Corporate Finance

Deciding to sell your business can be a significant decision in the life of a business owner. Whether you want to unlock the value of years of hard work, transition into retirement, or bring in investment for future growth, our Corporate Finance team is equipped with extensive experience in sell-side M&A, providing expert guidance to business owners at every stage of the process. With a deep understanding of the Irish and international markets, we help SMEs and mid-market businesses maximise value, structure optimal deals, and ensure a smooth process.

Our specialists support with:

• Exit strategy planning – Help you assess timing, market conditions, and the best approach for a successful sale.
• Pre-sale valuation analysis – Gain a clear understanding of your company’s worth before going to market.
• Deal readiness review – Assess key risks, financials and operational aspects to ensure a smooth and successful sale process.
• Identifying and engaging buyers – Target strategic and financial investors most likely to maximise value.
• Vendor due diligence / vendor assist – Streamline the sale process, anticipate buyer concerns and address potential issues proactively.
• Lead advisory and deal support – Navigate the sale journey with confidence. From identifying buyers to negotiating terms, we provide expert guidance at every stage of the deal.
• Working capital negotiation – Analyse the key drivers impacting cashflow and negotiate a fair working capital target.

As a full service accountancy firm, our clients have access to specialist advisors in other aspects of preparing for the sale of a business. Typical support services include:

• Taxation structuring advice – Our experts provide tailored tax strategies to minimise liabilities and optimise your tax position for the most efficient exit.
• Company reorganisation / corporatisation – Our experts provide advice and can action restructures and reorganisations ensuring compliance with company law.

With our hands-on, commercially focused approach, we take the complexity out of selling your business, allowing you to focus on what matters most — achieving the best possible outcome for your future.

A carefully planned and executed acquisition can be an efficient way to achieve immediate growth and boost the value of your company.

Mergers & Acquisitions

When a company is looking at new opportunities for growth, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are a good way to accelerate market share, acquire specific capabilities not already in the business or take out competitors. However, as the market looks for the next ‘great deal’, organisations should take heed of lessons learnt from previous good and bad M&A transactions.

We at Azets Ireland undertake regular discussions with a large number of buyers and sellers including Private, Institutional and Global organizations as well as Private Equity firms. These discussions give us excellent insight into their acquisition strategies and their appetite for specific types of deals which we can leverage for our clients.

Our team has provided M&A advisory services on a wide range of Acquisitions, Management Buy Out’s (MBO’s) and Mergers across multiple sectors and ranging from small bolt on acquisitions to larger mid-market acquisitions and MBO/MBI transactions.

Our services:

• Mergers and acquisitions strategic advice
• Acquisition target search and screening
• Initial approaches to target companies
• Valuation advice and reports, including provision of formal valuation opinions where required
• Synergy analysis
• Advice on the acquisition structure
• Assist with acquisition funding and liasing with Banks, if needed
• Management of the overall due diligence process (financial, legal, commercial, regulatory and HR) and relevant stakeholders
• Lead negotiations with the vendor as required
• Advice on the key terms of the acquisition agreement
• Management of the completion process
• Integration strategy and monitoring of synergies

Management Buyouts

Management buy-outs can result in positive outcomes for existing owners and management. Azets Ireland Corporate Finance can provide advice and support to management at all stages of the buyout process.

While management buyouts are similar, legally, to any other capital raising or sale-of- company transaction, they have some specific characteristics that need particular care. Often the management team will be less familiar with the process of a company sale or capital raising therefore structuring a deal and raising funding for an MBO can be quite challenging and needs expert advice. At Azets Ireland, we provide the extra service and support needed to ensure a smooth transaction while allowing management to stay focused on running the business.

On the other hand, MBOs generally require only limited due diligence and basic seller warranties due to the high existing understanding of the business amongst the buying managers.

Due Diligence & Transaction Advisory

Every corporate transaction carries financial risk. Whether buying, selling, or investing, due diligence is essential to avoid surprises, protect value, and ensure a successful outcome. A thorough financial review uncovers risks, validates key assumptions, and provides the clarity needed for confident decision-making.

Our transaction advisory services—covering financial due diligence, vendor due diligence, and strategic deal support—help businesses navigate deals with precision. We work seamlessly with legal and tax professionals to provide clear, commercially focused insights.

Financial Due Diligence

When acquiring a business, you need more than just the headline numbers—you need to understand the financial reality behind them. Our independent due diligence provides deep analysis, helping you assess:

• Quality of Earnings & Cash Flow: Assessment of what is the underlying profitability of the business and how this converts to cashflow.
• Working Capital: Analysis of trends and movements in working capital to ensure the business has adequate financial resources to continue operations in the short-term.
• Key Business Drivers: Identify key drivers of business performance.
• Financial Position: Analyse the current capital structure and assess what is required for the business’ projections.
• Assessment of reporting framework: Assessment of financial systems and processes reporting on the adequacy of those systems to meet stakeholder requirements.

We also advise on purchase price adjustments, completion mechanisms (e. g., locked box or completion accounts), and tailored reporting—whether concise insights or detailed analysis.

Vendor Due Diligence

A well-executed vendor due diligence (VDD) process helps sellers manage risks, streamline transactions, and maximise value. Our experience on both sides of the transaction allows us to identify risks early and recommend strategies to mitigate their impact on valuation, deal structure, and potential liabilities.

Key benefits of our VDD approach:

• Identifying & Mitigating Risks – We proactively assess financial and operational risks, providing actionable recommendations to protect deal value.
• Supporting the Sale Process – Our involvement throughout the VDD process gives us a deep understanding of the business, allowing us to act as the lead financial advisor. We serve as the primary point of contact for buyer inquiries, managing due diligence coordination and ensuring a smooth transaction.
• Attracting Buyer Interest – Our thorough and well-structured VDD reports provide buyers with a higher level of quality information, addressing key investment criteria upfront. This reduces reliance on an extended Q&A process and enhances buyer confidence, ultimately driving greater interest and competitive tension in the transaction.

With our commercially focused approach, we ensure financial clarity and transaction efficiency, helping clients secure better deals with reduced risks and stronger buyer engagement.

Valuation is not just a science—it’s an art. The right valuation requires experience, market knowledge, and a deep understanding of the underlying business. Whether for financial reporting, shareholder exits, employee incentives, acquisitions, or tax planning, our independent experts deliver reliable, commercially focused valuations tailored to your needs.

What We Offer

• Business Valuations: Support for sale of business, acquisitions or shareholder disputes, using clear, reliable methods tailored to your business.
• Tax Valuations: Ensuring compliance for employee share schemes, intellectual property transactions, restructures or reorganisation, and tax consolidation.
• Reporting Valuations: Independent valuations for business assets and financial reporting under IFRS, FRS 102, and other regulatory standards.
• Expert Reports: Independent, transparent advice on critical transactions such as mergers, acquisitions or for dispute resolution purposes, ensuring fair and well-supported valuations.

We help boards, shareholders, and management teams navigate complex financial decisions by providing valuations that are not just technically sound but commercially relevant. Whether determining the right price for an asset, valuing private equity or unlisted investments, our team combines rigorous analysis with practical insight to deliver valuations you can trust.

Debt Capital Raising

Raising debt finance is a crucial step for businesses looking to expand, acquire assets or fund acquisitions. Our debt advisory team helps businesses navigate the complex funding landscape, ensuring they secure the right financing on the best possible terms. With access to a vast network of banks, alternative lenders, and specialist debt providers, we tailor solutions to meet your specific needs.

Our debt advisory services include:

• Debt structuring and refinancing – Identifying the best funding mix for your business.
• Lender negotiations – Securing competitive terms with banks and alternative lenders.
• Financial modelling – Assessing the impact of different debt structures.
• Covenant and risk analysis – Ensuring compliance with lender requirements.
• Capital raising – Sourcing new funding to support growth and acquisitions.
• Project management – Overseeing the entire debt-raising process.

Over the last few years, the debt market in Ireland has changed with a wider variety of funding options becoming available. Our debt advisory team can help you navigate this dynamic market, identifying which lenders are active in the market, in which sectors, and help you target your efforts more effectively.

Equity Capital Raising

Equity capital raising is an important source of funding for businesses seeking to fund future growth and development. By securing investment from high-net-worth individuals, angel syndicates, seed funds, venture capital, private equity firms and institutional investors businesses can access the capital needed to accelerate their long-term objectives. Our corporate finance team has extensive experience in advising businesses on equity capital raising across all sources, ensuring the client secures the right funding at the right time and on the right terms.

Our services include:

• Development of a business plan and integrated financial modelling
• Refinement of business plans and financial projections
• Advice on pre-money valuation metrics and strategy
• Identification of suitable investors and capital providers
• Preparation of investment teasers and strategic plans
• Input on management presentations / deck
• Negotiation of key funding terms and deal structuring to obtain a “Heads of Terms”
• Management of investor due diligence and regulatory compliance
• Successful completion of the funding process including project management of all stakeholders

With strong relationships across Irish and international investment markets, Our corporate finance team provides expert advice and guidance to help businesses navigate the equity capital raising process successfully. We work closely with you to deliver a financing solution that supports your long-term objectives.

Financial Modelling

Financial models are essential tools for analysing and monitoring of business performance and provides a framework for supporting the strategic decision-making process. Financial models can be complex and difficult to navigate without the right structure. We build clear, reliable, and user-friendly models tailored to varying levels of financial literacy, ensuring they provide actionable insights for confident decision-making.

How We Help:

We build clear, reliable financial models tailored to your needs. Our models:
• Highlight key drivers and potential risks
• Include built-in checks to prevent errors
• Allow for easy scenario analysis and forecasting future performance

Where We Add Value:

We provide financial modelling support for:
• Business transactions (M&A, valuations, restructuring)
• Fundraising (loans, investments, grants)
• Strategic planning and scenario analysis
• Major investment decisions

Our models simplify complexity, reduce risk, and give you confidence in your decisions.

Strategic Business Planning

We work closely with Boards and Senior Management to refine and clarify their business strategy, providing a fresh, impartial perspective. With years of cross-sector experience, we help organizations optimize growth and navigate key transitions like fundraising and restructuring. Our role is to challenge conventional thinking and provide actionable insights that drive long-term success.

What We Do:

• Develop and refine business plans.
  • Offer an objective, third-party perspective on growth strategies.
  • Identify risks and opportunities for sustainable growth.
  • Support clients in preparing for fundraising, restructuring or succession planning.