Sell to a national or regional firm

Your business might be attractive to a national or regional firm growing through acquisition.

There are an increasing number of national and regional firms growing both organically and through acquisition. Typically, these businesses are smaller than the large consolidators, something which can be an advantage if you’re looking for a more culturally aligned buyer. They may also have full client-facing operations and a brand in your location that is well respected and of comfort to your clients.

Whilst many of those regional players are not vertically integrated, most will have a well-researched and documented Centralised Investment Proposition (CIP). Over time, there will typically be a harmonisation of propositions for compliance and operational purposes.

Furthermore, as national and regional firms grow, more are applying for their own discretionary investment permissions. As a result, they’re harnessing the benefits of vertical integration, particularly in relation to compliance and reductions in administration.

Typically, national and regional firms have deeper pockets than your local peers. They may be more experienced too, having bought businesses like yours in the past. That experience means they should also have the necessary systems and processes in place to ensure a smooth completion and transition.

They may not offer the highest valuations because of restrictions on their own value due to size and scale, but this needs to be balanced against the benefits of selling to a firm more closely aligned to yours.

How we help

Understand what you want

We can’t help you achieve your objectives without understanding them. So that’s exactly where we start. This means we’re both working in partnership towards meeting your goals.

Making the right choice

You only sell your business once. You’ve got to get it right. We’re independent, and we work for you, so we’ll give you an unbiased and honest list of potential options. We may encourage you to speak to a range of types of buyers for that reassurance you are making the right decision.

Maximising value

Putting the hard work in now pays off when due diligence starts. We’ll prepare you for the process ahead, provide time for improvement and help you to make the best first impression. This will instil confidence in buyers, open doors and improve value.

Acting for you, not the buyer

When it’s appropriate, our Partner Route means we represent you and not the buyer. This option can open up a wider range of opportunities and means we can negotiate all aspects on your behalf. Remember too, we never take a fee from both parties.

A partner through the process

We’ve been in your shoes and know how stressful the process can be. Our knowledge of running a regulated business, as well as the acquisition landscape, means we are perfectly placed to remove the pressure on you and deal with the inevitable bumps in the road, so you can get on with the day job.

Building your team

We’ve built up a strong network of professional connections who can help you build and exit your firm, all with significant experience in this regulated space. From outsourced suppliers to legal and tax experts, these are all at your disposal. As you’d expect, we never take any fees for making an introduction.

We’ve been in your shoes

Victoria Hicks and Brian Hill have been in your shoes. Over the past few years, they’ve both successfully exited their advice businesses. Now, their mission is to help advisers, planners and wealth managers do the same by providing help, insight and support that sellers haven’t previously had access to. At the same time, the pair want to enhance the profession they care greatly about and which provides such value and education to clients.

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