Practical guides for UK buyers.
How to value, find, approach and buy a business, written from the buyer's side, with real UK numbers.
New guides and the monthly report, one email a week.
Valuing and paying
How to value a business you want to buy (UK buyer's guide)
Value a business you want to buy on the profit it will keep making under your ownership, not on the asking price or last year's headline figure. Work out maintainable…
How long does an acquisition take in the UK?
A UK acquisition typically takes between six and twelve months from the start of the search to completion. The range is wide because the timeline depends significantly…
Finding and approaching targets
How to find off-market acquisition targets in the UK
Finding off-market acquisition targets in the UK requires a systematic approach: define precise target criteria, build a long list using business data sources, research…
How to approach a business owner about buying their company
Find the person who actually owns the business using the free Companies House register, then write to them personally with a short letter that explains who you are, why…
What is an acquisition thesis, and why does it matter?
An acquisition thesis is a written document that defines what a buyer is looking for in an acquisition target, the strategic rationale for making an acquisition,…
What is deal origination, and why does it matter for buyers?
Deal origination is the process by which a buyer builds a pipeline of potential acquisition targets: identifying, approaching, and qualifying businesses before they…
Getting help
What does a buy-side M&A adviser do, and is one worth it?
A buy-side M&A adviser works only for the buyer: they shape the acquisition thesis, find and approach targets (often off-market), value and negotiate the deal, and…
Buy-side M&A fees in the UK: what you'll actually pay
Most UK buy-side advisers charge a fee for their time (a monthly retainer or a fixed project fee) plus a success fee on completion. A 2023 survey of European M&A…
Integration and risk
Post-acquisition integration: why deals fail after close
Post-acquisition integration is the process of combining an acquired business with the acquirer's existing operations, systems, culture, and management structure. When…
Why do most acquisitions fail?
Most acquisitions fail because buyers pursue available targets rather than the right ones, allow deal pressure to override diligence, and treat integration as something…
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