Owner-managed businesses
Entrepreneurs and business owners seeking acquisitions that support growth, expansion or succession plans.
BUYING A COMPANY
The right business
is not always for sale.
We search the market for the companies that fit your brief, who may not have been actively thinking about a sale, and approach their owners on your behalf.
WHO WE ACT FOR
Buyers of UK businesses,
wherever they are based.
Since 2012, we’ve been helping UK and international buyers acquire UK-headquartered businesses.
Corporate acquirers
UK and international companies looking to acquire complementary businesses, capabilities, customers or market share.
Private Equity investors
Private Equity firms and their portfolio companies pursuing platform investments, buy-and-build opportunities or bolt-on acquisitions.
INDUSTRY EXPERTISE
B2B focus, typical transactions of £3m to £75m.
-
Fire & Security
-
Built Environment Compliance
-
Engineering
-
Manufacturing
-
Wholesale & Distribution
-
Business Services
-
Professional Services
-
Contract Services
-
Software & IT
-
Technology
HOW WE WORK
A search, not a shortlist.
We work the way an executive search firm finds the right person for a role. We start from your brief, map the whole market, and approach the companies that fit, whether or not they are for sale.
You see who’s for sale
Seen by every other buyer at the same time, often in a competitive process, and may not be the best fit for what you need.
You access who you really want
Researched and approached directly, including owners who had not thought about selling until the right buyer came along.
WHY LEITH M&A
We only sell
owner-managed businesses. So we know how to help
you buy them.
-
We know owner-managers
Our business is taking owner-managed businesses to market. So we know how an unexpected approach feels from the owner’s side, and we make it in a way that opens a conversation instead of closing one.
-
Research first
We map every UK company that fits your brief, then work out which owners are worth approaching. The research is done in house, by our own team.
-
Deliberately selective
We only run a small number of buy-side mandates at any one time, so your search gets the attention it needs and is not clouded by volume.
-
Confidential from the start
We never disclose your name to an owner until you are ready to be identified.
THE PROCESS
How a search runs
CRITERIA TO TARGET LIST
One to two months
Timing beyond that depends on whether owners are open to a discussion, and how many targets you choose to pursue.
Our services can be tailored to what each buyer needs, from a full service through to support at specific stages.
-
Acquisition criteria
We agree your criteria: sector, size, geography, financial profile and the strategic rationale for the acquisition.
-
Target list
Our research team screens the market against your criteria and produces a list of potential targets. You approve who we approach.
-
Owner approach
We contact owners directly, on a no-names basis, to establish whether there is appetite for a conversation.
-
Information and meetings
Where there is interest, we put NDAs in place, obtain initial information and arrange meetings with the owners.
-
Offer and heads of terms
We advise on valuation and deal structure, and negotiate through to agreed heads of terms.
-
Due diligence to completion
We manage the process alongside your legal and financial advisers through to completion.
BUYERS WE HAVE ACTED FOR
What buyers
say about us.
Investr CapitalTechland Group
“Leith M&A conducted a highly professional sale process that provided clear, comprehensive information throughout and facilitated efficient negotiations.”
Dean Mayer
Investr Capital, acquired Techland Group
OUR PEOPLE
Meet the team
David Nelson
Managing Director
Email David
Managing Director
David Nelson
I’ve led UK mid-market M&A transactions for over two decades, and founded Leith M&A to deliver exceptional results with meticulous attention to detail and genuine care for every client. My most important role in the process is listening: understanding your concerns, your aspirations and the essence of your business.
Email DavidSophie Nelson
Director · Co-founder
Email Sophie
Director · Co-founder
Sophie Nelson
We founded Leith M&A to give a small number of clients a knowledgeable, friendly and truly bespoke service. I produce the sales documents that take your company to market and head up our brilliant research team. We are straight talking, friendly, and nothing but tenacious in our approach.
Email SophieJames Wakefield
Director
Email James
Director
James Wakefield
I’ve spent over 25 years building, leading and transforming businesses across sectors and geographies, guided by a Sandhurst-trained leadership ethos. Whether a company is new to a sale process or needs to make changes before going to market, my goal is always the same: clear, grounded, actionable guidance.
Email JamesJohn Clifton
Director
Email John
Director
John Clifton
I sold my own business through Leith M&A, and joined the firm as a director afterwards. I know the process from the owner’s side of the table, and I bring that understanding to every client I work with, from the first conversation through to completion.
Email JohnLiz Armstrong
Senior Researcher
Email Liz
Senior Researcher
Liz Armstrong
I’ve been with Leith M&A since it was founded. Our research team identifies and approaches the agreed list of potential buyers for every client, then puts the confidentiality agreements in place to protect them. We send regular updates throughout, and become an extension of our clients’ teams.
Email LizLisa Vincent
Researcher
Email Lisa
Researcher
Lisa Vincent
I’ve supported the firm’s transaction and advisory work since 2021, providing market and industry analysis, target company profiling and data support throughout the M&A process. I pride myself on the care and attention to detail that make a tangible difference to our clients’ outcomes.
Email LisaQUESTIONS BUYERS ASK
Questions you might
want answers to.
Do you only look at businesses that are for sale?
No. We map every company that fits your brief and approach the owners directly, whether or not they have thought about selling.
When is our name shared?
Only when you are ready. Early conversations can take place without identifying you.
We are based outside the UK, can you help?
Yes. We act for international buyers looking to acquire UK businesses, and handle the search and the conversations here on your behalf.
How long does a search take?
Building an initial list of potential acquisition targets typically takes one to two months. Beyond that, it depends on which owners you choose to pursue, and to what end.
What if we've already found a target business?
Yes. We can make the approach, help agree value and terms, and run the deal through to completion.
We have our own M&A team, can you just find targets for us?
Yes. We can run a research-only search using our in-house team and our own database, and hand over a list of qualified targets for your team to take forward.
EVERY NEXT CHAPTER STARTS WITH A CONVERSATION