Buy-side Advisory

Igniting Growth. Acquiring Results.

Our buy-side advisory practice augments Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies, as well as Corporate Development teams, to provide a proactive strategy to source, engage, and execute on acquisitions. 

We bring a listen-first approach to establishing objectives, creating a market map, prioritizing acquisition targets, and launching an initiative that results in high impact transactions. We invest heavily upfront to improve response rates, targeting a 30% initial response rate and 85% overall response rate from qualified targets.

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To win in the competition for platform and add-on acquisitions, you need more than just a strategy. We have found that a proactive, collaborative effort with our clients mixed with a sense of urgency drives positive results. We created our buy-side practice to help our clients accelerate their M&A programs for competitive advantage. 

Sourcing and Execution for Add-ons and Platforms

In our experience, a systematic process paired with robust collaboration from our client teams is critical to achieving great buy-side outcomes. 

We build the landscape of options in the key markets then choreograph our approach with a well-articulated message to target companies. Founders and Owners are inundated with inbounds – we find ways to differentiate through research, networking and relentlessly building up our client’s M&A Brand. 

1. FIND

We work with your team to design the framework for a winning acquisition plan. Our plan to win:

  • Market map
  • SWOT analysis
  • Target tracking
  • AI sourcing tools
  • Client governance

2. ENGAGE

The art of getting targets to respond takes a carefully crafted & unique approach. A “win” for us is when a target comments “I ignore inbounds like this all the time but, yours was different…”.

  • Outreach scripting
  • Teaser – “Sell the Seller”
  • Client team connections – demo
  • Smart initial diligence questions
  • Board of Directors, governance M&A update

3. SOLVE

Deals are won, lost, or abandoned in discovery and diligence. Working alongside our clients, we are actively problem-solving through to close. Our team can diffuse tough situations, uncover workarounds, and inject a sense of urgency.  

  • Investment memo for IC
  • Valuation matrix
  • Offer development
  • Negotiation strategy and adjustment
  • Diligence facilitation
  • Diligence readout deck
  • Funds flow

The success of an acquisition process is measured in retention, synergies and seller reference – all of which help to reinforce our clients’ M&A brand for future acquisition targets.

Cross-industry insights

Our experience across our five key vertical markets helps us provide unique perspectives across B2B Tech & Services, Fintech, Financial Services, Industrials and Consumer industries. Importantly, our buy-side work has dug deep into over 50 niche markets. 

We challenge our clients to defend their strategies and business models in order to hone in on what makes their acquisition strategy truly special and differentiated from both competitors and outperformers in other markets.

Ready to grow?

Contact Harbor View Advisors to create a proactive strategy that fits with your objectives.

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