You know where you stand at every stage.
Below is what happens in each phase and what it asks of you.
In brief
- Five phases
- Orientation, preparation, approach, negotiation and closing.
- Fees
- A fixed preparation fee and a success fee, agreed in writing beforehand.
- What you notice
- We do the preparation and the paperwork; you come to the table when something needs deciding.
Why it takes less time with us
- A limited number of files
- We keep the number of mandates limited, so your file goes into treatment straight away.
- One team
- Valuation, buyer approach and negotiation in one hand. The same team from start to finish, with no waiting between phases.
- Prepared up front
- The file is finished before the first buyer is approached. That saves the weeks otherwise lost during due diligence.
- Response time
- A reply within one working day. A first indication of value within two working days.
Orientation
We get to know your business, establish an indicative value range and judge whether the moment is favourable. We test whether a genuine field of buyers exists.
- What you hear from us
- A written assessment of value, buyers and timeline. Including the risks we see.
- What we need from you
- Five years of accounts, revenue by customer, and roughly three hours of conversation.
Preparation
We draft the information memorandum, map the field of buyers and set up the data room. We prepare you for the questions that will come.
- What you hear from us
- A short weekly status note. The draft memorandum for your approval. Nothing goes out without it.
- What we need from you
- Financial detail, contracts, personnel data, permits.
Approach
We approach the approved parties personally, first with an anonymous profile. The memorandum follows only after a signed confidentiality agreement.
- What you hear from us
- For each party approached: who, when, and what the response was. Including when it is negative.
- What we need from you
- Approval of the buyer list. You may strike names without giving a reason.
Negotiation
Indicative offers, selection, management presentations, a letter of intent and due diligence.
- What you hear from us
- Every offer with our reading of it: what it is worth against the market, not only against your expectation. Setbacks reach you the same day, by telephone.
- What we need from you
- Availability for presentations and question rounds. This is the heaviest phase.
Closing
Purchase agreement, warranties, financing and transfer. Your lawyer and accountant lead here; we guard the commercial terms.
- What you hear from us
- A weekly list of everything still open and whose move it is.
- What we need from you
- Availability for signing and transfer.
This is how the process usually runs. It does not always run this way. When something changes, whether a buyer withdrawing, a disappointing offer or a due diligence finding, you hear it from us the day we know. Not at the next progress meeting.