Services

We support you in the implementation of company sales, sales of minority or majority stakes and succession arrangements, from early preparation for the sale (exit readiness) to the successful completion of the transaction.

At some point, every entrepreneur faces the question of succession. He can hand over responsibility to the next generation of his family, bring internal or external managers on board via a management buy-in (MBI) or a management buy-out (MBO), or sell his life’s work to strategic or institutional investors. It is an emotional as well as a professional challenge to offer the best solution and advice for the client in this situation. Thanks to the experience gained from numerous projects in owner-managed medium-sized businesses, Zerbach & Company offers goal-oriented and professional advisory with the necessary process competence and empathy on both the client and investor side. Our work begins with the development of a strategy for selecting the most suitable succession solution. After the joint approval of potential investors, we approach them with the necessary discretion on the basis of meaningful documentation. We accompany the due diligence, SPA negotiations and the entire transaction process from A to Z. Just like you, we want your company to be in good hands and to continue to operate successfully on the market for many years to come.

Services

• Analysis of the company and development of the equity story
• Preparation of a company valuation
• Preparation of sales documentation (investment teaser, information memorandum, management presentation)
• Preparation of a multi-year integrated business plan (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, working capital)
• Identification, screening and approaching of potential buyers in Germany and worldwide, where appropriate with the support of the global GCG network
• Analysis and evaluation of non-binding offers
• Preparation of the data room, management and support of the due diligence process
• Accompaniment of contract (SPA) negotiations with regard to financial and tactical aspects
• Organisation and implementation of a competitive transaction process. Project management until the successful completion of the transaction

We support you in the implementation of company acquisitions, from the development of an acquisition strategy, the identification and approach of potential target companies to the successful completion of the transaction.
In a company acquisition, every step of the process matters: from identifying and approaching potential target companies, integrating them into an existing growth strategy, verifying the hypotheses and assumptions made in the due diligence process, to negotiating the contracts.
But we also advise our clients beyond this: we develop an acquisition strategy, create profiles of target companies, evaluate the target companies based on sound information from the information services available to us, Standard & Poors Capital IQ, ACURIS Mergermarket and Bureau van Dyk, sound out possible sales interest and secure acquisition financing at an early stage, if required.
In addition, we have been cooperating with Cologne-based patent law firm Kutzenberger Wolff & Partner since 2014. This enables us to access information and data on companies’ patent activities if required and thus carry out a qualitative assessment. Information on a company’s patent protection and patent applications, for example, allows conclusions to be drawn about the degree of R&D activities and regarding possible barriers to market entry. Data from more than 90 countries worldwide can be accessed via an interface to DOCDB, the database of the European Patent Office.

Services

• Diversification and buy-and-build strategies
• Identification, screening and approach of target companies (target search) in Germany and worldwide, where appropriate with the support of the global GCG network
• Industry sector analyses and screenings
• Analysis of patent activities of identified target companies
• Advice on management buy-out and management buy-in
• Evaluation of target companies and preparation of non-binding offers or a letter of intent
• Accompaniment of the due diligence process
• Structuring and raising of any necessary acquisition financing
• Support during contract negotiations with regard to financial and tactical aspects
• Project management until successful completion of the transaction

Zerbach & Company assists companies and investors in conducting a structured process to raise the optimal financing instruments, selecting the appropriate lenders and negotiating the commercial loan terms up to disbursement.

In doing so, our clients benefit from our many years of experience, excellent market knowledge of senior lenders as well as national and international debt funds, and access to relevant decisions. We have experience with loan volumes ranging from approximately Euro 20 million to over Euro 100 million. 

Advisory assignments include e.g.

• Acquisition financing for corporate takeovers / LBO financings
• Refinancing of existing debt
• Recapitalization
• Factoring, leasing and other off-balance sheet financings

Services

• Execution of a structured process
• Identification of suitable lenders
• Preparation of requests for proposals to lenders (banks and debt funds)
• Preparation of management presentations and meetings with banks and/or debt funds
• Pre-negotiation of terms prior to selection of banks or debt funds
• Comparison and analysis of financing offers for decision making
• Negotiation of the term sheet in cooperation with the client’s legal advisors
• Co-negotiation of the documentation

We know the market for debt and equity capital and have worked with many capital providers and banks. In discussions with capital providers and banks, we support our clients with preparation and an optimal presentation of their needs and strategy. From our experience, we know the preferences of individual financing partners as well as current developments and adjust the discussion accordingly.

In many places, there is a need for optimization in day-to-day operations. For example, medium-sized companies are often dependent on their home banks or use private assets to cover operational risks. Companies also often rely on short-term financing to cover long-term risks. Zerbach & Company considers all aspects and individually develops the optimal financial structure

Services

• Development of integrated business and financial plans (P&L, balance sheet, cash flow, working capital)
• Commercial consulting (controlling, financing, business development)
• Analysis and validity of business models
• Value enhancement advisory
• Raising equity and mezzanine capital
• Communication with financing partners
• Mediation in case of conflicts