Corporate Finance Advisory

Acquisitions are made for a variety of reasons – diversification, growth, access to new customers and markets, realisation of synergies, or to acquire complimentary products and technologies. The chances of making a successful acquisition are significantly improved when approached in a considered and well planned manner.

We pride ourselves on utilising our networks and relationships to identify acquisition opportunities and have advised on numerous successful acquisitions. Our work on these transactions includes:

• Market research and target identification
• Approaches to targets
• Assessment and benchmarking the opportunity
• Financial modelling pre and post close
• Transaction structuring and deal negotiation
• Finance raising to fund the transaction
• Managing due diligence and legals

The right advice reduces risk and increases the chances of a successful transaction. Keenan CF are experts in this area and can assist you to successfully achieve your M&A strategy.

Selling your business will probably be the most important deal you ever do. Most people will only do it once, so do it right. When taking that step it is important to have a trusted and experienced adviser to guide you through the process and to maximise value. When advising on a business sale Keenan CF will help you to:

• Decide when to sell (timing is critical and a key value driver)
• Establish valuation targets
• Prepare the business for sale
• Identify prospective purchasers
• Manage approaches and distribution of information
• Negotiate the optimum sale price and terms
• Anticipate hurdles and propose solutions to drive the transaction to completion

A sale process will often take around 6 months to complete. It is a complex process with financial, legal and HR matters creating a potential minefield for the inexperienced. This is where our team’s experience, diligent planning and skilful execution help you achieve a successful outcome. If you are considering a business sale (part or full sale) now or in the future then we’d be delighted to talk to you about your options. 

Finance can be secured from many sources each with different risk profiles, pricing structures, and equity or security requirements.  Achieving the optimum finance structure for a business can include a combination of:

• Debt
• Equity / Private Equity
• Grants
• Mezzanine finance
• Bridging finance

We will work with you to assess your finance requirements, prepare robust financial models to support your funding application, and secure the appropriate financing structure to meet your needs in a cost effective manner. We know the local and international finance market. We have strong, longstanding relationships with all of the key funders including banks, private equity, property funds, venture capital funds, and angel investors. We leverage these relationships to maximise the outcome of a successful fundraising assignment.

Occasionally individuals and teams get the opportunity to buy out existing shareholders from, or buy into, a business. MBO and MBIs can be sensitive. They often involve competing agendas which may in some cases become a distraction to running a business. Keenan CF can assist to smooth this process.   

Once agreed, funding of MBOs can be challenging. This will often involve various sources of finance including debt, venture capital / private equity, sweat equity and loan notes. When properly executed, and with the right advice, MBOs can result in a positive and lucrative outcome for both the existing vendor and the management team. Keenan CF have advised on many successful MBOs and have a first class track record of successfully helping our clients negotiate the process, and access capital to make deals happen.

Our specialist Energy & Infrastructure team assist clients to participate in business opportunities stimulated by public sector policy and initiatives across all sectors including grant, loan and equity funding for innovation and R&D.

Across the infrastructure sector we assist our clients with advice on:

* Bid and risk management

* Fund raising

* Financial structuring of bids including financial modelling; and

* Production of business cases.

We also have extensive experience across a range of procurement models including joint ventures, Public Private Partnerships (PPP’s) and Arms-Length Management Organisations (ALMO’s).

Our Energy team have experience across existing and emerging renewable energy technologies and can assist companies with fund raising and grant assistance. In addition, our team can assist with structuring and financing innovative models of energy delivery such as corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPA’s) to reduce energy costs across all businesses.   

Keenan CF has significant experience delivering accurate, robust valuations using both traditional and innovative methodologies and techniques. Our valuation experts often undertake valuations to support corporate transactions, fundraising and refinancing assignments. We also undertake valuation assignment for lawyers to assist in dispute situations, and in the agreement of employee share schemes with HMRC.  

Undertaking any transaction without full and detailed consideration can be a costly mistake. Keenan CF can assist to minimise the inherent risk of acquisitions by undertaking thorough financial due diligence. We have undertaken a significant number of due diligence assignments for lenders, private individuals and acquisitive corporates. Our thorough due diligence reports provide essential information to inform decision makers, support price negotiations and improve return on investment. 

Keenan CF prepare professional business plans and financial projections that will be required on all corporate transactions and to obtain most forms of finance.

We provide commercial and strategic advice to help you develop and grow your business to the next level. We can critically assess and challenge your existing corporate plan and identify areas for improvement. And if you face an unexpected and significant issue, we can review the situation and advise how to best approach and handle the issue.