When selling your business, “What is it worth?” isn’t the only important question — it’s “Who will value it most?”

Every acquirer sees value differently. A trade buyer might focus on synergies, diversification or market share growth. A private equity/financial investor might seek scalability and recurring revenue. A family office might value legacy, leadership, or brand integrity.

At EvolutionCBS, we believe that finding the right buyer is an art — not just a search. It’s about aligning strategy, objectives, and vision so that your business is truly understood and acquired for what makes it unique.

1. Beyond the Obvious Buyer

Many sellers assume their buyer will be a competitor or someone they already know in their industry. The most motivated acquirer can often be the least expected, which makes having a considered choice of buyers of paramount importance.

“Our job isn’t just to find a buyer — it’s to identify a range of strategic acquirers, and financial investors, who not only meet your objectives, but also produce the right amount of competitive tension to ensure the best possible valuation and deal structure. That’s where value is created.”
— Nolan John, Research Manager

Our research team uses world-class tools, alongside proprietary databases, to map over 50 million companies worldwide. By analysing historic acquisitions, growth strategies, and financial data, we uncover buyers globally who might never have appeared on your radar — but who see extraordinary strategic value in what you’ve built.

2. Strategic Fit Drives Premium Valuations

The best deals don’t come from the highest bidder — they come from the most aligned acquirer.

A strategic buyer is one who sees your company as a solution to their growth challenge — a way to accelerate expansion, enter new markets, diversify or strengthen their competitive position. When that happens, they’re willing to pay a premium because they’re not just buying your business — they’re buying future growth potential.

Our experience shows that this “strategic premium” can add significant value to a deal, often pushing valuations well beyond market norms.

3. The EvolutionCBS Approach: Research + Insight + Precision

At EvolutionCBS, we combine data-driven research with human insight to create what we call “competitive tension” by identifying and engaging with qualified, motivated acquirers, ensuring our clients are in the enviably position of having a choice of competing offers.

Our process includes:

• Deep discovery sessions to understand your growth story, current operations, values, and vision.
• Strategic profiling to pinpoint where your business fits into an acquirer’s long-term goals.
• Global research using our access to trade, private equity, and family office buyers.
• Curated engagement — targeted introductions that drive genuine interest and competitive tension.

Because we focus on a Low volume, Premium Guided Service, we ensure every outreach is purposeful, personal, and perfectly aligned.

4. Real-World Results: Strategic Buyers, Strategic Value

Since 2011, our team have been responsible for completing 360+ transactions worth over £2bn and maintaining a success rate approaching 80%.

In the last three years, 66% of our deals have involved private equity, and 50% of those included a partial fundraise or equity rollover, proving that our buyer targeting process doesn’t just find interested parties — it finds investors who see and build on true value.

5. The True Art of the Exit

Identifying the right strategic buyer isn’t just about data or databases — it’s about empathy, narrative, and alignment, combined with decades of deep market knowledge and sector expertise. When we present your business, we don’t just show the numbers; we take proactive steps to ensure competitive tension is achieved, and present the facts in a way that resonates with motivated buyers who can take it further.

That’s how we turn research into results — and transactions into legacies.

fraser.hodgkiss@evolutioncbs.co.uk
Get In Touch
www.evolutioncbs.co.uk
07957 834506
0118 959 8224

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If you would like a no-obligation consultation on the sale of your business or would like to discuss our Business Valuation Service, click here.

As a long-established premium provider of business sale advisory services to UK businesses, EvolutionCBS offers business owners a complimentary and confidential discussion on how their specific objectives could be met and provides them with pragmatic, practical advice on how to begin preparing both themselves and their businesses for future sale or investment.

EvolutionCBS works with owners of UK businesses in any sector, finding buyers from around the world through highly targeted research and supporting clients with dedicated Director-led teams, at every stage of their journey to a successful sale or investment, we boast a market leading success rate with 14-year average above 75%.

If you are an owner or shareholder of a business and would like a no-obligation consultation on the sale of all or part of your business, please email: info@evolutioncbs.co.uk or contact us on Tel: 0118 959 8224.