Mergers & Acquisitions

The principals of St. Charles Capital have extensive experience leading complex M&A transactions and are specialists in sell-side representation. The key elements of our transaction process include the following:

Planning and review

We begin by defining shareholder objectives, including financial issues of liquidity, capital, and income, as well as personal concerns (for example, questions of continued management involvement in the company). Then we conduct an in-depth review of the company and its position in the market through meetings with management, visits to company facilities, analysis of financial results, and review of corporate plans and projections.

Valuation

Working closely with our clients, we determine an initial value for the business and reach an agreement on a price objective for the transaction. We do this based on a thorough analysis of all relevant company, industry, and market data, including company performance relative to industry averages, comparable transactions, and business trends.

Buyer analysis

Usually the presence of many buyers raises the price. The inclusion of the “right” buyer in the process will raise the price even more. Therefore, we employ great care to find the right potential buyers to include in the sale process.

Marketing your company

There is no cookie-cutter formula for marketing a company. Each marketing plan is individually designed based on the specific circumstances and timing of the situation. In some cases, we may be working on a very small, specific group of prospects. In others, the list may be very broad. The tools we use and the approach we take may vary widely, but our objective is always to attract a number of interested parties, carefully screened and qualified, to create a competitive dynamic to achieve an optimal “fit” at the highest price.

Manage final due diligence, negotiations, and closing

The depth of experience we possess is most keenly felt during the process of negotiation and closing of the sale. Our knowledge of the business, legal, and financial tradeoffs concerning a sale is critical at this phase of the transaction. After months of work, an error or oversight can be costly. We represent the client’s interests and work to optimize the price and terms of the transaction. After an agreement has been reached, we work closely with counsel and management through the due-diligence process, final contract negotiations, and closing.