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MBO

Polestar has decades of experience advising clients across a broad range of transaction types, ranging from MBOs to refinancing options to full disposals. We see our role as understanding first and advising second as, in our experience, understanding the business fully – strengths and weaknesses included – is the key to unlocking its true value.

The opportunity to purchase the business can be both exciting and nerve-wracking.  An MBO presents a tremendous opportunity for managers to control the future direction of the company with the potential to create considerable personal wealth.

There are many pitfalls which can conspire to stop a deal.  Management teams do well to take advice and give themselves the best possible chance of success. How can we help deliver your deal?

  • Ensure the best approach for the vendor: get this wrong and there is often no way back
  • Ensure you understand the real value of the business and communicate that to the owner: you don’t want to overpay and the vendor does not want to sell cheap, it is a fine balancing act
  • Raising the necessary finance from equity and debt providers: We help you find the funders who best reflect your plans for the business, it will be a long-term relationship
  • Structure a deal which maximizes your equity but does not place too much risk on the business: get this wrong and you could spend time micro-managing cash rather than growing value
  • Lead negotiations with the vendor and funders: not only do we know what is possible, but we act as a buffer; emotions can run very high.
  • Keep the deal on the rails and deliver completion

MBI Candidates

We work with exceptional candidates looking to buy into a business, how do we help?

  • Identify suitable targets
  • Approach targets
  • Undertake initial valuation work
  • Negotiate an outline deal
  • Secure funding
  • Deliver completion

Recent Transactions

Software, Media & Technology
Strategic Support

Assisted management in its buyout of overseas shareholder

Sustainability
MBO

Disposal of this market-leading flexible benefits software business to management - backed by Ethos Partners

Health & Education
MBO

Management Buyout of arts and crafts educational supplier, Specialist Crafts (three weeks before lockdown!)

Business Services
MBO

Sale of specialist rail sector contractor, Readypower, to Primary Capital via MBO

Software, Media & Technology
MBO

MBO of GTK, a semiconductor business, backed by Yorkshire Fund Managers

Software, Media & Technology
MBO

Vendor initiated MBO of high-technology cables manufacturer funded by Lloyds Bank Plc

Sustainability
MBO

Investment in adult education and skills business by Bridge Ventures

Manufacturing & Distribution
MBO

Debt advisory and sale to management of leading retail packaging business

Business Services
MBO

Disposal via MBO funded by Maven Capital and HSBC

Software, Media & Technology
MBO

Partial exit and MBO of international analytics and data science consulting business, funded by Mobeus Private Equity

Manufacturing & Distribution
MBO

New Zealand’s first take-private transaction, Pacific Retail Group, funded by Logan and GE

Health & Education
MBO

Assisted in MBO of Southampton-based fertility clinic

Business Services
MBO

Natwest-funded MBO of audio-visual equipment supplier, Shooting Partners

Software, Media & Technology
MBO

Advised management on its MBO of flow meter business, with funding from Natwest Bank

Manufacturing & Distribution
MBO

Advised Altitude Partners on its investment into this specialist manufacturing business

Software, Media & Technology
MBO

Sold to a consortium of international investors lead by Westbridge Private Equity

Health & Education
MBO

Sale to management