Standard sell-side mandates or structured transactions
A sale is judged eighteen months after closing. That is when the leader knows whether they sold what they wanted to sell, at the price they had imagined, on terms that allow them to turn the page with peace of mind. Or whether the transaction was done against them, in haste, out of attrition, leaving them with a strange aftertaste.
Selling your company means selling something you will never be able to buy back. Every detail matters: the timing, the narrative given to acquirers, the legal structure, the wealth taxation, the quality of the audits. Arcadia Partners advises the leaders of SMEs and mid-market companies in their sales, with the conviction that value is built in the twenty-four months preceding the mandate, not during it.
When Arcadia steps in
The leaders who reach out to us often match one of these profiles. A 58-year-old founder who senses they will need to sell in two or three years and wants to start preparing quietly. A shareholder who has just received an unsolicited offer and wants to know whether it is serious, and above all whether it is optimal. A leader who watched five failed transactions in their industry last year and does not want to repeat those mistakes. A family heir who inherited the company, grew it, and now wonders how to pass it on in the best conditions, to an acquirer who will take care of it.
The transactions we advise on typically concern companies valued between €2.5m and €20m enterprise value, across all sectors. We have a particular affinity for environments where value is singular: pharmaceutical industry, cosmetics, luxury, art and heritage, premium hospitality, business aviation, premium food and beverage, medical equipment, specialised technology, niche B2B services.
Our method
Preparation work systematically precedes the launch of the process. We formalise the strategic narrative, identify the weak points that will be scrutinised in due diligence, and structure wealth taxation so that the family retains the maximum after tax. This phase lasts between six and eighteen months depending on the situation.
The sale process itself is conducted discreetly and with focus. We do not believe in mass processes targeting hundreds of acquirers: for the companies we advise, a shortlist of ten to twenty qualified acquirers, approached one by one with a tailored narrative, produces a better outcome than an info memo sent to two hundred inboxes. We remain on the front line, alongside the leader, until closing.
Engagement framework
Exclusive mandate, flexible monthly retainer plus success fee at closing. Typical mission length: six to twelve months once the process is launched, preceded by a longer preparation phase.
Our commitment is simple: we do not launch a sale process until the company is ready to be sold in the best conditions. This is what makes the difference between an optimised sale and a forced one. If you are considering a sale or receiving expressions of interest, the best time to talk is now, not the day you receive the first letter of intent.