Selling a business is an important decision, requiring expertise in financial, tax and legal matters. The sale process is complex and includes several key stages: preparing a presentation file, identifying and contacting qualified acquirers, negotiating a preliminary offer, coordinating audits carried out by the acquirer, and finally formalizing the legal agreement until the transaction is finalized.
Calling on a firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) enables you to benefit from support at every stage, while optimizing the value of the transaction and reducing risks.
1. Secure the transaction and reduce risks
Selling a company without support can expose you to a number of risks. Working with an M&A advisor offers you the expertise you need to approach the process more serenely.
- Pro-active anticipation: a comprehensive pre-sale evaluation, based on a pre-sale diagnosis, enables you to identify and deal with negotiation points at an early stage.
- Up-to-date documentation: gathering and updating key company documents facilitates due diligence and enables us to respond effectively to buyers’ requests during their audits, thus speeding up the process.
- Factual presentation file: a clear and precise presentation file highlights the company’s strengths and financial performance, and justifies accounting adjustments (management salaries, non-recurring expenses, etc.). This document must include all the essential information needed to enable a buyer to make an offer.
- Access to specialist advice: working with trusted financial, tax and legal advisors ensures that every aspect of the transaction is handled professionally.
- Anticipation of sensitive issues: professional guidance enables us to anticipate the complex issues involved in setting the price mechanism, and to rapidly negotiate the terms and conditions of the transaction, including the required representations and warranties, which are formalized in the letter of intent.
2. Maximizing company value
Specialized advice helps to maximize the value of the transaction by identifying the best buyers and creating a competitive dynamic.
- Identifying buyers: an extensive network and specialized databases enable us to target the most relevant national and international buyers.
- Realistic valuation: a precise evaluation of the company based on its financial performance and market conditions enables us to establish a solid and realistic basis for negotiation.
- Competitive dynamics: involving several potential purchasers encourages competition and increases bids.
- Optimized conditions of sale: the terms of the transaction, such as payment, post-sale support and guarantees, are carefully negotiated.
3. Save time and focus on the essentials
Selling a business can be a long and demanding process. Entrusting this responsibility to specialists allows you to concentrate on the day-to-day running of the business, while optimizing your chances of success.
- Optimized preparation: business transfer specialists take charge of document analysis and the preparation of a complete dossier, tailored to the expectations of the buyers.
- Efficient, targeted negotiations: meeting only qualified buyers, already briefed by the team in charge of the transaction, avoids superfluous discussions.
- Smooth coordination: a dedicated expert ensures effective management of interactions between all stakeholders (buyers, lawyers, trustees, tax specialists and in-house teams), making the process smoother while maintaining the buyers’ interest.
4. Protecting confidentiality
Discretion is essential to protect the company’s interests throughout the sale process.
- Discretion: a code name is assigned to the company, and only summary, anonymous documents are shared with potential buyers at first.
- Confidentiality agreements: detailed information and the company’s identity are only disclosed once a confidentiality agreement has been signed.
- Data protection: sensitive information is shared only after the preliminary offer has been negotiated, via a secure data-room.
5. Sell with confidence
Professional support every step of the way ensures a smooth sale.
- Rigorous follow-up: attentive support at every stage, with appropriate advice, helps to avoid pitfalls and bring the transaction to a successful conclusion as smoothly as possible.
- Expertise and network: the experience and network of a business transfer professional can help you manage the complexities of tax, legal and financial matters.
- Harmonious relations with the purchaser: delegating sensitive negotiations enables you to maintain good relations with the purchaser, promoting a smooth transition.
Choosing a partner specialized in M&A maximizes the chances of success, while reducing the risks involved in the sale process. Entrusting the complex aspects to specialists allows you to concentrate on the day-to-day running of the business, and ensure a secure, optimized transaction carried out with complete peace of mind.
Last update: September 11, 2024
