Investment banking with a purpose: creating sustainable value.
Strategic Consulting in Mergers and Acquisitions to Build Your Legacy
We guide leading middle-market companies in Colombia through the most important transactions in their history, maximizing value and securing their future.
Reaching this point has been a life's work. Now, you face the most important decision: how to secure your company's future and capitalize on its legacy? A merger or acquisition (M&A) transaction is a transformative event, but the path is fraught with complexities and risks.
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As the leader of your company, you face critical questions:
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How do I navigate a high-stakes process without an expert dedicated exclusively to protecting my interests?
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How can I ensure the highest valuation without sacrificing confidentiality and destabilizing my operation?
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How do I find the ideal strategic partner or buyer who shares my vision, and not just the one offering the highest price?
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How do I manage the complex dynamics of the negotiation to ensure no value is left on the table?
M&A Services
We offer a comprehensive portfolio of investment banking services to guide you through every facet of your strategic transaction, ensuring flawless M&A execution and superior results.
Sell-Side Advisory
Buy-Side Advisory
Mergers & Spin-offs
We lead a confidential and competitive process for the sale of all or part of your company, designed to maximize value and find the ideal partner to ensure the continuity of your legacy.
We act as your strategic arm in the identification, analysis, valuation, and negotiation for the acquisition of companies that accelerate your growth and consolidate your market position.
We design and implement optimal corporate structures to create synergies, integrate operations, or separate business units strategically and efficiently.
Strategic Alliances and Joint Ventures
Company Valuations and Financial Justice Opinions:
Capital Raising and Acquisition Financing:
We facilitate the creation of strategic alliances to enter new markets, access new technologies, share risks, and enhance joint growth.
We conduct rigorous financial analysis and issue independent Fairness Opinions that serve as a solid basis for critical decision-making and negotiation processes.
We structure and manage the acquisition of the capital and debt resources necessary to finance growth transactions, ensuring an optimal capital structure.
Process for Mergers and Acquisitions
Our process is designed to create value at every stage, going far beyond a simple valuation exercise.
1
Strategic and Legacy Diagnosis
We start by thoroughly understanding your personal, family, and business goals. Together, we define what success looks like, beyond the numbers.
2
Preparation and In-depth Assessment
We prepare your company for the process, conducting a thorough analysis to identify and articulate its true potential value. We build a solid investment case and a robust valuation foundation.
3
Strategic Identification of Counterparties
We leverage our extensive local and global network to identify not only potential buyers but also strategic partners that offer the best fit for your company's future.
4
Orchestration of the Negotiation
This is where we create the greatest value. Our expert negotiation and decision analysis team designs and executes a tailored strategy to optimize every aspect of the agreement, creating competitive tension that maximizes the final outcome.
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Due Diligence and Closing
We coordinate the due diligence process efficiently to minimize disruption to your business and confidently guide you through the legal and financial aspects to a successful close.
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Integration and Continuity of the Legacy
We support you in the post-closing phase to ensure a smooth transition, ensuring that the value created in the transaction is realized and your legacy endures.
Let's Build the Next Chapter of Your Legacy Together
An M&A transaction is a confidential and monumental decision. The first step is a no-obligation conversation to explore your strategic options. Contact us to schedule a private consultation with one of our partners and discover how we can help you achieve your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mergers and Acquisitions
Is it the right time to consider a sale or seek a strategic partner? This is one of the most strategic questions an entrepreneur can ask themselves. The ideal moment is often marked by certain "inflection points." Consider an M&A transaction if your company is experiencing one or more of the following scenarios: it has reached its maximum operating capacity and needs a significant capital injection for the next phase of expansion; it is facing a generational transition and is seeking to ensure business continuity and legacy; it has begun receiving unsolicited acquisition offers, indicating market interest; or it needs access to new markets, technologies, or talent that are difficult to develop organically. A well-structured transaction is not an end, but a strategic tool to accelerate growth and consolidate the value you have created.
How is confidentiality guaranteed? Confidentiality is the cornerstone of any successful M&A process. We implement a strict protocol to protect your information and avoid any disruption to your business. This protocol includes signing robust Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) before sharing any sensitive information, using an anonymous project name in the initial phases, preparing marketing materials that do not reveal the company's identity until an interested party has been qualified, and managing the entire flow of information through a secure platform (Data Room). We control who sees what information and when, ensuring that only serious and qualified parties have access to the details of your transaction.
What is the most important factor in determining my company's value? While financial metrics such as EBITDA and cash flow are critical, a company's value also depends on qualitative factors: the strength of its management team, its market position, intellectual property, recurring revenue, and, crucially, the synergies a potential buyer can identify. Our job is to build a strategic narrative that highlights all of these factors to maximize perceived value.
Beyond Valuation: A financial valuation is an essential starting point, a technical analysis that establishes a value range. However, the final price and terms of a transaction are not determined on a spreadsheet, but at the negotiating table. "Going beyond valuation" means that our main added value lies in the strategy and execution of the deal. In practice, this involves creating a competitive environment among stakeholders, structuring the deal to optimize tax and cash flow benefits, negotiating key non-financial terms (such as your future role or that of your team), and using our expertise to anticipate and resolve sticking points before they jeopardize the deal. It's the difference between knowing how much your company is worth and achieving the maximum possible value in the real world.
What is the difference between Heritage's service and that of a larger investment bank or a smaller boutique? Heritage occupies a unique position in the market, specifically designed for the needs of the middle market. We combine the best of both worlds: we offer the sophisticated analysis, global reach, and rigorous process of a large investment bank, ensuring that your transaction is managed to the highest standards. At the same time, we operate with the direct involvement of our partners, the agility, personalized attention, and efficient cost structure of a boutique. With us, you are not just another number in a portfolio; your legacy is our priority, and you receive the direct attention of our most experienced leaders from start to finish.
How long does a business sale process take? A typical sales process can last between 6 and 12 months. This period includes initial preparation (valuation and creation of materials), searching for and contacting buyers, negotiations, due diligence (detailed review by the buyer), and legal closing. The exact time depends on the complexity of the business and market conditions.
What does the valuation process entail? An M&A process is a structured and methodical project that, when managed by experts, maximizes the probability of success. Although each transaction is unique, the key phases generally include: 1) Strategy and Preparation, where we define objectives and prepare the company; 2) Confidential Marketing, where we contact a select group of potential strategic or financial partners; 3) Negotiation, where we manage offers to optimize terms; 4) Due Diligence, where the buyer verifies the information; and 5) Closing, where the legal documents are finalized. A typical process can last from six months to more than a year, depending on the complexity of the deal and market conditions. Our role is to guide you efficiently through every step, allowing you to focus on running your business.
What are the fees for an M&A advisory service and how are they structured? Our fee structure is designed to fully align our interests with yours. It typically consists of two components: a retainer fee, which covers initial preparation and analysis costs, and a success fee, which constitutes the majority of our compensation and is calculated as a percentage of the final transaction value. This model ensures that our primary incentive is to close the best possible transaction for you, at the highest value and on the best terms. We believe in the value we create, and therefore, our success is directly linked to yours.
What are the most common mistakes companies make in the M&A process? The most common errors include poor preparation (disorganized financial data), unrealistic valuation expectations, breaches of confidentiality, and focusing solely on price without considering the deal structure or the suitability of the buyer. Our role is to guide you to avoid these pitfalls and ensure a smooth and successful process.