Mergers & Acquisitions Support

Background
Starting with identification of potential investors or targets through conclusion of the deal, the aim is to coordinate the interests of everyone involved, reduce information asymmetries, detect potential difficulties at an early stage and work toward constructive solutions.

Our range of services
We support medium-sized companies during the entire transaction process and assume responsibility for project organization, planning, steering and implementation in order to identify risks at an early stage. To this aim, we rely on our multidisciplinary organization with a team comprising auditors, tax advisors and attorneys-at-law, and their many years of experience and expertise. Thanks to our affiliation with Crowe Horwath International, the world's ninth-largest network of auditing and consulting companies, we support transactions at both national and international level.

Specifically, we offer you the following services in particular:

• Transaction consulting for company acquisitions and sales (buy- and sell-side M&A Advisory within the framework of MBOs/MBIs, spin-offs, carve-outs, mergers, cooperations, for example)
• IPO consulting
• Data room management
• Distressed M&A

Consulting for company acquisitions and sales

Background
The corporate transaction environment has gained in speed and complexity in recent years. The risk potential has increased equally for all parties involved in transactions.

With our many years of experience in the area of transactions and our comprehensive sector expertise, we support you when it comes to facing these risks. As required, we integrate our international Crowe Horwath expert network and ensure smooth and comprehensive support of the transaction process by means of our multidisciplinary organization comprising auditors, tax advisors and attorneys-at-law. This enables us to deliver a sound basis for your investment or financing decisions.

Company acquisitions
Within the framework of our consulting on company acquisitions, we support you in developing your acquisition strategy using a detailed market and competition analysis. On the basis of our interdisciplinary team and our incorporation in the international Crowe Horwath network, we are in a position to develop complex planning and evaluation models taking account of various scenarios in order to take your best interests into consideration when determining prices. And when confidential contact is subsequently established with the potential target company, we offer you support which is just as intensive as during the final contract conclusion phase.

Company sales
Our consulting services during company sales start with the development of a company and market analysis in which your company's strengths are highlighted. This forms the basis for identifying potential buyers. Then our specialists support you in drawing up sales memorandums as well as structuring the transaction. We prepare the negotiation groundwork for you, confidentially address potential buyers and support you during the entire negotiating phase through to successful conclusion of the contract. Thanks to several decades of experience in company transactions, we avail of an extensive international network for identifying possible buyers.

IPO consulting

Background
A healthy equity base and the best possible capital structure are key foundations for implementing strategic goals and sustainable growth of companies. An IPO permits realization of long-term strategic plans such as financing capital-intensive investments, acquisition of companies as well as improving the reputation and transparency among internal and external providers of equity and debt capital. But the path to an IPO represents a major challenge for any company. The intensive preparatory measures in the areas of accounting, planning and controlling, financing, tax and commercial law as well as corporate governance often tie up key resources within the company and usually need to be implemented under tremendous time pressure.

Our range of services
Our range of consulting services includes support and relief in all phases of an IPO by your company. In particular, our range of services comprises examining your company for its ability to operate on the capital market, project management associated with an IPO and development of a corresponding strategy, an equity story and a business plan. Furthermore, our experts would be delighted to support you in the area of tax structuring, converting your accounting system to IFRS and selecting the underwriting bank and concept as well as developing the placement strategy.

Data room management

Background
In order to keep the transaction process efficient and manageable, it is essential within the framework of due diligence to organize the documents provided and requested in a transparent and comprehensible manner. Via a virtual data room, documents can be exchanged and Q&A processes easily organized for each party involved.

Our range of services
In view of conserving corporate resources, our team sets up a data room index tailored to your organization and providing an overview of the complex document structure. This permits focusing on key aspects of the transaction. We also safeguard the security of your documents through state-of-the-art encryption and consistent access control down to the very last file. By outsourcing this service, you maintain confidentiality of transactions within your company.

Distressed M&A

Background
Transactions in crisis situations are distinguished by a significantly higher degree of complexity and restrictions in terms of time, whereby distressed M&A processes can even evolve in a preinsolvency crisis situation and extend until proceedings have been opened. For this reason and apart from increased economic, taxation and legal challenges, other factors specific to crises and insolvency also need to be considered, e.g. the differing interests represented by additional stakeholders.

Our range of services
As a multidisciplinary law firm, we offer you comprehensive support from addressing potential investors through preparing the financial, tax and legal documents. In view of the increased complexity associated with distressed M&A transactions, our consulting concept is designed to offer maximum relief and transparency for executive management. Tasks such as the provision and maintenance of relevant documents in a virtual data room, processing business figures and support in determining purchase prices are handled competently and swiftly by our M&A team.