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Acquisition, mergers, and succession

If there is a wish to leave your company, it is an option to sell or transfer your company to one or more employees or family members. The same distinction can be made on the side of taking over a company. The company in question can be taken over by a third party or by one or more employees or family members.

There is a substantial difference between the purchase from / sale to third parties and the purchase/sale within the family or company. The approach of our specialists is tailored to each case.

Acquisition by family or employee(s)

When a company is transferred to one or more family members and/or employees, we look together with the incumbent entrepreneurs and potential successors at what everyone’s wishes and needs are. Based on our findings, we then develop a memorandum of understanding regarding the acquisition with possibly several variants. On the basis of this memorandum, an attempt is made to reach an agreement with all parties on the manner of transfer, the conditions, and the steps to be taken. A successful transfer is emphatically the result of a joint process.

Acquisition, mergers, and succession

Acquisition by third parties

A transaction between parties who do not have an employment or family relationship has several steps but is, therefore, better structured. For the buyer and seller, the next steps are largely the same – after all, they are at the same negotiating table. The steps that must be followed in an acquisition by third parties are as follows:

  • creating a search profile and identifying and approaching potential acquisition candidates/buyers;
  • developing a specific business case based on the interest on how a possible takeover may proceed (buyer);
  • negotiation of prices and conditions with interested parties;
  • drafting and concluding a letter of intent with one party;
  • due diligence;
  • further elaboration of the business case (buyer only);
  • contract negotiations;
  • obtaining matching financing (buyer only);
  • closing the deal.

Of course, there are all kinds of intermediate stages and variants of these purchase and sale forms. This includes mergers, phased acquisitions or sales, the buy-out of fellow shareholders or associates, and joint ventures. We approach all these intermediate forms and variants in the same way. We choose the most appropriate process, which is determined by the type of relationship between the parties involved.

A selling or buying process is by definition multidisciplinary and requires, in addition to negotiating skills and persuasiveness, a great deal of expertise from various areas. Our specialists can assist you with extensive experience and knowledge in the field of business economics, law, taxation, accountancy, and human resource management. We coordinate the entire process and will call in external specialist knowledge where necessary.

Can we assist you with business acquisitions, mergers, or succession?
Acquisition, mergers, and succession