Providing Acquisitions Support Services for buying a business

Anderson Shaw provides a wide range of services for owners looking at buying a business.  Acquisitions place significant strain on businesses and their owners and for most businesses, it is not an area mangement is familiar with.  Acquirers can choose from a wide range of services:

• Acquisition Criteria: We can help you refine these and importantly assist you in determining what may be affordable as an acquisition.  It is worth noting that businesses purchased either in or just before administration/liquidation require a very different approach because of the timescales which have to be met, the absence of time for due diligence and the usual requirement for 100% cash at completion.
• Search: Once the acquisition criteria have been agreed, Anderson Shaw can search for businesses using both public and specialist databases of businesses for sale.  We can also search for companies, which may not be for sale, but which meet the client's criteria;  
• Approach: Clients often have a list of potential acquisitions.  We can approach these businesses on the Client's behalf without initially disclosing the Client's possible interest; 
• Analysis:  Once a suitable acquisition has been identified, Anderson Shaw can provide analysis of the business and report on the likely market value;
• Negotiation:  Anderson Shaw has a great deal of experience of negotiation to optimise deals and draft Heads of Terms;
• Commercial Due Diligence:  We can carry out due diligence in any area which would not be covered by accountants or solicitors.  Typically this would include areas relating to analysis of sales, pricing, customers, suppliers etc.;
• Legal Stages Management:   Anderson Shaw has managed many transactions on behalf of business sellers and therefore we are used to project managing the professionals during legal stages;
• Integration Planning:  We can assist with financial and operational planning for acquisitions and, if appropriate, for funding of acquisitions;

Acquirers can choose from the menu of support services as broadly set out above.  Payment is usually on a time spent basis or a combination of time spent and a success-based fee.