Buying a company

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Our aim is to unite motivated sellers
and purchasers.

We therefore work with prospective acquirers in scouring their targeted market for suitable acquisitions.

Committed to deliver –
whatever it takes

We understand this may be a “needle in a haystack” task or possibly about making one sensitive approach to a competitor. Either way, it is a time consuming process which needs careful handling and at times many man hours to undertake properly.

With you every step
of the way

Our “Tailored Search” allows our clients to define and set specific acquisition criteria, budgets and timeframes and is a fully managed service. Our research team will meet with you to assess your requirements, help build your acquisition criteria, we will then approach the targets and personally manage the process, including chairing meetings, from offer stage through to completion.

Common questions about buying a business

Please get in touch directly if you’ve got more questions and we’ll do our best to answer.
  • How does the acquisition process work?

    We understand that finding a suitable acquisition target can be an extremely arduous task; many acquirers begin with an internet based search using one of the on-line matching portals, whilst these portals undoubtedly have their place we understand that rigid search criteria can often lead to confused results. Leith have invested heavily into the latest CRM systems to ensure that your records are not only held safely using cloud technology but can also be instantly accessed across the team to highlight matches between our database of acquirers and investors and our database of opportunities for sale.

    You are able to register your interest in specific opportunities free of charge and we will introduce carefully matched opportunities as and when they become available.

    We also offer a value added service for those people who are actively engaged in the acquisition process and are seeking to accelerate this strategy. This more tailored search allows you to define and set specific acquisition criteria, budgets and timeframes and is a fully managed service. Our research team will meet with you to assess your requirements, help build your acquisition criteria, we will then approach the targets and personally manage the process, including chairing meetings, from offer stage through to completion. We believe this service is unique in the SME mergers and acquisitions market.

  • What if I have already identified a possible target?

    If you know which company you want to approach we can do this for you, being the buffer between yourself and the target and advise you on how to develop the process from initial approach through to deal completion.

  • Do you help source funding for an acquisition?

    We have numerous contacts across the funding market ranging from private equity acquisition capital and mainstream banks through to trade and asset finance companies.

Case Studies

WHAT OUR CLIENTS & PARTNERS SAY

  • In early 2024 we recognised that the time was right for us to sell our business. We selected Leith Mergers and Acquisitions to assist us and throughout the entire process we had no reason to question our decision. We worked very closely with David Nelson who took the time and care to understand us, our business and the potential market. There was consistently good, clear, timely communication, along with friendly advice where needed. Professionalism, courtesy and respect along with a very friendly and caring approach made the process easier, less stressful than it might have been, and ultimately with a very successful outcome. We have no hesitation in recommending Leith Mergers and Acquisitions. They really are nice people to do business with.
    Ruth Neal
    Chair of Green Team Interiors Ltd (acquired by Planteria Group Ltd)
  • David and his team did an excellent job in finding a buyer for my relatively small company, operating in a niche market. He searched worldwide for prospective buyers, and provided excellent support to close the deal to all parties satisfaction.
    Martin Ward
    Managing Director of Eco Solutions (C&R) Limited T/A Symbio (acquired by Dublin-based Origin Enterprises PLC)
  • I first met David, of Leith M&A, around eight years ago - he gave me great advice with regards to selling my business versus hiring new staff to help me manage. The advice was absolutely sound, and his recommendations would not have benefited him at all. Six years ago we went live, finding eight potential investors, great support all the way getting to the final two offers and then on to the final choice. David has always been hugely helpful since, always a great support, thank you.
    Jim Hague
    Founder of Hague Dental Supplies (sold to Mornington Partners)
  • Leith conducted a highly professional sale process that provided clear, comprehensive information throughout and facilitated efficient negotiations. Their balanced approach helped both parties reach a fair transaction while maintaining the collaborative relationship that was essential for a successful working relationship post completion.​​​​​​​​​
    Dean Mayer
    Managing Partner of Investr Capital (acquired Techland Group Limited)
  • When as a small group of Co-Founders and investors, we decided in 2024 to sell to a company based in Europe, we knew that we were out of our depth and needed to ‘get it right’ to feel like we were doing justice to the company we’d spent 5 years building. After talking with a number of Advisors, we engaged David at Leith M&A, which we still feel was the right decision. We spoke to some firms, including award-winning companies, who had processes which seemed more inflexible, or where the model was that the Partner who oversaw the initial meetings wouldn’t actually be doing a lot of the meetings & work going forwards, and some companies where there just didn’t seem to be the right click. We felt that David and Leith blended the experience we wanted to benefit from with an approachable manner where we could genuinely get along together and make the process less stressful as a result. Throughout the (successful) process, David was indeed engaged, available, energetic and diligent. His calm, approachable and likeable manner remained throughout - there were a couple of moments of high stress for us as sellers, and David was excellent in those moments as well as the more mundane. As hoped, we benefited from his experience of previously running many of these processes - he suggested and structured options and solutions we’d never have thought of, and we also felt more confident from his validation on the times where our thinking was already on the right lines. He was also very understanding of the level of questions we sometimes asked, and the need to sometimes repeat information between the Founders and the investors, who weren’t all in on every meeting. We still found the process of selling and exiting stressful, not least the acute emotion that is tied up with the different steps and stages, and the unpredictable nature of the other party and their representatives. Having David in our corner really made a huge difference and was genuinely the difference in keeping us sane, both the Founders and investors. I’d thoroughly recommend the services of David and Leith M&A and if my wife ever lets me do another startup, I would definitely use David’s services again.
    Pav Kudlac
    Co-Founder and CEO of Ovyo Ltd (successfully merged with The Loop Co.)
  • “Leith Mergers & Acquisitions provided us with invaluable assistance during our purchase of Universal Supplies. What had initially looked like a simple purchase turned out to be a complex operation with David performing as a conduit through which all interested parties could maintain a line of communication. I personally liked David’s straightforward manner and willingness to just get the job done!”
    Dennis Baskerville
    Grangewood Fencing Supplies Limited (acquired Universal Supplies (Surrey) Limited)
  • “A special thank you to David & his team at Leith M&A for their effort, advice, opinions & guidance during all the stages of negotiations”
    Stuart Raphael & Kashif Bashir
    Directors and Shareholders of Gutters & Ladders (1968) Limited (sold to SIG PLC)
  • “Thank you. We are so grateful that you were there to guide us through with this sale and we are quite certain it wouldn’t have happened without Leith M&A”.
    Susan Amass
    Shareholder of Agropharm Limited (sold to Pelgar International Limited)
  • “I worked with David on an acquisition where he was the sell side adviser. David performed admirably and served his client well. His attention and focus on the major issues at hand helped to drive the parties to closure. I recommend David and team at Leith highly.”
    Ajay Vashishat
    Vice President, Business Development at OSI Systems INC. (acquirer of Union Four Electronics Limited)
  • “Leith M&A acted for my company (NPL) when it was bought by a larger competitor (4 Print Limited) - they worked in a very diligent manner and were very thorough in the process and details of mergers and acquisitions. I'd highly recommend them to act for others in this area.”
    John Hunt
    Production at 4 Print Limited

If you would like to talk to us, please give us a call.

If you would like a confidential conversation to find out more then we would love to hear from you.
Call us on

+44(0) 1306 272 200

to discuss any aspect of the process in confidence
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ABOUT US
Leith Mergers and Acquisitions is a founder-led business based in Dorking, Surrey. We work with only a handful of clients at any given time, allowing us to provide a personal, proactive and intensive service. We pride ourselves on our ability to deeply understand your needs and motivations in order to secure the future you are aiming for.

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