Transactions & M&A
Practical transaction support for the lower-middle-market, where owners need commercial judgement rather than a large investment-bank process.
Our target transaction segment
We focus on smaller and lower-middle-market transactions and growth situations, typically up to approximately £2 million in enterprise value or capital requirement, subject to mandate, complexity and the regulatory perimeter of each engagement.
At that size the disciplines that matter are the same as in a larger deal — valuation, quality of earnings, structure, diligence, negotiation — but they have to be delivered by a small team working closely with the owner, not by a process.
Transaction services
M&A Advisory
Acquisitions and disposals from first assessment to completion support.
Read more ›Sell-Side Advisory
Exit readiness, valuation, buyer engagement and negotiation.
Read more ›Buy-Side Advisory
Strategy, sourcing, analysis, modelling and structure.
Read more ›Deal Origination
Off-market research, owner outreach and pipeline management.
Read more ›Due Diligence
Commercial and financial review, coordinated with specialists.
Read more ›Deal Structuring
Consideration, deferred elements, earn-outs and mechanisms.
Read more ›How a transaction runs
Timelines vary, but the sequence rarely does.
| Stage | What happens | Typical output |
|---|---|---|
| Assess | Understand the business, the objective and the constraints | Scope, indicative range, go / no-go |
| Prepare | Normalise earnings, fix readiness gaps, build the information base | Information pack, data room, buyer or target list |
| Engage | Approach the market or the target, confidentially | NDAs, meetings, indicative offers |
| Structure | Compare offers on substance, not headline price | Structure analysis, heads of terms support |
| Complete | Diligence coordination and completion alongside legal and tax advisers | Signed transaction, handover plan |
Truth in marketing
Crystal Zest does not present illustrative transactions as completed mandates. Any scenarios shown on this website are clearly labelled as representative or illustrative. See Representative Scenarios.
Start a confidential conversation
Whether you are preparing to sell, looking to acquire, raising capital or trying to lift the value of a business you already own, the first step is a short, confidential discussion about the situation.