Corporate Finance is a broad term. Within Wilson Partners, it refers to a department that encompasses several high-quality services we provide to our clients, including mergers and acquisitions (M&A), transaction services (TS), and valuations.

Our M&A service, also known as lead advisory, advises sellers on how to realise the value of their business and assists them in doing so. We also advise buyers looking to make an acquisition or an investment.

TS, sometimes known as due diligence, is where we advise buyers, and sometimes sellers, by providing a financial and tax due diligence report in support of an investment or transaction.

We conduct valuations for various reasons, such as valuing shares for an incoming management team member, setting a hurdle rate for a growth share scheme, or during a divorce. However, the most common reason to conduct a valuation is to prepare a business for sale (i.e. a merger or acquisition).

The routes to selling a business range from DIY for small and micro businesses, using business transfer agents and business brokers for sub £2 million deals, to corporate finance and investment banks for sales over £2 million.

Private equity can provide funding to a management team for a management buyout, provided that management team is strong enough to be an attractive buyer. There are various funds of different sizes, some with sector expertise, others sector-agnostic. You can then take out personal loans or agree on deferred terms with the vendor, paying off the purchase price over time.

Deferred terms refer to an agreement where the purchase price is paid off over time. This can be a viable option when the management team doesn’t have the funds readily available to buy the business outright.

An Information Memorandum is crucial to the business sale, as it presents the business as an investment opportunity to a potential acquirer. It contains factually accurate information about the business and is used to initiate the transaction process.

Both business transfer agents and business brokers assist in the sale of businesses. However, business transfer agents typically work at the smaller end of the market (sub £2 million deals) and their approach to marketing tends to be broader. Business brokers, on the other hand, often provide a more personalised service and handle larger transactions.

We are advisors to the vendors, and offer a truly holistic service. We assist with buyer research, handle initial contact with purchasers, issue the information memorandum, help management with presentations, assess indicative bids, and project manage the advisors through to completion.