Corporate finance

Yes. Many of the conditions for a successful sale are created in the years before the transaction itself.

For example, this could mean having your financial records in good order, maintaining stable margins, putting clear contracts in place and building an organisation that does not depend entirely on you as its managing director. If you start early, you still have time to address issues that could affect both the saleability and potential value of the business.

An initial conversation can therefore help you understand where you stand today and what you can work on over the coming years.

Yes. We also advise entrepreneurs who want to acquire a business.

Together, we first determine what type of company fits your plans. We can then identify and approach suitable businesses. We also support the discussions, negotiations and subsequent steps towards a potential acquisition.

That depends on the type of process. We therefore agree the fee structure with you in advance.

In many cases, it consists of a fixed fee for the work carried out during the process, combined with a success fee when the transaction is completed. Before we start, you know what costs to expect and how they are structured.

A successful sale starts with thorough preparation. We assess the business, gather the necessary information and determine how best to position the company in the market.

We then identify suitable potential buyers and approach them. Once there is serious interest, we support the discussions and negotiations. We look not only at the purchase price, but also at terms such as your role after the sale, warranties, payment of the purchase price, and agreements relating to employees and business operations.

We guide the process until the agreements have been finalised and the transaction has been completed.

The right time is different for every business. A company is often attractive to buyers when it is performing well and still has room to grow.

Your personal situation matters too. Do you want to step away completely, or stay involved for several more years? How dependent is the business on you? And are your administration, organisation and contracts ready for a sale?

By considering these factors together, you can determine whether selling now makes sense or whether it would be better to make further preparations first.

You may already have a company in mind. Or you may only know what type of business you are looking for.

We start with your objectives: why do you want to acquire a company, and what requirements should a suitable target meet? Based on your sector, strategy and preferences, we develop an acquisition plan.

We then identify and approach potential companies. If there is mutual interest, we guide the discussions, valuation, negotiations and subsequent steps towards an agreement.

There are several ways to value a business. The most suitable method depends on the type of company, the financial information available and market conditions.

For example, you can look at the company’s expected future cash flows. This is known as the Discounted Cash Flow method (DCF). You can also compare the business with similar listed companies or recent transactions in the same sector.

A valuation does not produce a fixed sale price. The final price is determined during the sale process and depends, among other things, on buyer interest, market conditions, the terms of the transaction and the timing of the sale.