Corporate Finance

M&A ADVISORY

Mergers & acquisitions are complex and time-consuming, no matter which side of the deals table you’re on. That said, if the right foundations are in place the outcome will be worth what can feel like a never-ending process.

Our team will be on hand to guide you every step of the way. We’ll start by gaining a deep understanding of your business and establish the outcome that’s best for you. We’ll then work with you to achieve your goal, and guide you every step of the way.

We’re well versed in all types of deal structures and working with businesses on pricing, valuation, due diligence, raising funds, structures, negotiations and deal completions. We’ll project manage the process end-to-end and liaise with other advisors to maximise the value to you and your business.

As your M&A advisory team we will ensure you have:

• A sale that reflects your hard work
• An Acquisition that gives you a peach not a lemon
• Practical guidance on raising funds
• An objective view of your buy-out

SELLING A BUSINESS

Naturally you want the best return from selling your business. Achieving that can be challenging, but our advice can guide you through a straightforward and satisfyingly rewarding transaction. There are numerous areas to consider for business sale including:

• What is it worth?
• Who will want to buy it?
• Is now the best time to sell it?
• Do I need a quick sale?
• What does it mean for my tax?

We’ll use our experience and up to date insights to give you objective and comprehensive answers to all of these. We will then look to match you with a suitable buyer (should you not already have a prospective buyer lined up) and we can make sure you’re ready for this by providing the information and business plans they’ll need. Once we’ve found a buyer and starting moving towards agreeing a price and concluding the sale we’ll consider the tax implications. We have tax specialists on hand to ensure that we minimise your tax liability and also consider your immediate needs and ongoing lifestyle after the business has been sold. By doing this, we can ascertain the arrangement that provides the best balance of profitable sale and most effective long-term tax solution. We’ll take care of the entire process so you can concentrate on running your business.

Post-sale, our AAB Wealth colleagues can assist you with planning and managing your finances.

FUNDRAISING

At some point in your business journey, you are almost certain to need finance. Our highly experienced business fundraising team can help you find the right source of funding and present a convincing business case to secure it. Cashflow may be the lifeblood of your business, but on its own it’s unlikely to be able to fund your growth or keep you afloat during a change of structure. When you need finance for your business, we’ll help you raise appropriate funding. It could enable growth or acquisitions, provide working capital or be an equity investment to unlock the value held by existing shareholders.

Taking our time to understand your current position and objectives, we’ll then use our experience to put together a well-researched and practical business plan. We’ll help you find the most appropriate source of funding option and draw on our long-standing relationships with banks, mezzanine finance providers and private equity investors, to secure a successful outcome within a practical timescale.

TRANSACTION SUPPORT

From inception to completion, we’ll project manage your transactions  and provide transaction support services with our practical, hands on approach. You can rely on our experience and due diligence, enabling you to focus on managing your core business while we take care of your transactions. Due diligence with transactions should be exactly what it says: meticulous and thorough. Our team is painstaking and professional, with extensive experience of providing due diligence services for purchasers, vendors, funders and investors. We dig deep to verify information, ascertain whether a deal is really viable and highlight where you need assurances. Our report will help you confidently decide whether to proceed or withdraw.

We can also assist with financial modelling which can be a deciding factor in whether you secure the funding you seek or proceed with an acquisition you are considering. Our specialist team will use their financial modelling expertise to design, build and review detailed and reliable financial models, typically for a three to five year period.

BUSINESS VALUATIONS

There are several reasons why you may need a business valuation: to support a transaction or to help you raise funds; for tax purposes; to buy out a minority shareholder; as part of resolving a dispute or for financial reporting purposes.

Our team of experts prepare business and tax valuations for companies, partnerships and sole traders. With our specialist sector knowledge, we’ll provide dependable information to help you progress your plans and decisions, with the reassurance that it will stand up to exacting examination.

LITIGATION SUPPORT

While it’s never pleasant to have to undertake litigation, having full confidence in a team that will support you improves the prospect. Using their depth and breadth of knowledge, our team of experts will give you that reassurance, by providing a detailed, bespoke and fully comprehensive service that you can rely on.

We provide a multifunctional approach with extensive industry knowledge, sound judgement and commercial sense, making us the ideal partner. Our specialists dig deep to establish the full facts, and work closely with you and your lawyers to deliver the results you seek. Our litigation support covers a range of key areas:

• Corporate & Commercial
• Forensic
• Insolvency
• Family & Personal

Our litigation support team provides a creative and practical approach to disputes, offering thoughtful solutions to guide you through difficult times.