Issuing any dealmaking predictions for Q2 and Q3 2024 is a precarious occupation. As things stand, Britain and Europe as a whole are still subject to the economic headwinds caused by peak inflation, and theRead more
Large M&A picks up in 2024 – what does this mean for UK SMEs An article from S&P Global Market Intelligence had some rather better news about MA& activity! January marked the second straight monthRead more
Twelve years ago today I joined EvolutionCBS, a sell-side M&A Consultancy. Looking back over these years it’s been fun remembering many things, some frustrating – for example, I was a size six then (and IRead more
During the process of selling a business, usually at the stage where the seller is in exploratory discussions with the shortlist of potential buyers, one of the considerations is how the two parties assess theRead more
Much of the macroeconomic news at present appears to be gloomy, so Directors/Shareholders would be wise to give serious consideration to the timing of any company sale. What is absolutely clear is that Deal MakersRead more
Despite the economic turbulence that has prevailed for much of 2023, the M&A market has fared better than had been expected. However, there is a qualification needed here. There has been a marked drop inRead more
“When considering your ‘exit flight’ from the business, there’s a danger that the ‘weight’ of owner reliance – far from securing the ‘smooth take off’ you’d hoped for – might only lead to a fatalRead more
Company owners/Shareholders frequently ask the question “How much is my business worth?” However, an equally important question might be “How can I build future Equity Value into the business?” While the answer to this questionRead more
For any business owner considering a future sale it is vital to understand the different motivations of trade and financial buyers. In our previous post about ‘exit strategies’, we discussed, very briefly, two different typesRead more
When Accenture recently announced its acquisition of digital engineering company Objectivity, it brought to mind the importance of the term ‘objectivity’. In the world of Mergers and Acquisitions, the noun objectivity, i.e., meaning a lackRead more
Valuations can vary tremendously from deal to deal, with the quantum of any offer subject to a wide range of influences, including critically, the acquirer’s view of their ultimate Return on Investment from the purchase.Read more
There is no general ‘Rule of Thumb’ when it comes to exit strategies for business owners. Every business and its encompassing considerations are unique, therefore, there will almost always be a choice of exit optionsRead more
Dolf is a seasoned TMT investment banker with deep M&A and capital markets expertise. He began in strategy consulting at The MAC Group before moving into banking with Hambros. At WestLB, he founded and led the Media & Telecommunications Investment Banking team as Executive Director. His transaction experience spans IPOs, private equity, and complex cross-border deals. He has advised across the full TMT spectrum, from media to telecoms and healthcare software. Dolf holds an MBA with distinction from INSEAD and speaks four languages fluently.
His motto is “always look for a good strategic fit to maximise the win.”
A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and Chartered Global Management Accountant, Pradip brings more than two decades of corporate finance and M&A advisory experience. His transaction experience includes advising on notable deals such as the sale of BTCSoftware to HG Capital-backed Bright Group, InfoFlex to Civica, amongst many others.
An experienced investment banker specialising in the technology, media, and telecommunications sectors, he has led 88 advisory assignments spanning acquisitions, divestments, business sales, funding rounds, valuations, and strategic consulting engagements
Book your one to one consultation with Pradip
Luke is an associate in Collyer Bristow’s Corporate team. He advises clients on a broad spectrum of company law and corporate practices, including business and company acquisitions and disposals, investments by both majority and minority investors, group reorganisations, and general corporate advisory services. Luke works for a diverse range of clients across a number of sectors, including private companies, individual shareholders and directors, and family offices.
Rob is a Senior Associate in Collyer Bristow’s Corporate team. He advises clients on a wide range of matters relating to day-to-day business activities and business sales & acquisitions. Rob’s clients include the owners, managers and often founders of SMEs across a diverse range of sectors.
Sharon has broad experience of advising on all matters of company law and practice, including acquisitions and disposals of businesses and companies, management buy-outs, and making and taking investments by majority and minority stakeholders. She also advises on corporate governance and compliance with directors’ statutory and fiduciary duties. Clients say they appreciate Sharon’s “ability to put things in plain English and provide commercial guidance” and “the advice and support you gave me has been terrific and exactly right on reading my needs and wishes”
Tom, who joined in 1997 and moved to Oxford in 2007, is a Portfolio Director and Head of the Oxford office, where his responsibilities cover a broad range of private, charity and corporate clients. He holds the Investment Management Certificate and the Securities & Investment Institute Diploma. Tom has over 30 years of investment experience.
Roger is a methodical and highly consistent entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience specialising in exit strategies, business valuations and business sales, especially for the engineering sector, as an M&A adviser. As an author, he has supported numerous business owners from in navigating what is often a complex and misunderstood process, helping them better understand business valuations and the dynamics of selling a company.
“We chose Roger where we appreciated his wide range of contacts, fair terms of business, including his honest & friendly approach to business.” L Peters
John has over 10 years’ experience as a sell-side M&A adviser, supporting the sale of businesses across engineering, manufacturing, distribution and ITAD. Before moving into Mergers and Acquisitions, he built and grew several businesses serving major corporate clients in advertising, design, sales and marketing, branded goods, intellectual property and brand licensing. Having completed six business exits and four acquisitions himself, John combines first-hand entrepreneurial experience with practical advice to help business owners achieve successful exits.
“A business may be as important as a pension, but business sales are not regulated,” said John. “Any business sale, therefore, should be placed in trusted and safe hands, where the interests of the client are paramount.”
Adams’ background lies in B2B service where he had many senior management roles in sales and operations. In 2006 he headed up the UK M&A division of UTC Fire & Security and lead the commercial team in a £50m+ acquisition. He started his own data destruction business a year later which he scaled to one of the largest independent UK businesses in the sector. He worked with ECBS over a number of years before finally selling that business in 2025 via EvolutionCBS. Adams advice to sellers is “Deciding when to sell your business is probably one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make. Who you chose to help you, isn’t far behind it.”
For almost 10 years, Chris was Director of Corporate Development at Restore plc, a £300m AIM-listed company, where he led the M&A team in delivering the company’s ambitious buy-and-build strategy. Prior to this, he ran the UK acquisitions operation for Cintas Corporation, a $4bn facilities services business.
Chris’s specialist markets include SaaS software, document management, digital transformation, software services, hardware distribution, ITAD and IT recycling.
Chris’s advice for sellers: “Choosing a partner to help sell your business may be the most important financial decision you ever make. Ensure that you have established complete mutual trust and a good personal chemistry with your advisor because you will need to rely on their judgement at critical moments in the process.”
Having spent 20+ years working in high-growth technology companies across the globe Craig brings priceless CFO experience to the table. Specialising in working with fast-moving organisations that are driving expansion activities both organically and acquisitively, Craig has been working in a consulting capacity for the last 10 years, advising companies on growth strategies, negotiating sales and purchases of companies, and delivering successful technology-led transformation outcomes for his clients.
“Unsurprisingly Craig says that knowing your numbers is fundamental to maximising exit value, not just in terms of past performance, but in future value for an acquirer. This is where Evolution specialise, by unlocking value in your business and matching a buyers goals and ambitions by helping them see the true value your business can provide to them”
A board-level director with more than 15 years’ experience in the technology and distribution sectors, Chris has operated at the highest level in these demanding, fast-paced industries, delivering transformational business programmes. He also played a fundamental role as COO in preparing one of the UK’s most successful technology businesses for its eventual sale in 2015.
At EvolutionCBS, Chris has been involved in a number of transactions across sectors including technology, manufacturing, construction, facilities management (FM) and security.
Chris believes: “Working closely with your chosen advisor throughout the whole process is a key factor in ensuring a successful exit for everyone involved in the sale or investment of your business.”
Mike has been Managing Director of EvolutionCBS since 2018 and continues to manage client campaigns directly. Prior to taking the helm at EvolutionCBS, Mike held senior positions in banking and IT. He has worked with clients across a diverse range of sectors, including manufacturing, secure waste management, power solutions, motor repair and engineering, with more recent completions in IT, B2B services and commercial construction.
Mike’s philosophy on M&A is: “Preparation is everything. Good businesses sell well when they are properly prepared for market and managed through a tightly controlled process.”
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