Phase 2 · Strategy & Planning · From Idea to Executable Plan
Deal Finance Advisory
The right deal finance structure is not the one with the lowest cost of capital. It is the one that matches the risk profile of the deal and gives the business the flexibility to create the value the acquisition was designed to deliver.
Deal finance advisory is the identification, structuring, and arrangement of the financing for a transaction — whether acquisition, MBO, or recapitalisation — designing the mix of senior debt, mezzanine, vendor finance, and equity that is appropriate for the deal's risk profile and the business's post-deal ambitions, and arranging the facilities from lenders who understand the specific transaction context.
The Pain We Solve
You may recognise yourself in one of these.
Three audience scenarios · because the same service produces a different transformation depending on where you are in the business journey.
Scenario 1
The acquirer who has identified the target and has not yet addressed how the acquisition will be financed
The deal is progressing. The heads of terms are being negotiated. And the acquirer has not yet engaged with the question of how the acquisition will be financed — the debt capacity of the target, the equity contribution required, and the lenders who are appropriate for this type of transaction.
Scenario 2
The MBO team that has found a private equity investor but is uncertain whether the debt structure proposed is appropriate for the risk profile of the business
The PE investor has proposed a debt structure. The management team does not know whether the level of leverage is appropriate for the business's cash flow profile, whether the terms are market standard, or whether the structure gives the business the operational flexibility it needs to execute its growth plan post-completion.
Scenario 3
The business that has used its existing banking relationship for acquisition finance and is finding the terms and flexibility inadequate for its acquisition ambitions
The relationship bank has provided acquisition finance in the past. The terms were acceptable for simpler transactions. The more complex acquisition the business is now pursuing — with earnout mechanics, vendor finance, and a more sophisticated covenant structure — is beyond the relationship bank's normal appetite.
The Impact It Creates
The Moment You Will Feel the Difference.
Deal finance structure designed to match the risk profile of the specific transaction
Lender market accessed beyond the relationship bank to find the best terms for the deal
Debt structure that provides the operational flexibility post-completion that the value creation plan requires
Finance arranged within the deal timeline so completion is not delayed by funding
What You Receive
The Specific Deliverables.
Tangible outputs · documented, dated, and yours to keep.
- Deal finance structure options and recommendation
- Debt capacity assessment for the target or combined entity
- Lender identification and approach — relationship and specialist lenders
- Credit committee preparation and support
- Facility term sheet negotiation
- Finance documentation and completion support
The Outcome
Where You Will Be on the Other Side.
The acquisition is financed on terms that are appropriate for the transaction's risk profile, structured to provide post-deal operational flexibility, and arranged within the deal timeline — enabling completion without the delays that inadequate finance preparation creates.
Primary Focus
Identifying, structuring, and arranging the deal finance that matches the transaction's risk profile and gives the business the operational flexibility its post-acquisition plan requires.
KPI Measurement
- Finance arranged within deal timeline
- Cost of finance vs market benchmark
- Debt structure appropriateness for cash flow profile
- Covenant headroom post-completion
- Finance flexibility contribution to post-deal value creation
Investment & ROI
Pricing Engineered Around the Value You Create.
Every engagement is sized against the value we believe we can create with you · the fee is always a fraction of the outcome. Four tiers · so the investment matches your stage of business.
Tier 1
Foundations
£5,000 – £15,000
Right for
Pre-startup, startup, and micro-business founders ready to build on evidence rather than instinct.
Typical Value Created
£100K+ in sharper resource allocation and avoided strategic missteps
Engagement
4 – 8 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 2
Acceleration
£15,000 – £50,000
Right for
Growing SMEs and established small businesses ready to scale a working model into the next revenue band.
Typical Value Created
£500K – £3M in faster execution and pipeline acceleration
Engagement
8 – 16 weeks
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 3
Transformation
£50,000 – £250,000
Right for
Medium enterprises and scale-stage businesses ready to commit to a multi-quarter, organisation-wide shift.
Typical Value Created
£2M – £20M in strategic value through repositioning, model redesign, and growth-system installation
Engagement
3 – 9 months
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Tier 4
Enterprise
£250,000 – £2M+
Right for
Large enterprises, global operators, and complex organisations ready for a multi-year strategic partnership.
Typical Value Created
£10M+ in major strategic initiatives, capital deployment efficiency, and competitive repositioning
Engagement
12 months and onward
Target Return
5 – 10× ROI
within 12 – 18 months
Why We Price This Way
Every engagement is sized around the value we believe we can create with you. The fee is always a fraction of the outcome · typically 10 – 20% of the expected first-year return.
This is how we make sure pricing aligns with results. The conversation is never “what does this cost?” · it is always “what is this worth to your business?” We answer that together in the first call, transparently, and decide the right tier from there.
If we cannot articulate a credible 5–10× return for your specific situation, we will tell you in the first call. That honesty is part of why our clients trust us with the work that matters most.
Why This Conversation Matters
“The right deal finance is not an afterthought. It is part of the deal structure from the beginning — because the structure of the finance determines what the business can do after completion, how much it costs to carry, and how quickly it can repay. We design the finance before it constrains the ambition.”
A 90-minute structured strategy session · produces a usable roadmap whether you engage further or not.
More in Phase 2