Acquisitions

We work with a wide variety of businesses and business owners. The majority of our clients are SMEs, owner-managers, and entrepreneurs, many of whom have never previously acquired a business.

A buy-side advisor helps businesses including private equity investors looking to make an acquisition search for and identify potential strategic targets that line up with their acquisition strategy. In every case, the ultimate goal is to buy the target company at the best price and get a successful deal.

A buy-side advisor works to reduce any competitive tension, put in place exclusivity agreements as soon as possible, and optimise the offer structure to minimise risk to their clients. This could involve the use of earnouts and deferred consideration. In the case of Wilson Partners, due to the integrated nature of our teams and their specialities, we also provide valuable assistance with tax and financial due diligence.

Having a third party to handle negotiations can help avoid the risk of emotional investment getting in the way, by providing a pragmatic approach that ensures both sides are aligned, providing a buffer between the seller and the buyer, especially important if they’re going to have to work together post-deal.

Generally, larger businesses attract a higher multiple because they have the infrastructure and professionalisation that de-risks the business to a greater extent than smaller, owner-managed businesses that are still on a journey of growth and development although small niche businesses with a unique proposition can attract higher than average values.