We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach; we tailor our process to your specific situation and pride ourselves on being pragmatic and adaptable. That said below are the key stages of a typical M&A process. First, we spend time getting to know your business, preparing comprehensive financial and marketing documents that emphasise the features most attractive to buyers. We then conduct a highly targeted marketing exercise, confidentially approaching potential buyers who we know are the right strategic fit.

Once we've secured an offer, we manage the due diligence process, ensuring that the buyer's questions are targeted and relevant to the business's value. We then manage all negotiations, from initial heads of terms to the final sale agreement. Throughout the entire process, we provide hands-on project management, working closely with all parties, including lawyers and accountants, to ensure a smooth and efficient transaction right through to completion.

While every deal is different, a typical sell-side M&A process from initial engagement to completion usually takes 6 - 12 months. The preparation phase can take a few weeks, while the negotiation and due diligence stages can take several months. The more prepared you are, the better, as this enables us to maintain momentum and make the most of the competitive tension we generate. We’re with you every step of the way, and we'll always be upfront and honest with you about the timeline. We'll also let you know if we don’t feel you are fully ready to approach the market. Our proactive approach is designed to mitigate delays and keep the process on track.

Determining a realistic valuation is one of our core strengths. We start by conducting a deep-dive analysis into your business's financials, growth prospects, and unique market position. We then apply a multitude of valuation methodologies, including ananalysis of comparable transactions, to arrive at an informed and defensible valuation. Our proprietary database of private healthcare business valuations gives us unparalleled insight into what a buyer is willing to pay. Ultimately, a business is worth what a buyer is willing to pay, but our expertise ensures we're able to articulate and negotiate for its full value. If you’d like more information on valuing healthcare businesses, please see our thought piece,“How much is my healthcare business worth?”

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Preparing your business for sale is crucial for optimising its value and ensuring a smooth process. We recommend focusing on three key areas:

·      Financial Readiness: Buyers will scrutinise your financials. Make sure your historical accounts, management accounts, and forecasts (if you have them) are robust and up-to-date. The better your financial information, the more confidence you’ll instill in buyers and the stronger our negotiating position will be during due diligence.

·      Operational Readiness: Try to reduce your personal dependency on the business's day-to-day operations. This shows a buyer that the business can run without you, which is a major factor inits value. You should also tie up any "loose ends", such as ensuring key customer contracts are signed and any pending legal issues are resolved.

·      Strategic Planning: It’s never too early to start a conversation with an advisor. We can help you identify areas for improvement and implement changes that will help optimise your business's value before you even go to market. Early preparation makes the entire process more efficient and can lead to a significantly better outcome.

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Our fee structure is designed to align our interests with yours. It consists of two parts:

A Preparatory Fee: A fixed fee that covers the significant upfront work required to prepare and position your business for a successful outcome. This includes creating all essential marketing and financial documents.

A Success Fee: This fee is only earned upon the successful completion of a transaction. It's calculated as a percentage of the final sale price, directly incentivizing us to achieve the highest possible valuation for your business.

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Our Success Fee is, as the name suggests, only payable upon the successful completion of a transaction. While the initial Preparatory Fee covers a portion of the time and resources we invest in getting your business market-ready, the vast majority of our compensation is contingent on us delivering a completed deal and a successful outcome for you.

 The key difference lies in approach and scope. A business broker typically handles smaller, simpler transactions and may use a more "scattergun" approach to find a buyer. As a corporate finance advisor, we provide a hands-on, strategic service that gives you the best opportunity to maximise your outcome when selling your business. We conduct a highly confidential, targeted search for specific buyers who we believe will pay a premium for your business. We also provide comprehensive project management, from initial valuation and due diligence to complex negotiation and closing, ensuring your interests are protected at every stage.

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At Alpha Helix, we are dedicated healthcare specialists. Our team has decades of experience advising clients across the healthcare spectrum, from private clinics and care homes to software and technology providers. This deep sector knowledge means we understand the specific trends, regulations, and challenges of your market, allowing us to identify and articulate the true value of your business to the right buyers.

You will be working directly with our senior team. We are a managing director-led firm, and we believe that a personal, hands-on relationship is the key to a successful transaction. The individuals you meet at our initial consultation are the same people who will be actively managing your transaction from start to finish.

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We believe the right advisor should be a true partner. We encourage you to choose a firm that can demonstrate:

Sector Knowledge: Do they truly understand your business and market, and do you trust they can successfully position the business and articulate the opportunity to buyers?

Deep Network: Can they access the right strategic buyers and investors who are genuinely interested in a business like yours?

A Clear Process: Can they explain a step-by-step process and a realistic timeline?

A Proven Track Record: Do they have a track record of completing successful deals in your sector?

A Strong Team: Are the people you are speaking with going to be the ones working with you on the transaction, and do you have confidence they can deliver?

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