Transaction Advisory

In recent years, the global digital economy and e-commerce have grown rapidly and numerous new business models have been established by companies, some of them very young. Such companies are agile, have an unconventional corporate culture and their business models are not always comprehensible to outsiders. Sooner or later, both already successful and “newborn” companies come under the scrutiny of their larger competitors, private equity firms and venture capitalists. Investors, in turn, need assurance that their money is properly and profitably invested. Both parties need a solid framework for an independent evaluation of the proposed transaction.

Therefore, professional due diligence advice is of particular importance. Our due diligence services are considered a solid and reliable basis for strategic investment decisions in the field of digitalization and e-commerce. They range from initial red flag reports to a full-scope report, which can be used as a basis for financing discussions for banks and other capital providers.

Figure 1: M&A buy-side support by acquisition of digital & E-Commerce targets

When companies are acquired and integrated into an existing organization, Post-Merger Integration (PMI) is of particular importance. Post-Merger Integration comprises the longest period of the M&A transaction cycle and has the goal of value enhancement and optimization, i.e., increasing the M&A transaction value.

The Post-Merger Integration process is a time-consuming workflow that requires large amounts of human resources and complex project management procedures. As a result, management and employees are often unable to focus on their two tasks, the operational management of the company and the integration of the acquired organization. In close cooperation with you, we develop a Post-Merger Integration strategy and support you in its implementation from day one until the complete integration of your acquired company.

Within the scope of transaction consulting, we provide support with the following competencies:

• Commercial Due Diligence (CDD): Conducting a critical evaluation of business model & strategy as well as internal realization competencies as a decision basis for the acquisition of a target.
• E-Business Due Diligence (EDD): Investigation of the scalability of e-commerce companies and analysis of the key prerequisites and levers for sustainable growth in the context of e-commerce
• IT & Technical Due Diligence (TDD): IT & Technical Due Diligence (TDD) identifies weaknesses in security & stability of IT products and system architecture of the target company
• HR & People Due Diligence (HRDD): HR & People Due Diligence (HRDD) includes the analysis and identification of the potential and risks of the personnel of a target to be acquired.
• Post-Merger Integration (PMI): Post-merger integration deals with ensuring the value maximization of corporate acquisitions and mergers as well as with the management of different corporate cultures, organizational structures and processes.
• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): As part of a mergers & acquisitions strategy, we analyze, evaluate and advise on inorganic growth options. These growth options can make strategic sense, for example, for a targeted build-up of know-how, easier market access or a faster expansion of market share.