Transactions, Mergers and Acquisitions
M&A advisory
Selling a company, raising investment, an acquisition – a transaction led from valuation to closing
We help owners of mid-sized companies sell all or part of their business, bring in an investor or acquire another company. The transaction is led by an experienced M&A expert – from the first conversation to signing the agreement – not by junior analysts.
When the transaction requires it, the legal side – legal due diligence, the letter of intent, the share purchase agreement – can be handled by our lawyers: attorney-at-law i advocate. We tailor the scope of support to the specific transaction.
How we help
Three types of transactions owners come to us with
We work on both the sell side and the buy side. Every transaction has a different goal, so preparation and negotiations look different.
Sell-side
Selling a company
- Valuation and realistic price expectations
- Preparing the company for due diligence
- Teaser, information memorandum and buyer list
- Negotiating the price, payment terms and the owner’s role after the transaction
When: you are planning an exit, succession or the sale of part of your shares.
Capital
Raising investment
- A financial model and growth plan for the investor
- Reaching industry investors and private equity / venture capital funds
- The structure of the investor’s entry and terms of cooperation
- Negotiations through to signing the agreement
When: the company needs capital to grow and you want to keep influence over its direction.
Buy-side
Buying and acquiring
- Finding and assessing acquisition targets
- Target valuation and risk analysis
- Due diligence of the target company
- Negotiations and a post-transaction integration plan
When: you want to grow faster by acquiring a competitor, a supplier or a company in a new market.
Company value
What raises and what lowers a company’s price
An investor pays for future, predictable profits and low risk. That’s why part of the work on the price happens long before talks with buyers.
| Area | Raises value | Lowers value |
|---|---|---|
| Financial results | Recurring profit (EBITDA), orderly financial statements, credible forecasts | Unexplained swings in results, private costs in the company, no reporting |
| The owner’s role | A management team that runs the company without the owner’s day-to-day involvement | Key relationships and decisions solely in the owner’s hands |
| Customers | A diversified portfolio, long-term contracts | Heavy dependence on one or a few customers |
| Legal matters | Orderly contracts, property rights, permits and licences | Disputes, an unclear ownership structure, tax risks |
| Growth potential | A clear growth plan backed by numbers | No strategy, a declining market with no plan B |
What lowers value usually comes out at the due diligence stage. It’s better to sort it out earlier than to negotiate a lower price.
The M&A process
How a transaction works – 6 steps
- 01
Preparation and valuation
The owner’s goals, company valuation and a financial model. We sort out anything that could lower the price or stop the transaction.
- 02
Teaser and investor list
An anonymous teaser, an information memorandum and a list of buyers. They learn the details only after signing an NDA.
- 03
Due diligence
We coordinate the financial, legal and operational review. On the buy side, we assess the risks of the acquisition target ourselves.
- 04
Negotiations
Price, transaction structure, payment method (e.g. earn-out), security and the owner’s future role.
- 05
Transaction agreements
Letter of intent, share purchase agreement (SPA), shareholders’ agreement. When the transaction requires it – with the involvement of our lawyers.
- 06
Closing and what comes next
Closing the transaction, integration, management changes and, if needed, an interim manager for the transition period.
Who will lead your transaction
Experienced experts – not an anonymous team
The transaction is led by an M&A expert. Lawyers join when the transaction requires legal support – we agree the scope at the start of the engagement.
Maciej Daciewicz
M&A and Finance Expert · leads transactions
More than 20 years in finance and capital markets (UCI/Pekao, the National Capital Fund, PFR Ventures). He leads processes from the financial model to negotiations with investors and closing the transaction.
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Piotr Orłowski
Attorney-at-law · company law and contracts
Company mergers, demergers and transformations, legal advice on investment processes. More than 20 years of legal services for companies.
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Adam Tomaszewski
Advocate · negotiations and commercial disputes
Civil and commercial law, board member liability. Arbitrator at the Wielkopolska Court of Arbitration.
View profile →Why Strategy Partners
A transaction is usually an owner’s most important decision. We lead it with that in mind
One expert from start to finish
The person you talk to at the start leads the transaction all the way to closing.
Confidentiality
On request we sign an NDA before the first conversation. Investors learn the company’s name only after signing a confidentiality agreement.
Access to investors
Industry investors and private equity and venture capital funds – matched to your company and the goal of the transaction.
Preparation that protects the price
Before we show the company to buyers, we sort out anything that could lower the price at the due diligence stage.
Lawyers when they are needed
Strategy Partners’ attorney-at-law and advocate can prepare and negotiate the agreements – we tailor the scope to the transaction.
Post-transaction support
Integration, management changes and an interim manager for the transition period – if the company needs it.
M&A glossary
Terms you will hear during a transaction
No jargon: a short guide to the documents and stages you will come across when selling or buying a company.
- TeaserAn anonymous, 1–2 page description of the company for potential investors.
- Information memorandumA detailed description of the company, shared after signing an NDA.
- Due diligenceThe buyer’s review of the company: finance, law, tax, operations.
- Letter of intent (LOI)Preliminary agreement on price and terms before the final agreement.
- SPAShare purchase agreement – the main transaction document.
- Earn-outPart of the price paid later, depending on the company’s future results.
FAQ
Questions about selling and buying a company
The questions we hear most often from owners before the first conversation.
How long does it take to sell a company?
How much is my company worth?
Will employees and customers find out about the sale?
Do I have to leave the company after the sale?
Can I sell only part of my shares?
How do I prepare my company for due diligence?
Who prepares the transaction agreements?
Do you also advise buyers?
How much does transaction advisory cost?
A confidential conversation about your transaction
Let’s talk about your transaction
Tell us in a few sentences whether you are thinking about selling the company, raising investment or an acquisition. We will reply within 24 hours and propose a time for a conversation.
- The first conversation is free and without obligation.
- Full confidentiality – on request we sign an NDA before the conversation.
- You talk to an M&A expert, not a salesperson.
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