We lead mergers, acquisitions, and sales processes with a focus on the business, identifying opportunities and risks for all parties involved.
Our Areas of Expertise
Sell Side Advisory
We support our clients throughout the entire process of selling their company. Our approach is structured and systematic, and includes the following stages:
Preliminary Analysis and Valuation
Understanding the value of the company being sold and defining price expectations to guide the negotiation process.
Identifying risks and opportunities, advising on the best strategies to mitigate these risks or capture value from the opportunities.
Defining the sales strategy (e.g., competitive biding process or negotiation with a single buyer, target buyers' profiles, timelines, etc.).
Preparation of sales materials and engagement with potential buyer
Identifying and reaching out to potential buyers, whether strategic or financial, depending on the specific case.
Preparing key sales materials (Teaser, Information Memorandum and letters to guide the process).
Negotiating preliminary terms of understanding for a potential transaction.
Due Diligence
Providing support in the preparation process.
Assisting in responding to the buyer's due diligence inquiries.
Closing
Offering financial advice regarding the purchase agreement, shareholders agreement, and any other contracts involved in the transaction.
Conducting negotiations throughout the process, final negotiation, and transaction closing.
If the transaction requires approval by the Commission for the Promotion and Defense of Competition, advising the seller and coordinating with the buyer on the case presentation strategy, information required, etc.
Buy Side Advisory
We support our clients in acquiring companies across various industries, as well as in obtaining financing to complete the purchase. Our team’s services include the following activities:
Preliminary Analysis and Valuation
Initial approach and analysis of the target company.
Discussion of the target company's value and the transaction's profitability for both the seller and the buyer.
Advisory on the analysis and quantification of synergies.
Evaluation of potential financing structures for the transaction.
Price and preliminary terms negotiation
Advising on the best strategy for negotiating the price and other transaction terms (price, payment structure, working capital requirements).
Coordination of the overall buy-side due diligence process and conducting financial due diligence.
Obtaining Financing (Leveraged Buyout)
Advising throughout the financing process for the acquisition: developing a projection model for the business of the company obtaining financing, support in rounds with lenders, advisory on financial requirements and negotiation of terms and conditions (currency, rate, term, guarantees, covenants), assistance in negotiation and closing of financing documents.
Closing
Advising clients on incorporating due diligence findings into pricing adjustments and final transaction documents.
Offering financial advisory on various contracts, including letters of intent, purchase agreements, and shareholder agreements.
Leading negotiations throughout the process, including final discussions and transaction closure.
If the transaction requires approval from the Commission for the Promotion and Defense of Competition, providing advisory services and coordination with the seller on case presentation strategy, required documentation, etc.
Post-Closing Activities
Reviewing of the closing balance sheet of the acquired company when applicable, based on the agreed-upon pricing mechanisms.
Mergers
A merger process between two or more companies can be considered as a simultaneous buying and selling process. In this regard, at EXANTE, we can provide advisory to one party or both, ensuring a balanced and efficient approach.
In any case, EXANTE will carry out the following activities:
Analysis of the recent performance of each company involved in the merger.
Estimating the value of each party.
Advisory on the determination of the relative ownership stakes of each party.
Conducting financial due diligence.
Financial advisory regarding the drafting of all documents required during a merger process (Memorandum of Understanding, Share Purchase Agreement, Shareholders’ Agreement).
If the transaction requires approval from the Commission for the Promotion and Defense of Competition, providing advisory services and coordination with the seller on case presentation strategy, required documentation, etc.
Strategy
Defining the acquisition strategy is the first stage in any M&A process.
The activities carried out in this phase include:
Advisory on initial definitions such as objectives, timelines, and desired format for the process.
Screening of opportunities based on various criteria defined in collaboration with the client.
Target analysis using publicly available information and EXANTE's market knowledge.
Selection of companies to approach.
Initial contact.
Shareholders’ Agreement
A shareholders’ agreement is a legally binding private contract among a company’s shareholders. It governs the relationship between them, including rights, responsibilities, obligations and decision-making processes.
These agreements are particularly relevant in the following contexts:
Mergers and acquisitions or capital raising rounds involving the sale of an equity stake
Family-owned businesses, to mitigate the overlap between family and business interests
Partner-led companies, where shareholders contribute materially through their work
Joint ventures, to structure and manage the relationship between the parties
Any privately held company with more than one shareholder
In family businesses, the convergence of family, ownership and management systems makes it essential to establish clear rules of engagement.
An independent financial advisor brings an objective, professional perspective that is key to structuring viable and balanced terms—particularly in relation to:
We conduct structured processes to ensure success at every stage of each transaction. We leverage tools to identify strategic buyers both locally and internationally, while maintaining strong connections with investment funds and family offices".
