Sell-Side M&A Advisory

The Complete Business Selling Solution

Whether prompted by retirement, pursuit of fresh ventures, or the realization of locked-in shareholder value, selling your company requires institutional guidance, confidentiality, and competitive deal tension.

Key Considerations

Four Questions Every Vendor Must Confront

Before approaching acquirers, our directors assist you in establishing rigorous answers to these foundational considerations.

01. What is my business worth?

Maximum enterprise value is rarely dictated by past accounting figures alone. We normalize EBITDA, model add-backs, assess recurring cash flows, and apply current sector deal multiples to substantiate a premium valuation.

02. When is the best time to sell?

The most lucrative sales happen when the business demonstrates consistent forward revenue, healthy order books, and favorable macroeconomic conditions—never during operational burnout or fire-sale duress.

03. Who would buy my company?

Different acquirers pay for different assets. Trade buyers pay for market share; overseas PLCs pay for UK foothold; private equity firms pay for cash flow scalability. We target all three simultaneously.

04. How long does the sale take?

A structured mid-market company sale typically spans 6 to 14 months from exploratory preparation to legal completion. Our director-managed timeline shields you from operational distraction throughout.

Execution Framework

The 4-Stage Starling Selling Method

Our proven lifecycle orchestrates competitive deal tension while strictly shielding ongoing trade operations.

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Stage 1: ENGAGE

We conduct deep exploratory consultations to comprehend your corporate history, management structure, IP, and shareholder objectives. We construct a comprehensive valuation model and identify addressable value enhancements before going to market.

Director Discovery

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Stage 2: VERIFY

Our corporate financial writers compile two foundational marketing documents: a blind, anonymized Confidential Opportunity Summary and an exhaustive Information Memorandum (IM). You retain 100% sign-off authority over all disclosure materials.

Rigorous NDA Protocols

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Stage 3: REACH

We deploy our proprietary "Murmuration" algorithmic network across 50,000+ active global buyers. Direct outreach to strategic trade acquirers, private equity funds, and international PLCs generates competitive multiple tension.

Global Buyer Network

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Stage 4: ACHIEVE

We lead commercial negotiations, table indicative offers, structure Heads of Terms (HoT), populate secure virtual data rooms, coordinate solicitor teams, and conclude legal completions. Your retainer is 100% credited against the success fee.

Deductible Retainer Model

Valuation Benchmarks

UK Middle-Market Valuation Multiples by Sector

Indicative EBITDA multiple ranges based on completed UK transactions (£1M–£20M EV) managed by Starling Corporate.

Commercial Sector	Typical EBITDA Multiple	Key Value Drivers	Current Buyer Appetite
Engineering & Tooling	4.5x – 7.5x	Proprietary tooling, Tier 1 blue-chip supply contracts, precision accreditation (AS9100/ISO).	High (UK Trade & European PLCs)
Construction & M&E Contracting	3.5x – 5.5x	Framework contracts, public sector work, defensible order books, commercial fit-out.	Moderate to High (Strategic Acquirers)
IT & Managed Services (MSP)	6.0x – 10.0x	High MRR (>75%), cybersecurity capabilities, low client churn, cloud architecture.	Very High (Private Equity & Trade)
Software & SaaS Houses	8.0x – 14.0x	Proprietary intellectual property, scalable ARR, low customer concentration.	Exceptionally High (International Funds)
Wholesale & Distribution	4.0x – 6.5x	Exclusive supplier agreements, multi-warehouse logistics, established import routes.	High (National Consolidators)
Retail & E-Commerce	3.5x – 6.0x	Strong brand moat, multi-channel direct-to-consumer reach, repeatable customer LTV.	Moderate (Trade Operators)
Catering & Food Production	4.0x – 6.0x	Contract facilities, commercial food manufacturing, recurring corporate contracts.	High (Consolidation Groups)
Professional & Business Services	5.0x – 8.0x	Facilities management, long-term cleaning contracts, recruitment, compliance consultancy.	High (Trade & MBI Candidates)

Confidential Appraisal

Request an Exploratory Valuation

Submit your parameters for a strictly confidential director appraisal. Protected by bilateral NDA.

Full Name *

Company Name *

Corporate Email *

Telephone Number *

Approximate Annual Turnover

Primary Sector

Confidential Notes / Exit Horizon

Fiduciary Guarantee: All information is transmitted under strict sell-side confidentiality. We will never contact your suppliers, staff, or customers.