’s side, or prepared on the seller’s.
- Tax structuringThe transaction structured so the tax is thought through for both the company and its owners.
- NegotiationAdvice on price, terms, earn-out and warranties, at the table or behind it.
- Closing and integrationFrom signing to takeover, and the first period after.
When a transaction is in sight.
- SaleYou are considering a sale and want to know what the business is worth, and what could increase its value.
- AcquisitionYou want to buy a business and need to know exactly what you are buying.
- InvestorAn investor wants to join the ownership, and the terms need to be right from the start.
- MergerTwo businesses are to become one: in accounting, tax and organisational terms.
- RestructuringThe group structure needs to be adapted ahead of a transaction or a succession.
- An offerYou have received an offer and want an independent assessment before you respond.
Whoever is best prepared sets the agenda.
How we work.
- ConversationWe understand your goals, your timeline and what matters beyond the price.
- PreparationNumbers, structure and documentation are put in order.
- AnalysisValuation, due diligence and tax assessment.
- NegotiationWe stand by your side through the negotiation of price and terms.
- ClosingThe deal is completed, and the handover happens without loose ends.
Confidentiality
Discreet. From the first conversation.
A transaction that becomes known too early can cost you employees, customers and a good price. That is why we work with few people involved and clear confidentiality agreements.
We coordinate with your lawyer and your bank, so you have one joined-up team of advisers around the table.
Questions.
What is our business worth?
It depends on earnings, risk, growth prospects and the market. A valuation gives a reasoned range and shows what drives the value.
When should we start preparing for a sale?
Ideally a few years ahead. The more time you have, the more value-creating measures can show up in the numbers.
What is financial due diligence?
A thorough review of a business’s numbers, earnings and risks. The buyer uses it to assess the price. The seller uses it to be prepared.
Do you advise both buyers and sellers?
Yes, but never both parties in the same transaction.
How is a sale taxed?
It depends on whether shares or assets are sold, and on the ownership structure. The tax should be assessed before the structure and price are fixed.
What is an earn-out?
Part of the purchase price that depends on the business’s results after the sale. It can bridge the gap between the buyer’s and the seller’s expectations, but it requires precise agreements.
Can you help with cross-border transactions?
Yes. As a member of Alliott Global Alliance, we have access to advisers in more than 100 countries.
What does M&A advice cost?
It depends on the size and complexity of the transaction. We agree the fee with you before we begin.
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