Proteus BSC

Proteus provide a free confidential business valuation and further, advice on how to maximise the total value of your business. Timing is everything and the ideal scenario to sell you business when the market demand is the highest. Through our continuous communication with an array of potential purchasers, we are ideally situated to advise our clients on the when the demand levels are at their highest for your business to go to market to maximise your return and fully realise the true potential of your business.

Selling your business is one of the most critical decisions you will make in your business life and it really pays to involve the experienced professionals to maximise your businesses value and ultimately your returns. Whilst realistically your business is worth what someone else is willing to pay for it, there are a plethora of factors which form the basis of all offers. These will include: profitability, sustainable ebitda, add backs, management team strength, guaranteed contracts, complexity of care, growth curve, surplus net current assets, geographic location, geographic spread, gross margin and timing.

Another critical aspect is actually preparing your business properly for sale, so that when it comes to market it is the ideal state of readiness and is straight forward for potential purchasers to understand. In reality, this will involve completing our own due diligence exercise across the financial and operational aspects of the company to full understand the unique nature of your business and thus allowing us to maximise the overall potential returns.

Sales Process

1. Our initial confidential introduction to you either by telephone or face to face.

This is free and confidential, to provide the overview of our range of our services, and confidential advice and help.

2. Feedback, consultation and valuation range.

Once we understand the intricacies and unique nature of your business we will provide you with a valuation range and any other relevant comments and advice to increase the value of your business.

3. Your formal instructions are received to appoint our services.

Once you are happy with the valuation range and the process to be undertaken we will ask you to sign our industry standard broker agreement.

4. We will meet to undertake a complete appraisal and fully understand your business including a review of the business performance.

We will ask you to provide us with all the necessary documents and information that we require to prepare a presentation to confidentially sell the business.

5. The sales information memorandum (IM) is prepared for prospective buyers.

We prepare a draft for your approval, agree an unique project name for confidentiality and by using our consultancy expertise we work with you to present the business in a positive manner and be prepared for the sales process.

6. We produce the mutually agreed final version of the sales presentation and relevant documentation (IM).

This will also include your unique wish list for your “ideal purchaser.”

7. The confidential marketing of the business commences on your behalf.

This is a bespoke and confidential marketing plan which will be personalised for your specific business and developed using our knowledge of the current likely and potential buyers strategically active in the market place and your geographical location.

8. We screen potential buyers and obtain a confidentiality agreement (NDA).

We ensure that you have a serious group of prospective buyers (who actually have the funds to back up the offers) and that an NDA (non-disclosure agreement) is signed before any sensitive information is provided.

9. On your behalf we meet and liaise confidentially with the range of potential buyers and provide the relevant sales particulars to ascertain the most relevant parties and get indicative levels of interest, desire and practical offer levels.

10. We filter the prospective purchasers against your previously agreed criteria.

We compare and contrast the most important factors against your previously agreed wish list. (Whilst this can be the highest monetary offer, it can also be the ethos and character of purchaser, continuity of management, etc).

11. We arrange a further, normally offsite, meeting for you to meet with the most relevant interested parties.

This gives you the opportunity to see and hear the most relevant potential purchasers as well as giving you a powerful opportunity to tell your story.

12. We receive all the offers on your behalf and will present them all to you. We will then assist you in the negotiations to create a sale offer that is more than acceptable.

13. One of the offers are then accepted and the potential buyer notified.

14. The buyer will then provide a letter of intent and heads of terms, which we will review on your behalf.

We will check that all the content is as per the negotiation terms and includes the relevant notifications such as the exclusivity period and timescales for due diligence.

15. The buyer then undertakes due diligence in the exclusivity period.

We will work on your behalf through the financial, legal and operational due diligence period. We will liaise with the buyers representatives (both internally and external accountants and solicitors) to deal with any and all issues that arise and ensure they are provided with the required information in a timely fashion.Preparation and speedy response are crucial at this stage to maintain momentum through the sales process. A more detailed timetable will be discussed at the relevant time.

16. We assist with the further instruction of the legal, employment, operational, financial and property advisors and liaise on your behalf taking your instructions at all times and generally at this stage on a daily/hourly basis.

There are always one or two things that come out of the woodwork at this stage (normally property or utility related !!) and we will work with you to complete the transaction in a timely and calm manner.

17. The SPA (Sale and Purchase Agreement) and all other relevant documentation is agreed between all parties and signed.

We will guide you through all the relevant documentation.

18. Progress the sale to a close.

Monies will be transferred to your solicitors account for distribution upon completion.

19. The handover.

The completion is established and a formal handover date agreed between the vendor and purchaser. (This is normally within a day or two of completion, but has been up to 1 month post completion). We will assist with the actual handover of the business and the requirements at that time to finalise any outstanding paperwork. The funds are distributed and the business is transferred.

20. Celebrate !!