Make the right deal with clearer financial insight
Merranti helps business owners assess opportunities, understand risk and plan transactions with stronger financial information — whether you are buying, selling or combining businesses.
A transaction should move your business towards its long-term goals
A deal can look attractive on the surface while creating pressure on cash, management time or future profitability.
Before moving forward, it is important to understand what you are buying or selling, how the transaction will be financed and whether the expected return justifies the risk.
Merranti can help you review the financial information, challenge assumptions and translate the figures into practical commercial decisions.
- ✓Connect the transaction to your wider business objectives
- ✓Identify financial concerns before terms are finalised
- ✓Understand the effect on profit, tax, funding and cash flow
Support tailored to the deal you are considering
The questions change depending on whether you are acquiring, exiting or bringing two businesses together.
Buying a business
Assess the quality of earnings, assets, liabilities, working capital and future cash requirements before deciding what the business is worth to you.
Selling your business
Prepare the business for scrutiny, improve the quality of financial information and plan the commercial and tax implications of your exit.
Merging businesses
Compare financial performance, identify integration costs and understand how ownership, management and reporting may work after completion.
Financial support from initial review through to completion
The scope can be adapted around the size, complexity and stage of your transaction.
Financial review
Analyse historic accounts, management information, margins, cash generation and the reliability of the figures provided.
Due diligence
Investigate key financial risks, unusual balances, liabilities, commitments and issues that may affect price or deal terms.
Valuation support
Review maintainable earnings, assets, debt and commercial assumptions to support informed valuation discussions.
Forecasts and funding
Model the future business, transaction funding, repayment commitments and the effect on working capital and cash flow.
Tax and deal structure
Consider the accounting and tax consequences of the proposed structure alongside the wider professional team.
Post-deal reporting
Build management reporting and controls that help you monitor performance after acquisition, sale or integration.
The value of a deal depends on the quality of the underlying numbers
Purchase price is only one part of the decision. Working capital, debt, tax, investment requirements and the reliability of forecast earnings can materially change the commercial outcome.
Challenge assumptions
Test whether growth, margin and cost forecasts are supported by evidence.
Expose hidden pressure
Identify cash demands, liabilities and investment that may not appear in the headline valuation.
Support negotiation
Use clearer financial evidence when discussing price, warranties, completion accounts and payment terms.
A structured route from opportunity to decision
Each assignment is scoped around the transaction, the information available and the level of review required.
Define the objective
Clarify the proposed deal, timetable and the outcome you want to achieve.
Gather information
Obtain accounts, management reports, forecasts and supporting records.
Review and test
Analyse performance, cash, liabilities, assumptions and areas of risk.
Model the deal
Assess funding, tax, structure and the impact on future performance.
Support the decision
Explain the findings clearly and help you determine the next step.
Focus on the areas that can change the value of the transaction
Good due diligence is not simply checking that the accounts add up.
It should help you understand how the business really performs, what cash it needs and which risks should influence the price, structure or terms.
Buy, sell and merge questions
Common questions from business owners considering a transaction.
When should I involve an accountant in a business purchase?
Ideally, financial review should begin before binding terms are agreed. Early involvement gives more opportunity to identify information gaps, assess funding and reflect financial risks in the proposed price or structure.
What is financial due diligence?
Financial due diligence is a focused review of the target business's historic performance, cash flow, assets, liabilities, working capital and forecasts. The precise scope depends on the transaction and the risks that matter to the buyer.
Can you help me prepare my business for sale?
Yes. Preparation may include improving management information, reviewing maintainable profit, identifying issues a buyer may question and planning the financial and tax implications of the proposed exit.
Can Merranti value a business?
Merranti can support valuation discussions by analysing earnings, assets, debt, forecasts and relevant commercial assumptions. The appropriate approach and any additional specialist input depend on the purpose and complexity of the valuation.
Can you help with acquisition funding?
We can prepare or review forecasts, cash-flow models and financial information needed to assess affordability and support funding discussions. Lending decisions remain with the finance provider.
Do you work alongside solicitors and other advisers?
Yes. Transactions commonly require coordinated accounting, tax, legal and funding advice. Merranti can work with your existing professional team and focus on the financial elements of the deal.
Before you commit to the deal, understand what the numbers are telling you
Speak to Merranti about financial review, due diligence, forecasts, funding and transaction planning.