Our approach

Our approach in the sales process

You want to sell your business. How do you go about that? What steps do you have to take? Selling a business is an intensive and often emotional process. Professional guidance in this process determines a large part of the ultimate success. We provide customized guidance before, during and after the sales process.

Our advice focuses primarily on finding the right acquisition candidate. Together with the client, we set up a sales structure that ensures that maximum value is extracted from the sold company. During the process, we regularly gauge where we stand with each other and whether we need to make adjustments.

After the preparatory phase in which we mainly provide the entrepreneur with strategic advice, we proceed to create a timeline and divide the roles for during the process. After we have made clear agreements about this, we get to work.

A financial analysis of the company is a very important part of preparing for the sale. We make that analysis. We prepare the financial audit. Based on the analysis we can give an indicative yield (range). We explore which possible acquisition parties are on the market. We share these with the entrepreneur and discuss how we are going to approach them.

Market approach

Before we approach parties, we ensure a well thought-out sales strategy. We draft a procedural letter to share our approach with interested parties.

Initially, we only provide an anonymous profile of the company to interested potential buyers. In this way, we preserve discretion in the market and avoid unrest among staff about a possible sale.

If a potential buyer has further interest in the company, we have that party sign a confidentiality agreement. Only after signing do we share the company's prepared information memorandum and procedure letter. Naturally, there are questions from the potential buyers. To answer these questions properly, we organize and facilitate appointments between the various management teams. This gives the entrepreneur a chance to present the organization to the potential buyer(s).

Negotiations

The parties we have made enthusiastic about the company will submit an indicative (non-binding) bid. On the basis of these indicative bids, we will determine together which party/parties we will enter into negotiations with. These party/parties sign a letter of intent. This ensures that we act in exclusivity and gives the buying party or parties more leverage.

After this, the often most exciting part of the sales process begins: the due diligence. The potential buyer gains full insight into the company. This includes the financial figures, the tax figures, the commercial activities, personnel matters such as outstanding vacations, pension plans, intellectual property and insight into other relevant matters. If there is still interest after the due diligence, we will proceed to the final negotiations. When a final offer emerges from the negotiation talks, we can conclude the purchase agreement.

Completion

The end comes when the final changes are made to the purchase agreement and it is signed by all parties.

In some cases, there are still mandatory approvals required in connection with cartels, etc. When all signals are green, the transaction documentation is signed, officially transferring the shares.

After the sale, shareholder agreements, management agreements of continuing shareholders and post-payment checks may need to be drawn up.