Dr. Oskar Colombo
Manager, Deal Advisory
Because successful transactions require a solid foundation
Company sales and acquisitions take place in a complex environment today:
When selling a business, it is essential to identify suitable strategic or financial investors, approach them in a targeted manner and convince them of the long-term merits of the business being sold. Setting the wrong priorities here may result in valuable time being lost and reduce the likelihood of a successful regulatory ownership control process.
When acquiring a company, the aim is to find the right target company and convince the owners to sell. In this context, not only the purchase price but also the personal and strategic fit play a crucial role. Thorough and targeted preparation at the start of the project greatly increases the likelihood of a successful transaction.
Comprehensive support for mergers and acquisitions in the financial services sector
We work alongside you as a partner throughout the entire transaction process. Our range of services fully covers all phases of a sale or acquisition process; on request, we can also provide support for individual project phases only.
Sale of a business
In the field of M&A, we support our clients throughout the entire sell-side process: From preparing the transaction (e.g., developing and refining the equity story, identifying the USP and preparing for exit readiness) through integrated financial planning and business valuation, to the preparation of comprehensive sales documents (e.g. fact book, information memorandum). We identify and specifically target suitable strategic investors such as banks, insurance companies and private equity firms (e.g., through anonymised teaser approaches), organise due diligence processes and the virtual data room, and conduct contract negotiations through to the completion of the transaction (closing). In doing so, we support the entire sale process or, upon request, take on individual project phases, thereby providing scalable support.
Our team has an excellent network of contacts both in the DACH region and worldwide. We maintain regular dialogue with relevant stakeholders regarding search profiles and strategic growth plans.
Company acquisitions
Our Financial Services Mergers & Acquisitions team supports clients at every stage of the buy-side process. Our services range from jointly defining tailored search criteria and conducting a thorough outside-in analysis of potential target companies, through to discreetly approaching owners, and preparing integrated financial projections and business valuations.
We coordinate and manage the due diligence phase, support contract negotiations and ensure the successful completion of the transaction (closing) as well as the transition into any subsequent integration phase. Upon request, we can manage the entire search and acquisition process or provide targeted support for specific project phases.
Our team has numerous relevant contacts within the German-speaking financial services sector, maintains long-standing personal relationships with owners and managing directors, and operates in a confidential and respectful manner – prerequisites that are often crucial to a successful acquisition.
Fundraising / Raising Equity
Often, continuing along a chosen growth path requires strengthening the capital base by raising equity – typically in the form of a capital increase against cash contributions, with the participation of new investors. BDO provides comprehensive support throughout this process: from developing or refining the equity story, through the preparation of integrated financial planning and business valuation, to the production of informative transaction documents (e.g. fact book, information memorandum). We identify and approach suitable investors (including via anonymised teasers), organise due diligence processes – including the creation and management of a virtual data room – and provide support with contract negotiations right through to the completion of the transaction (closing).
Our team maintains ongoing dialogue with strategic investors and has a global network of financial investors, including many venture capital firms that specifically invest in companies with above-average growth potential over the medium to long term.
Establishing joint ventures or entering into strategic partnerships
Our Financial Services M&A team also supports the formation of joint ventures and the development of strategic partnerships through a holistic advisory approach. Working closely with our clients, we develop robust business cases (including integrated financial planning) and not only support you through the contract negotiations but also assist you with the practical implementation once the contract has been signed.
Our 360° Approach
Our experienced Mergers & Acquisitions team guarantees you maximum transaction security for share and asset deals, on both the sell-side and buy-side, as well as in fundraising.
We provide comprehensive support across all sub-sectors of the financial industry, including: retail banking, consumer finance, corporate and investment banking, primary and reinsurance, as well as insurance brokers and broker pools, wealth and asset management, leasing, factoring and debt collection, payments, stock exchanges, clearing and settlement, custody, financial information and ratings, digital assets, decentralised finance, tokenisation and the digital euro.
