Before choosing a route, we work with you to map out what really matters to you: the level of the proceeds, the extent to which you want to remain involved, and what you consider important for staff and customers. A sale to a third party usually yields the best price due to competition between buyers, but it also means the most definitive break and the risk of identity and culture changing. Private equity offers a middle ground: you cash in part of your wealth, remain involved, and potentially benefit a second time from a later exit, but you share control with an external shareholder who will eventually leave themselves. Transfer to the existing management usually best preserves culture and continuity, but often requires external financing because management itself has insufficient funds, and the existing, personal relationships make the negotiation more sensitive.

As soon as the direction is clear, we guide the process just as carefully as with a regular sale: from valuation and setting clear principles to the negotiation of price and terms, financing, due diligence, and closing. In a transfer to management, we explicitly safeguard the balance between a good outcome for you and a feasible deal for the new owners.