Selling your business

“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”

Steve Jobs

Having a growth target of x is all well and good, but there are times when companies just don’t have the muscle, resources, tools or know-how to meet it. Particularly in the case of original founders with multi-decadal businesses, selling to a suitable, well-researched and appropriate acquirer can be an excellent way of leap-frogging some of the hurdles while preserving their legacies. Finding the right new home, one which will continue your ethos and focus on the investment and growth you always wanted, is tricky and that’s where we come in.

Here are some of the benefits of being acquired:

• Access to new markets via the acquirer’s existing distribution channels
• Introduction of world class business tools
• Investment in aging infrastructure
• New shared knowledge and expertise
• Fresh progression routes for staff
• Opportunities for the founders and management team to remain or exit
• Release of funds to shareholders

We have clients worldwide looking to acquire, invest in and grow software companies. We’re not talking about businesses which will buy your business then sell it; our clients will become a home for life. Here’s what we look for in a business, on behalf of our clients:

• Strong recurring revenues
• SaaS product
• A loyal customer-base
• Vertical market, mission critical software
• Long established
• $1m-$50m revenues
• Great leadership
• Potential for growing the business

IF YOU ARE A SaaS BUSINESS OWNER and thinking about retiring, exiting or finding a new home for your company, let’s have a confidential conversation.

Acquiring a business

“The key to making acquisitions is being ready because you really never know when the right big one is going to come along..”

James Mcnerney

Expanding your business by acquiring another is a great way to grow. Economies of scale, new technologies and of course added customers are all within reach when the right tuck-in acquisition is available.

Finding the right business to acquire is challenging, however, and owes as much to detective work as it does obvious for sale signs. The owners of likely targets may need some convincing, and once you’ve opened a dialogue there is a whole heap of work to ensure your perfect acquisition goes to plan.

Here are some of the benefits of acquiring another business:

• New revenue streams and profit
• Greater market share
• Additional distribution channels
• Access to new markets, including overseas
• New shared knowledge and expertise
• Reductions in excess capacity and decreased competition
• Ownership of new technology

We work with clients to help find their ideal acquisition target. It is quite possible that we know them already! Once we have started a dialogue, we will work with you to ensure everything adds up, the valuation is accurate, ask the right questions during the due diligence phase and be there to help you integrate your new enterprise into your existing infrastructure. Here’s where we can help:

• M&A business targeting
• Negotiations
• Due diligence analysis
• Corporate and cultural “fit” analysis
• Post-acquisition integration planning & implementation
• Securing the business
• Interim and project management

IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS OWNER and thinking about acquiring a tuck-in company, let’s have a confidential conversation.