Access to company information has never been easier. The challenge facing corporate finance advisers, private equity investors and acquisitive businesses is not finding company data but identifying which businesses represent genuine acquisition opportunities. Most company databases can generate lists of businesses. Far fewer help users understand which companies are strategically attractive, which ownership structures may...

Many acquisition strategies begin by examining a broad industry sector. Whilst this provides useful context, the most attractive opportunities are often found within specific niche markets rather than across an entire industry. The challenge is not simply identifying companies. It is identifying the right group of companies and understanding the characteristics that make that niche...

How Company Intelligence Supports Commercial Due Diligence Commercial due diligence is designed to verify whether a business is genuinely as attractive as it appears. Whilst financial statements, management presentations and business plans provide important information, they represent only part of the picture. Effective due diligence requires independent verification of ownership structures, market position, competitive standing...

Why Identifying the Right Opportunities Matters More Than Building Larger Lists One of the most common mistakes in business development and acquisition research is assuming that more prospects automatically lead to better results. Modern databases can generate thousands of potential companies in minutes, but the challenge is rarely finding businesses. The real challenge is identifying...

Business owners, investors and acquisition teams frequently ask what a company is worth. Unfortunately, there is no simple formula that can provide a definitive answer. Whilst valuation multiples are widely used in acquisitions and investment transactions, they are only a starting point. The value of a business depends on far more than its historic profits....

Most acquisition strategies begin by identifying businesses that meet specific financial criteria. However, many SME acquisition targets file abbreviated or simplified accounts that provide only limited information in the public domain. As a result, conventional screening methods based on turnover, profit or other profit and loss measures can exclude a substantial proportion of businesses before...

Finding better acquisition targets than SIC codes allow requires a more accurate approach to market definition and acquisition research. However, SIC codes were never designed for acquisition research. Whilst they can provide a useful starting point, they often group together businesses with very different activities and can overlook specialist companies that may represent attractive acquisition...

Most acquisition programmes begin by defining a target market. However, effective market definition requires more than a simple SIC code search. Businesses can be segmented using multiple criteria including industry activity, geography, size, ownership structure and financial performance. When these data layers are combined, acquisition teams can move beyond broad company lists and build focused...

Successful acquisition research rarely begins with a complete understanding of a market. More often, corporate finance advisers, private equity investors and strategic acquirers begin with information they already possess. This may be an existing customer list, known competitors, previous acquisition targets, portfolio companies or businesses identified through industry knowledge. The challenge is not finding information...