FAQS

Timing is essential if you want to achieve maximum value for your company, and often the best time to consider a sale, and begin to implement an exit strategy, is when you don’t necessarily have to.

Whilst a tight time deadline or time pressure can accelerate the sale process, you may prefer to take a much more measured approach and listen to numerous offers.

Currently, M&A activity within the UK SME market remains strong, despite the economic and political climate. Buyer activity is high, with interest in UK companies coming from both UK and overseas trade, and private equity investors. The present market and high deal values we are witnessing all indicate that now is the ideal time to begin a company sale process, if you are looking to achieve maximum value.

Having completed thousands of company sales, across all major sectors, our unique research process has proven successful time and time again.

Our client-focused approach means that our team will take the time to get to know your business, to create a thorough, personalised approach, which will showcase your company in the best possible light.

Led by our experienced team of experts, custom-built software, personal networks, connections and extensive marketing we have a global reach and a database of potential acquirers which is constantly expanding. On entrusting KBS Corporate with the sale of your company, you will be assigned a team of M&A experts, who will implement our specialist process, having understood your requirements and objectives.

You set your own terms – if staying on in the business is appealing to you, we will ensure we implement a strategy that facilities this. Your interests really drive what we do, and our team will work with you every step of the way to ensure your objectives are met.

Often, when considering a company sale, people don’t realise how flexible the structure can be. A range of trade buyers, overseas investors and private equity houses will look for businesses which are built on hard work, determination and integrity, and will therefore understand that many shareholders, managers, and staff, wish to remain in the business post sale. If this is of interest to you, this can actually increase the value of your company as the time-commitment and risk is reduced, whilst your expertise and knowledge is retained.

An exit strategy isn’t just for someone looking to ‘exit’, it is for those who want to instigate change, transformation or achieve a sense of security by taking money off the table whilst retaining equity in the business post sale.

No. There are a range of deal structures available to you, and a company sale does not have to mean a full exit. We facilitate partial sales, and we can work with you to establish the best route of action for you and your company.

At KBS Corporate we will always take the time to understand your thoughts and objectives, so that we can ensure we work to deliver and exceed your aims, whether that is a full or partial sale.

We are proud to have been successfully selling business for 25 years. We continue to go from strength to strength, which is reflected in being named the UKs most active dealmaker for 3 years running.

As a Group, we acted as lead advisory on the sale of 240 deals between January and September of 2022, leading us to be named the UK’s most active advisor for the first nine months of 2022 in the Refinitiv Global Mid-Market M&A Review.

In 2021, our Group advised on over 330 deals – a figure independently verified by Refinitiv. 2021 also saw us win several industry awards and sit top of Pitchbook’s 2021 UK and Ireland M&A league table, completing 87% more deals than any other adviser.

We continue to push the boundaries within our industry and invest in people to deliver a personal service, backed by the power of big data and technology.

We have completed deals with acquirers across the globe, and our unique network of international M&A advisors, extensive database of trade companies and direct relationships with overseas Private Equity houses, allows us to identity and work alongside potential buyers across the globe.

Our research team has a strong international presence and are multi-lingual which allows us to target key continents across the world, which will ensure your company attracts the correct buyer and sees maximum value realised.

At KBS Corporate we have the staff, resources and knowledge to target any area or location, and you can rest assured that if an overseas buyer a viable option for your business then we will leave no stone unturned.

Increasingly, we are seeing private equity houses acquiring a wide range of UK businesses, of varying sizes. We have recently completed deals with both UK and overseas private equity houses, who are sitting on record levels of investment funds.

You may not have considered the possibility of a deal involving private equity, however for high growth companies, it can significantly increase the final deal value and provide a much better opportunity for future growth.

Many businesses on the market with us receive interest from at least one private equity house, with some receiving several bids.

The M&A market has been active throughout the past 12 months, with trade buyers and private equity investors alike looking to acquire profitable UK companies.

At KBS Corporate, we are experiencing first-hand a growing sentiment amongst acquirers and Private Equity houses across the globe. Global interest in UK companies has also seen an uplift as the volume of overseas acquirers increased by 25% over the past year (source: Bureau van Dijk).

As the UK companies have become incredibly desirable to both UK and overseas buyers, this means you can achieve a significantly higher value for your company.

The increase in M&A activity, coupled with the international interest in UK firms as well as the availability of private equity funds, makes the current market extremely buoyant and the perfect time to consider a company sale.

No, we understand that selling your company may not be something you want to keep private. Our staff are highly trained to be discreet and operate with confidentiality in mind at all time. Our biggest priority is protecting you and your business.

Our team use some of the most advance technology, including data rooms, to ensure your data and information is handled carefully, to ensure the details of the company sale are kept private. We always establish the best, most secure way of contacting you, and we will never pass on any information to any of your staff or employees without permission.