PEOPLE, CHEMISTRY, EXPERIENCE

From the first meeting we assess your strategic needs whether it be buying, selling or merging.  By forensically examining a client’s business and using our rigorous methodology which has been  developed over the past 18 years, we will work closely with you to achieve your ultimate aim.

• CHA is not a business brokerage or business transfer  agency
• We proactively LOOK for buyers using tried and tested research techniques and sophisticated databases
• Your business will not simply be placed on on a website in the hope that a passing buyer notices the advert and makes an approach
• We have an extensive network of seasoned industry experts that sector specialism making the work we do unique to you

Our approach is  pro-active and intensively thorough.  We strive on getting the right deal within a manageable period of time.

We are culturally different to our competitors.  Although we have  spent our careers buying and selling businesses internationally, we are free thinking, very creative and flexible in our style and approach,  We find that this delivers better results for our clients.

We spend a lot of time researching your industry, your company and  identifying the hotspots, opportunities and its USP.

We start by asking why not and we continue to explore, evolve and expedite to its obvious conclusion.

We approach our clients and opportunity with our landing gear ready.  We understand the language of your industry and often the players you are seeking to work with.  In many cases we have already matched the pieces to create the best picture to deliver ‘no brainer’ business to business deals.

We also understand the importance of assisting you in your ultimate business goals.  We help nurture your business to ensure that, yes the numbers make sense, but far more importantly your people, chemistry and approach make sense – something you will never see on a business plan, balance sheet or forecast!

CHA has its head office in Rawtenstall near Manchester .

However, we have associates throughout the UK and Northern Ireland

CHA specialises in the following sectors:

• Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals
• Aerospace and Defence
• Engineering
• Construction and Facilities Management
• Automotive
• Transport and Logistics
• Financial Services
• Manufacturing, Supply Chain Management and Outsourcing

However, business is business so whatever sector you are in, give us a call…

This is a difficult question to answer.  However, it will take as long as it takes but will influenced by a number of key factors including:

• How much are you prepared to pay?
• How will a transaction be funded?  Cash purchases are much quicker to transact than with external funding.
• How many others are interested in buying the same company?  Competitive tension will usually cause the process to be longer than if you are a single bidder
• How unique or ‘special’ is the business?
• How well is the business performing now and how well has it performed in the last two to three years?
• What is the current economic climate for buying businesses in this sector?
• How much time can you dedicate to the process and what is your availability for meetings?

On average, the following guidelines can generally be considered reasonable:

• Information gathering:- 2 weeks
• Preparation of list of potential sellers:- 2 to 6 weeks
• Market research:- 8 to 12 weeks
• Meetings & offers:- 4 to 8 weeks
• Negotiation with preferred bidder & signing of Heads of Terms:- around 4 weeks
• Deal execution:- around 12 weeks
• Total:-  Between 6 and 12 months

This is a difficult question to answer.  However, it will take as long as it takes but will influenced by a number of key factors including:

• What is your price expectation?  How realistic is this compared to similar and recent transactions in your industry?
• How much freedom will we have in marketing your business?
• How unique or ‘special’ is your business?
• How well is your business performing now and how well has it performed in the last two to three years?
• What is the current economic climate for selling businesses in your sector?
• Are you prepared to stay with the business after the sale has completed?
• Do you have good corporate controls and documentation within your business?
• Do you have good financial and management controls within your business?
• Are you prepared to dedicate significant amounts of time to supporting a sale of your business?
• What are your reasons for selling?
• Are you convinced that you really want to sell?

On average, the following guidelines can generally be considered reasonable:

• Information gathering:- 1 to 2 weeks
• Preparation of sales materials & market research to establish a list of target buyers:- 2 to 6 weeks
• Marketing:- 8 to 12 weeks
• Offers:- 2 to 4 weeks
• Negotiation with preferred bidder and signing of Heads of Terms:- 2 to 4 weeks
• Deal execution:- 6 to 12 weeks
• Total:-  Between 6 and 12 months

CHA was formed in 2009 by Julian Coy and Stephen Hall, both of which have worked in Corporate Finance and management consultancy for over thirty years.  Julian has personally been involved in over 75 deals.  However, if you consider the deal experience of the wider CHA team and its associates, we have experience of over 100 deals.

Preferably, yes.  Integrity and Professional Confidentiality are never compromised and that means CHA can only ever work on one-side of a deal.  Terms are agreed and you then have exclusive access to the best people and talent in the industry.

Prior to the communication of any private and confidential information a mutual NDA is required.  This protects both parties and is a legally binding agreement.  CHA’s internal systems are fully protected and there is no information held on any public facing websites or interface.  Our integrity within a relationship is of paramount importance and our word is our bond.

CHA is a business just like yours.  It has monthly overheads and employs top class people.  Buying and Selling a business can take many months even years and it’s a fact that no two ‘deals’ are ever the same.  So yes there is a cost and how it is recovered varies according to the relationship between us.  Clearly, it is not in CHA’s best interest to add financial pressures to the business and common sense will prevail.

CHA charges an upfront ‘retainer’.  This is a modest sum but is charged to ensure commitment to the process.  In addition, CHA charges a success fee which can be structured in a way to ensure that we are rewarded by our success.

Corporate finance is the generic term given to businesses that assist other businesses to buy and sell companies.  Corporate finance is somewhat of a misnomer as usually the finance is provided by either one of the companies or external sources.  The corporate finance company facilitates and targets potential best fits to meet company objective. This means working within the company to understand culture, products, service and people to help ensure ‘best fit’ when looking at other companies.  Much more than just the ‘money’, Corporate Finance reduces the risk of putting companies together, whilst also nurturing businesses to optimise their potential.