Buying a business
Finding the right company and acquiring it safely.
Whether for strategic expansion or as a succession solution, we support you throughout the entire purchase, from the search and valuation through to completion. Confidential, structured and backed by over 25 years of experience in M&A, corporate finance and strategy.
Your benefits
- Less risk when buying
A targeted search and thorough due diligence before you sign.
- One point of contact
Mathias Westerbarkei looks after you personally. No junior advisers, no conflict of interest.
- International reach
Target companies abroad too, through our partner network.
- Confidential to the end
Your interest in buying stays confidential. You decide who finds out, and when.
How we work
Four phases, from the search through to completion.
- 01
Target search and analysis
We identify suitable target companies and analyse their potential.
What happens in this phase
- Our AI-supported matching system finds suitable target companies using a wide range of criteria. This shortens the search considerably compared with conventional research. As the buyer, you also receive an interactive overview (dashboard).
- Assessing whether the company is a strategic fit for you (business model, culture, management).
- 02
Initial contact and preliminary review
We establish contact with the owners of the target companies. Mathias Westerbarkei approaches them personally, as an equal, from one business owner to another. That opens doors that remain closed to anonymous letters.
What happens in this phase
- Coordinating the preliminary review.
- Initial (indicative) valuation and drafting your non-binding offer based on the preliminary review.
- 03
Due diligence and negotiations
We guide you through the review of the target company (due diligence) and the negotiations, confidentially and with focus.
What happens in this phase
- Managing the review with internal and external specialists.
- Negotiations on the sale and purchase agreement and the transaction structure.
- 04
Completion and integration
We support you through to notarisation and completion.
What happens in this phase
- Support with notarisation and completion (signing and closing), including communication.
- If required, support with the integration plan for bringing the businesses together after the purchase.
At your side
Mathias Westerbarkei spent 18 years at CLAAS, most recently as Head of Mergers & Acquisitions. There he was responsible for ten strategic transactions in Europe, North America and China, including the complete takeover of the Renault tractor division.
From 2004 to 2007, as Chief Finance Integration Officer, he led the finance integration of this division in France. He is a contributor to the standard German reference work “Post Merger Integration” by Gerds and Schewe (5th edition), with a chapter on the Renault Agriculture integration at CLAAS.
300+
M&A projects reviewed
10+
Transactions completed
€600 million
Revenue of the largest transaction under his responsibility
Fees
Our fee combines a monthly retainer with a success fee that only becomes due on completion of the transaction. This way we share the risk with you.
We agree the exact structure with you individually. It depends on the size of the transaction, its complexity and the type of process chosen. You will receive a specific proposal in the initial consultation, which is free of charge and without obligation.
Every mandate is based on the individual engagement agreement and our General Terms of Engagement. These govern termination, fees and liability in a uniform way.
Legal and tax advice and the services of other advisers or experts are not part of our scope of services. You engage them separately. All fees and expenses are exclusive of VAT.
Further reading
- Industry multiplesCurrent EBITDA multiples for 15 industries: what buyers in your target industry typically pay. Free of charge.
- Investor databaseFor private equity, family offices and strategic investors: register your investment profile. We automatically match it against current M&A mandates in mid-sized companies.
- Take over a company as an executiveAre you an experienced executive looking for a company to take over (management buy-in)? Register in confidence.
Ready to buy a business?
Arrange a confidential initial consultation, free of charge and without obligation.