Creating value before the transaction

Corporate finance advice for business owners and investors - helping you understand value, strengthen your position and navigate complex decisions with confidence.

Whether you are considering the sale of a business, planning an acquisition or seeking finance for growth, the decisions made before a transaction can have a lasting effect  on its outcome.  Heligan’s Corporate Finance team combines transaction experience, specialist sector knowledge and market intelligence to help you understand your options, strengthen your position and move forward with confidence.

Heligan’s Corporate Finance team combines transaction experience, specialist sector knowledge and market intelligence to help you understand your options, strengthen your position and move forward with confidence.

Speak to our Corporate Finance team
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Hi, I am Simon Heath. I'm a partner at Heligan Group. I've been at Heligan for the last four years, and prior to that I was at KPMG for almost 20 years. I've worked with a whole range of clients, from a few million pounds all the way up to multi-billion transactions. I've worked on public company deals, floating businesses, which are known as IPOs and selling large corporates to domestic and international parties. At Heligan, we sell over 55% of companies to international buyers, something we're very proud of and demonstrates the reach that we have within our business.

At Heligan Group, we have taken all of the learnings that myself and the wider team have gathered over the years, and we've tried to come up with a proposition that is different, disruptive. What does that mean? In terms of adopting technology, we are using state of the art research tools. We are a senior-led proposition, so we always have partners on transactions, and we have created a unique proprietary network of individuals based in the UK and internationally to ensure that we give the most value for our clients.

Heligan combines technology and people, and we see this as a unique proposition. We take best in class technology and best in class people to create an advisory practice that is unmatched.

The right outcome starts before the transaction

If you are thinking about selling your business, the first question may be what it is worth. Just as important is understanding what could affect that value, what a buyer may see as a risk and whether the timing supports your ambitions.

 

Heligan works with shareholders and management teams to examine these questions before a sale process begins. We consider your commercial objectives alongside the personal priorities that may influence your decision, then help you establish a practical route towards the outcome you want to achieve.

 

The same preparation matters when you are acquiring a business or raising finance. A clear view of the opportunity, its risks and its place within your wider plans provides a stronger basis for action.

A transaction has a completion date. Achieving the right outcome often takes considerably longer.
Our approach helps you prepare, strengthen your position and act when the opportunity is right.

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Understand your ambition and establish where you stand

 

What would a successful outcome mean for you? Before recommending a course of action, we take time to understand your objectives, your timescale and the choices available.

For a potential business sale, that means looking beyond historic earnings to assess commercial strengths, growth prospects, risks and likely buyer appeal. You gain a clearer view of the business’s current position and the factors that could influence its value.

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Build value and address potential concerns

 

The period before going to market gives you an opportunity to improve how the business performs and how prospective buyers will assess it.

 

We help you identify the changes most likely to matter. Depending on the business, these may include strengthening management capability, demonstrating sustainable earnings, reducing customer concentration, improving information available to buyers or developing a more compelling growth plan.

 

The aim is a focused plan shaped by your objectives and the realities of your market.

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Prepare the business and its story for the right buyers.

 

Before approaching the market, you need to be ready for scrutiny and clear about why a buyer should value your business.

We help you address potential concerns, build an evidence-led investment story and identify the buyers most likely to recognise its strategic value. Sector insight and buyer intelligence shape how the opportunity is presented and how the route to market is planned.

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Navigate the deal, not just the price

 

When you are ready to proceed, we advise through the decisions and negotiations that will determine the outcome. Our work includes business sales, acquisitions, management buyouts, private equity transactions and debt or equity fundraising.

From identifying and assessing counterparties through to completion, we keep your objectives in view and help you make informed choices as circumstances develop.

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Look ahead to what happens after completion.

 

A completed transaction may bring new decisions about your role, a retained stake, the future of the business or the wealth you have realised.

We help you consider those decisions as part of the wider outcome you set out to achieve, drawing on relevant expertise across Heligan and your existing advisers where appropriate.

Discuss your plans with us
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A deeper understanding of your market and your options

Financial performance tells an important part of a business’s story. To advise on what may happen next, you also need to understand the market around it: changing demand, competitive pressures, potential buyers and the factors that could affect future value. 

Heligan Intelligence brings research, analysis, sector knowledge and specialist relationships into our Corporate Finance work. It helps our advisers test assumptions, examine risks and identify opportunities that may warrant closer attention. 

For you, this means advice grounded in both the detail of your business and a wider understanding of the market in which a transaction would take place.

Corporate Finance advice informed by sector knowledge

The factors that influence value differ between sectors. Understanding those differences helps us assess a business’s position, identify relevant buyers or acquisition targets and shape a transaction strategy around the opportunity. 

Our Corporate Finance team has experience in specialist markets including:

  • Security Technology

    Advice informed by an understanding of technology, market demand and the strategic priorities of buyers and investors in this sector.

    Find out more
  • Healthcare

    Transaction advice that considers the commercial and regulatory conditions shaping healthcare businesses and their growth prospects.

    Find out more
  • Infrastructure

    An understanding of the long-term investment, operational and market factors that can influence infrastructure-related transactions.

    Find out more
  • Real Estate

    Advice that takes account of assets, market conditions, investment objectives and the structure of the opportunity.

    Find out more
  • Independent Financial Advisers

    Advice for IFA business owners considering a sale, acquisition or succession. We help you assess the value of your firm, understand what prospective buyers may look for and navigate a transaction with your clients, team and long-term plans in mind.

    Find out more
  • Industrial Products & Services

    Corporate Finance advice for businesses across manufacturing, engineering and specialist services. We help you demonstrate the strengths that matter to buyers and investors, from technical capability and customer relationships to operational performance and opportunities for growth.

    Find out more

  • “Great advice in all areas, unremitting dedication, and hard work helped keep the deal on track. Our interests were always represented very professionally which was a major contribution to completing the deal. I would have no hesitation in recommending Heligan to any business undertaking a similar journey.”

    Kevin Kaye, FD Evolution Funding

  • “Matt and Azam played a key role in our acquisition of Kigass, from identification of the target through to completion. The Heligan team were highly responsive throughout and provided clear and concise advice alongside a solution-focused approach. Their strong sector knowledge helped us position Kigass as a key part of Llanelec’s growth strategy. It was a pleasure to work with Heligan and look forward to working on future opportunities together.”

    Josh Kerry, Investment Director at Hanover

  • “Working with the team at Heligan has been a really positive experience and we have been delighted with the outcomes Andy and Ben have achieved for us.  Heligan really invested the time in us to understand what our needs and wants were, and ultimately tailored their service to ensure those needs were met.  Working in partnership with great people is a hallmark of Rappor, and over the last several months, Heligan have proven that they are excellent to work with, and a team that we would both return to and recommend, should the need ever occur. We now look forward to building Rappor with the support of BGF”.

    Adam Padmore, Chief Executive Officer at Rappor

  • “What attracted Argon to Heligan was their excellent pre-sale support, impressive team credentials and the focus on specialist defence and security deals underpinned by Heligan’s Strategic Advisory team. The team at Heligan provided significant contribution during the preparation for sale, especially in regard to financials. The support during due diligence was nothing short of phenomenal. It is impossible to put into words how much we appreciate the exceptional level and high standard of work carried out."

    Steven Pike, Founder of Argon Electronics

  • “After co-founding Landguard almost 20 years ago, we’re looking forward to being part of Roke Manor.  The past three years with Heligan has been a key milestone in Landguard’s journey - the ability to draw upon sector expertise and industry contacts has unlocked customers and was a core factor in deciding to partner with Heligan.  The encouragement throughout the journey to expand into new markets and via new sales channels has helped achieve a great outcome.  We’re thankful for the enjoyable conversations, challenge and guidance from the team at Heligan.” 

    Steve Matthews, Managing Director at Landguard

  • “Heligan provided end-to-end support to Infrastar’s shareholders throughout the sale to Frazer-Nash, running the process meticulously and being available day and night. They combined a professional yet personal approach with something no other advisor could offer: access to experienced former government officers. Beyond the transaction itself, Heligan Wealth Management has seamlessly managed the sale proceeds and given me real confidence for the next stage of my journey. It was a pleasure working with the team, I couldn’t have done it without them.”

    Glen Griffen, Found of Infrastrar Limited

    Corporate Finance Services

    Selling your business

    A successful sale begins well before going to market. We help shareholders prepare, identify opportunities, engage the right buyers and navigate negotiations.

    Buying a business

    We support management teams, investors and corporates through acquisition strategy, opportunity assessment and transaction execution.

    Raising finance

    Whether funding growth, investment or strategic change, we advise on debt and equity solutions aligned with your objectives.

    Strategic advice

    Providing insight and guidance when important decisions require a broader understanding of value, opportunity and risk.

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    Experienced advisers. Trusted relationships.

    Our expertise comes from our people.

    Heligan brings together advisers, analysts and specialists with experience across finance, investment, intelligence and sector-specific markets. Our teams work closely with clients to understand their objectives, provide challenge where needed and support decisions as circumstances evolve.

    You should know who is advising you, how they think and what experience they bring.

    Meet our team

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    What are you considering?

    You may have a transaction in mind or simply want to understand what your options could be. Tell us about the decision ahead, and we will connect you with an adviser who can help you assess the next step.

    This firm is regulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales for a range of investment business activities. This firm is not authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 but we are able in certain circumstances to offer a limited range of investment services to clients because we are members of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. We can provide these investment services if they are an incidental part of the professional services we have been engaged to provide.

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