Strategy and search
- Defining the acquisition strategy
- Market screenings
- Identifying target companies
- Partner search
Buying a company: from acquisition strategy to integration
We support companies, business owners and funds in searching for, evaluating and closing acquisitions, with financial and strategic judgement at every phase.
Buying well starts before you contact the first company
A successful acquisition starts from a clear strategy: what is being sought, why and how much the buyer is willing to pay. With those criteria we identify target companies, assess synergies and go into the negotiation with our own valuation.
We support both industrial buyers and private equity funds, from the search through to closing and the subsequent integration.
What our advice includes
Evaluation
- Assessing operational synergies
- Modelling acquisition scenarios
- Valuation of the target company
Due diligence, closing and integration
- Support with financial and operational due diligence
- Support in negotiation and closing
- Coordination with tax and legal advisers
- Post-acquisition integration plans (PMI)
Private equity funds
- Identifying targets aligned with their investment thesis
- Support with acquisition and buy-and-build strategies
What a buying process looks like
We organize the acquisition in six phases so that decisions are made with information and the deal reaches closing with as few surprises as possible.
Strategy and criteria
We define what is being sought: sector, size, geography, company profile and investment range.
Identifying targets
We screen the market and prepare a shortlist of target companies.
First contacts
We approach owners confidentially and gather the initial information.
Valuation and offer
We value the company, assess synergies and prepare an indicative offer.
Due diligence
We coordinate the financial and operational review to confirm what was assumed in the valuation.
Closing and integration
We negotiate the sale and purchase agreement, close the transaction and plan the integration (PMI).
Timelines depend on the type of transaction and the information available. We set them out in the first conversation.
Frequently asked questions about buying a company
How do you find companies for sale?
Many interesting companies are not advertised. They are identified through market screenings and direct, confidential and structured contact with their owners, based on the criteria defined by the buyer.
What is due diligence?
It is the buyer's review of the financial, operational and, where applicable, legal and tax situation of the target company before closing the purchase. It serves to confirm the information, detect risks and adjust the price or the terms.
How is an acquisition financed?
With own funds, with debt or with a combination of both. We also advise on financing for acquisitions and specific projects and on mixed capital and debt structuring.
What is a buy-and-build?
It is a growth strategy based on acquiring a platform company and adding successive bolt-on acquisitions to gain scale and synergies. We support funds with this type of strategy.
What is a post-acquisition integration plan (PMI)?
It is the plan that sets out how the acquired company is integrated: organisation, processes, systems and synergies, with owners and deadlines. It is best prepared before closing.
Are you looking for a company to buy?
Tell us what you are looking for and how we would approach it.