Help to Acquire
Want to expand via acquisition but not sure how? We can help.
Simon Berry
"Expansion via acquisition is an exciting but often daunting proposition. It involves a specific set of skills that most entrepreneurs haven't had exposure to before and it often pays to lean on someone who knows the process well."
Acquisitions can offer huge potential growth opportunities. If you have started and grown your own business, you already know how much hard work and time that takes. Through acquisition, often you successfully double the size of your business.
And it needn't be as expensive as one might think. There are often ways of structuring deals such that there is little or no requirement for upfront capital.
There are also many other potential benefits to growth via acquisition, including economies of scale, exit values and options (invariably bigger businesses get better multiples when sold), your ability to gain funding for further growth or investment, or taking a step closer to having a company that you could take public.
Finally, I can help you identify, contact and bring to the table, target companies that are not actively for sale. These companies are almost always better opportunities for acquisition; acquirable at a more realistic price, much easier to communicate and work with directly, and often a better fit with your existing company than a company that has been thoroughly prepped for sale.
How much does it cost?
Instead of charging a fee, I would look to structure a joint venture. In return for navigating you through the process, safeguarding your existing personal and business interest, introducing you to talented but cost effective legal and accounting professionals, structuring the deal, helping you get the best terms possible, and supporting you in integrating the new business with your own; I would look to take a part share of the acquisition. From there it would be up to you whether you wished to retain me as an adviser, Non-Executive Director or silent share holder, or whether you would prefer to buy me out using a pre-agreed valuation model.
This way there is no requirement for you to find additional funds and no risk of paying out even if an acquisition is ultimately unsuccessful. But far more importantly, I only get paid if the acquisition is successful. And the more successful it is, the more I get paid. This way you know that I am totally committed to getting you the best result possible.
How to get started
The first step is to get in touch here and arrange an informal meeting or conversation with me. I will take time to understand your business and future aspirations going forward and better explain how I can assist you. I'm always happy to share ideas and discuss things over the phone. It is then up to you whether you wish to look at involving myself and my team in your growth efforts more formally.