How we work
An advisory process you can follow, step by step.
Most owners sell a business or raise capital once or twice in a lifetime. We make sure you understand each stage before it starts: what happens, how long it takes, what you decide and what you keep when we are done.
Our commitments
Four commitments on every mandate.
They apply whether we are selling a business, raising capital or advising on a purchase.
01
Nothing hidden
You see every buyer or investor we approach, every piece of feedback and every offer, as it comes in.
02
Every step explained
Before each decision we set out the options, the trade-offs and our recommendation in plain language. Then you decide.
03
The work is yours
Models, valuations and materials are handed over in editable form, with every assumption written down.
04
Your team learns
We work alongside your finance team so that the model, the data room and investor reporting keep running after we leave.
Selling a business
How a sale works.
A structured sale typically takes six to nine months, from preparation to signing. Here is what happens at each stage, what you decide and what you receive.
- 1
Prepare
Weeks 1 to 6
We review three years of accounts, separate one-off items from recurring profit, build the financial model and set a valuation range with you. We then draft the teaser and the information memorandum and prepare the data room.
You decide whether to sell, when, and at what price.
You receive the model, the valuation range and the draft materials to review.
- 2
Approach buyers
Weeks 6 to 10
We build a list of strategic buyers, private equity funds and family offices, and approach each one under an NDA. Only those who sign receive the information memorandum.
You decide which buyers we contact, and which we leave out.
You receive the buyer list with the reason for each name, and a record of every contact.
- 3
Indicative offers
Weeks 10 to 14
Interested buyers submit non-binding offers. We compare them on price, structure, conditions and each buyer's ability to close, not on the headline number alone.
You choose who goes through to due diligence, usually two or three buyers.
You receive a side-by-side comparison of every offer, with our recommendation.
- 4
Due diligence
Weeks 14 to 22
The buyers' accountants and lawyers test the business. We run the data room, prepare the answers with your team and deal with issues before they turn into price cuts.
You see every question and every answer.
You receive a short note on each issue raised and how it was resolved.
- 5
Negotiate and sign
Weeks 22 to 28
The final price and terms are written into the sale and purchase agreement. We negotiate the commercial terms alongside your lawyers and explain every clause that moves value or risk, such as warranties, escrow, earn-outs and conditions.
You agree the final terms, clause by clause.
You receive a plain-language summary of the agreed terms before you sign.
- 6
Complete
After signing
Any conditions are met, approvals obtained and the price paid. We stay involved until completion and help with the handover to the new owner.
You keep the model, the materials and the data room.
Timings are typical for a mid-market business. They depend on how ready the business is and how quickly buyers move.
Raising capital
How a capital raise works.
A well-prepared raise typically takes four to eight months: one to two months of preparation, then three to six months from the first investor meeting to closing.
- 1
Prepare
Weeks 1 to 8
We agree with you how much to raise and what it will fund, then build the financial model, the investor presentation and the data room.
You decide how much to raise, what it will fund and the terms you would accept.
You receive the model, the presentation and the data room to review.
- 2
Choose investors
Weeks 6 to 8
We list the investors whose ticket size, sector focus and return targets fit your raise: family offices, funds, strategic investors or lenders.
You decide which investors we approach.
You receive the investor list with the reason for each name.
- 3
First meetings
Weeks 8 to 16
Introductory meetings focus on the business and the opportunity. Investors who want to go further sign an NDA before they see the model and the data room.
You decide who receives the detailed information.
You receive every piece of investor feedback, as it comes in.
- 4
Term sheet
Weeks 16 to 22
A lead investor proposes terms. We explain each one, from valuation to board seats and investor protections, and negotiate them for you within limits you set.
You choose which offer to accept, and on what terms.
You receive a plain-language comparison of the offers.
- 5
Due diligence and closing
Weeks 22 to 32
The investor verifies the business while the lawyers prepare the investment documents. We manage the questions and the timetable until the funds arrive.
You keep the model, the reporting pack and the data room, ready for your next investor update.
Buying a company
How an acquisition works.
Most of the value in an acquisition is protected before any offer is made: in the criteria, the screening and the price you are prepared to walk away from. Timing depends on whether the company is already for sale.
- 1
Set the criteria
We set out with you why you are buying, what the target must have, and the most you will pay and why.
You decide the criteria and your walk-away price.
You receive a written acquisition brief.
- 2
Find and screen targets
We identify companies that fit, including owners who are not yet selling, and test each one against your criteria before any approach is made.
You decide which companies we approach, and how.
You receive a screened list and a profile of each strong candidate.
- 3
Offer and due diligence
We value the target, help you make the offer and agree a letter of intent with exclusivity. We then coordinate the financial, legal and commercial due diligence.
You decide the price and terms you offer, and whether to proceed once the findings are in.
You receive a valuation you can defend and a summary of every finding.
- 4
Negotiate and close
Findings become price adjustments, warranties or specific protections in the sale and purchase agreement. We negotiate them alongside your lawyers through to closing.
You agree the final terms.
You keep the model and the due diligence findings, the starting point for integration.
When we are done
What stays with you.
Everything we build on a mandate is handed over in editable form, so your team can keep using it without us.
- The financial model, with every assumption written down
- The valuation and the reasoning behind it
- The teaser, the information memorandum or the investor presentation
- The data room, indexed and complete
- The buyer or investor list, with a record of every contact
- A reporting pack your finance team can keep updating
Questions
Questions owners ask before they start.
How are your fees structured?
Transaction mandates usually combine a retainer, paid monthly or at agreed milestones, with a success fee paid only when the transaction completes. Valuations, financial models and other defined pieces of work are priced at a fixed fee. Scope and fees are agreed in writing before any work starts.
Who will I work with?
A managing director leads every mandate and stays your point of contact from the first call to completion. We take on a limited number of mandates at a time, so the people who scope the work are the people who do it.
How do you keep the process confidential?
We sign an NDA with you before you share anything. Buyers and investors first see an anonymous summary, and sign an NDA before they learn the company's name or see its financials. Your staff, customers and suppliers are told only when you decide.
Do you work with our lawyers and auditors?
Yes. Your lawyers draft and negotiate the legal documents, and your auditors and tax advisors cover their areas. We coordinate the timetable and make sure the commercial terms are carried through correctly. If you do not yet have advisors in place, we can suggest firms to speak to.
What if now is not the right time?
Then we will tell you, and explain what would make the business worth more first, such as cleaner accounts, a stronger management team or a simpler structure. Many sales and raises achieve more after a year of preparation. A transaction readiness assessment shows what to fix first.
Do you work with clients outside the GCC?
Yes. We have advised clients in eight countries, including the United States, Nigeria and South Africa, and we work with US and European companies raising from Gulf investors or selling to Gulf buyers.
Considering a sale,
a raise or an acquisition?
Speak to a managing director in confidence. We reply within one working day.