Exit - Selling Your Business

...to realise maximum value for you

Are you looking to sell your business at anytime within the next 5 years? If so...

Do you know how to sell your business for its maximum value?
Do you know how to sell your business without you (and other key shareholders) being a part of the sold business and not affect the sale price

If you answer NO (or even, I am not sure) to either of these questions, then you need to contact us urgently.

But a few words first...

Before agreeing to sell your business, we will determine the value-added role we can bring to the transaction. A successful result must begin with a complete understanding of your expectations and a comprehensive assessment of the marketability of the business to be sold.

If selling the business is premature in the market, or unlikely to meet your, the owner's, objectives, we may recommend a delay of the sale and examination of other options - see our Investment and Growth pages. If a sale appears to be the best option, we will advise on the best sale strategy, deal structure and approach to the market.

The services we provide for you typically include:

Appraising and valuing the entity to be sold
Developing a market strategy
Re-modelling the financials
Preparing a confidential information memorandum
Identifying and screening the buyers
Assisting in the appointment of legal, tax and accounting advisors
Creating and managing the data room
Leading the negotiations
Optimizing the deal structure
Closing the transaction in a timely manner

Why use us?

I can sell the company myself. I've successfully run the business and I can sell it with the help of my legal and accounting team."

This is a dilemma and conclusion that many successful entrepreneurs come to at some point. And then manage to not realise the monetary value they should have got from all their hard work.

The whole sale transaction takes an enormous amount of time and energy and it is impossible for you, as the business owner, to continue running your business optimally and conduct a sale optimally.

And anyhow, purely using your legal and accounting team to help you sell your business means that you are not marketing your business actively. After all, neither lawyers or accountants will use sales and marketing techniques to sell your business - they are words and numbers people, not skilled in selling to a targeted market.

Most transactions arrive at completion after, on average, 400 hours work and after an initial direct contact with anywhere from 200 - 600 carefully researched potential buyers.

Employing us will not only increase the likelihood that you will arrive at a financially favourable conclusion but will also ensure that when you complete you still have a business.

The advice of an experienced "investment banker" (because that is what we are effectively, but focused on the SME sector and acting for you, the seller) will:

Ensure the business is in the right condition to be put to the market
Prevent fishing expeditions from unsuitable competitors
Prepare the detailed business information to meet buyer expectations
Create a competitive bidding environment amongst multiple potential buyers
Maximize the overall sales price
Appreciably increase your chances of selling the business in a timely manner
Allow your management to focus on the continued operation of the business during the sale process
Create a transaction structure that best meets the needs of the company's owners

On the other hand, choosing the wrong investment banker, or going it alone can cost the company time and money while having a negative impact on both the sale process and your business operations.

If you would like to talk with us about the possible sale of your busines, please contact us now.

All enquiries will be treated in the strictest confidence. Just on a house keeping note, please do tell us whether the phone number you give us is your direct line or a general number, so that we may maintain complete confidentiality in our dealings with you.