Business Sale
For more than 15 years, we have advised entrepreneurs, shareholders, and corporations on the successful sale of companies and business units.
Approximately one-third of our transactions have involved an international buyer, reflecting our experience in cross-border M&A and our ability to access a broad range of strategic and financial investors.
The sale of a business is often the culmination of many years of entrepreneurial effort. In other situations, it is driven by succession planning, portfolio optimization, or the decision to pursue new strategic priorities.
Whatever the motivation, a business sale is a defining event. It requires careful preparation, disciplined execution, and a clear understanding of both strategic and financial objectives.
Successful transactions rarely begin when a company is brought to market.
We help our clients prepare well in advance, identify the key value drivers of the business, and develop a transaction strategy designed to maximize buyer interest and create competitive tension. A structured process enables shareholders to evaluate multiple options and make informed decisions on their future.
Our objective extends beyond completing a transaction. We seek to identify the right buyer and achieve an outcome that reflects the full strategic and financial value of the business.
Professional. Independent. Personal.
Dr. Patrick Stiller
The sale of a business is a matter of trust.
We would be pleased to discuss your objectives personally and in confidence.
Our Clients
Our clients include entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, corporate groups, and financial investors across a wide range of industries.
Entrepreneurial and family-owned companies
Many of our clients are entrepreneurial businesses and family-owned companies whose shareholders entrust us with the sale of a business they have built over many years, often decades.
While maximizing shareholder value is important, the choice of buyer often extends beyond price alone. Continuity for employees, customers, and business partners frequently plays an equally important role.
We help our clients identify the right transaction partner and achieve an outcome that aligns with both their strategic and financial objectives.
Corporate Divestitures & Carve-Outs
We also advise corporate groups on portfolio optimization initiatives, including the divestiture of non-core businesses, carve-outs, and complex separation transactions.
These mandates require careful planning, disciplined execution, and close coordination between stakeholders, areas in which our team brings extensive transaction experience.
Senior-Level Advice. From Strategy to Closing.
Every business has its own story. Every transaction its own considerations.
We combine the professional standards and rigorous execution associated with leading investment banks with the entrepreneurial mindset, flexibility, and personal commitment of a specialized mid-market M&A advisory firm.
A Proven Process. Thoughtfully Applied.
We provide end-to-end support throughout the transaction process, from strategy development and buyer identification to negotiations and closing.
Every sale process is tailored to the specific objectives of our clients and executed through a structured methodology developed across numerous domestic and cross-border M&A transactions.
1. Preparation
Establish the foundation for a successful transaction.
- Define transaction objectives and shareholder priorities
- Develop the equity story and transaction strategy
- Prepare transaction materials and financial documentation
- Identify and prioritize potential buyers
- Develop a focused buyer outreach strategy
Typical timeline: Months 1-3
2. Buyer Engagement & Evaluation
Create competitive tension and identify the most attractive transaction partner.
- Approach selected strategic and financial investors
- Coordinate confidentiality agreements and information exchange
- Manage management presentations and site visits
- Evaluate buyer interest, indicative offers, and transaction fit
- Support shareholders throughout the selection process
Typical timeline: Months 4-5
3. Transaction Execution
Drive the transaction to a successful signing and closing.
- Negotiate key commercial terms and the Letter of Intent
- Coordinate due diligence and advisor workstreams
- Manage SPA negotiations and transaction documentation
- Support closing preparations and stakeholder communication
- Facilitate a successful handover and transition
Typical timeline: Months 6-7
Identifying the Right Buyer
To identify the most suitable buyers for our clients, we pursue multiple sourcing channels simultaneously.
We begin with a comprehensive analysis of the relevant buyer universe, combining proprietary research, specialized transaction databases, industry knowledge, and sector expertise to identify both strategic acquirers and financial investors.
In parallel, we leverage our international network of M&A advisors, private equity firms, family offices, and corporate decision-makers to access potential buyers that may not be visible through conventional market research alone.
The objective is not simply to maximize the number of buyers approached, but to identify those most likely to recognize the strategic value of the business and execute a successful transaction.
Business Valuation
A credible valuation is the foundation of every successful transaction.
Our sector expertise, transaction experience, and continuous dialogue with strategic and financial investors enable us to assess how different buyer groups may value a business and where value creation opportunities are likely to be recognized.
Rather than relying solely on theoretical valuation methodologies, we combine established valuation techniques with insights gained from completed transactions, current market conditions, and ongoing investor discussions.
This approach provides our clients with a realistic understanding of market value and supports informed strategic decisions throughout the transaction process.alten.
Maximizing Shareholder Value
Understanding the value of a business is an important starting point. Realizing an attractive purchase price, however, requires much more.
Different buyer groups may perceive and value a business differently. Identifying those buyers most likely to recognize its strategic value is a critical element of a successful sale process.
Careful preparation, broad buyer coverage, competitive tension, and disciplined execution are often the key drivers of attractive transaction outcomes.
Our objective is to help clients achieve the best possible outcome from both a strategic and financial perspective.
Sale Readiness
Preparing a business for sale often begins long before a transaction process is launched and can significantly influence transaction certainty, buyer interest, and valuation outcomes.
We help clients identify key value drivers, address potential weaknesses, and develop a transaction strategy aligned with their objectives and timing requirements.
Our ongoing dialogue with strategic acquirers, private equity investors, and family offices provides valuable insights into buyer expectations, market conditions, and transaction trends.
Where appropriate, we support initiatives that enhance sale readiness and strengthen the company's position in a future transaction.
Business Unit Sales & Carve-Outs
The sale of a business unit often presents different challenges than the sale of an independent company.
Carve-outs typically involve legal, operational, and organizational separation processes that require careful planning and execution. Such transactions are frequently driven by portfolio optimization initiatives, strategic refocusing, or the divestiture of non-core activities.
Successful carve-outs require more than identifying a buyer. Defining the transaction perimeter, preparing the business for separation, and executing a structured process are often critical to success.
Drawing on extensive experience in carve-outs, complex divestitures, and cross-border transactions, we support our clients throughout every stage of the process.
