Practical M&A Advice for Owners, Management Teams, and Private Equity

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Independent mergers and acquisitions advisory across sales, acquisitions, and ownership transitions

KitsWest Capital advises business owners, management teams, and private equity sponsors on buying, selling, and transitioning ownership of businesses.

We work closely with clients from the earliest conversations through closing, helping them think through options, prepare properly, manage process, and negotiate outcomes that align with both financial and personal objectives.

Our focus is not just completing transactions, but helping clients make the right decisions at critical moments.

Who We Work With

We primarily work with:

  • Owner‑operators considering a sale, recapitalization, or partner transaction

  • Management teams pursuing acquisitions or ownership transitions

  • Private‑equity‑backed companies executing platform or add‑on transactions

Common situations include:

  • Preparing a business for sale

  • Evaluating unsolicited offers

  • Acquiring competitors or complementary businesses

  • Partner or management buyouts

  • Partial liquidity events or ownership restructurings

If a transaction will materially impact ownership, control, or long‑term value, we help bring structure and perspective to the process.

What We Do

We act as an independent M&A advisor, supporting clients through both decision‑making and execution.

Our role typically includes:

  • Helping clients determine whether a transaction makes sense and on what terms

  • Advising on timing, structure, and strategic alternatives

  • Preparing the business or opportunity before engaging counterparties

  • Identifying and approaching appropriate buyers, sellers, or targets

  • Managing discussions, confidentiality, and information flow

  • Helping clients evaluate offers beyond headline price

  • Leading negotiations to improve outcomes and reduce execution risk

  • Supporting diligence, documentation, and closing

For owners and management teams, this means clarity and support during a complex process. For private equity sponsors, it means disciplined execution and reliable follow‑through.

Sell‑Side Advisory

When advising owners on a sale, our focus is preparation, positioning, and maintaining control of the process.

Sell‑side engagements often involve:

  • Assessing readiness, timing, and value drivers

  • Normalizing financial performance and identifying risks early

  • Developing a clear and credible transaction narrative

  • Identifying and prioritizing the right buyer universe

  • Managing a confidential and competitive process

  • Comparing offers across value, structure, certainty, and alignment

  • Negotiating terms and supporting diligence through closing

Our role is to help owners understand trade‑offs and avoid decisions that create regret after the transaction is complete.

Buy‑Side Advisory

On acquisitions, our role is to help clients stay disciplined and focused.

Buy‑side engagements commonly include:

  • Defining acquisition criteria and valuation parameters

  • Evaluating strategic fit and downside risks

  • Financial analysis and scenario assessment

  • Supporting offer structuring and negotiations

  • Coordinating diligence and execution through closing

We help clients avoid over‑paying, misjudging risk, or letting momentum dictate decisions.

How We Typically Work

1. Initial Assessment

We start by understanding objectives, constraints, and what a successful outcome looks like for the client.

2. Preparation and Positioning

Strong outcomes are driven by preparation. We focus on this before engaging the market or a counterparty.

3. Engagement and Process Management

We manage outreach, discussions, and information flow while maintaining confidentiality and control.

4. Evaluation and Negotiation

We help clients assess options and negotiate terms that balance value, risk, and certainty.

5. Execution and Closing

We remain involved through diligence, documentation, and closing.

Types of Transactions We Advise On

Owner‑operator sales

Buy‑side acquisitions and add‑on transactions

Sponsor‑backed transactions

Management and partner buyouts

Minority investments and partial liquidity events

Strategic alternatives and ownership transitions

Representative Engagement Examples

The following examples reflect relevant experience of KitsWest professionals in prior advisory roles and are representative of the types of engagements we undertake. Details are simplified and anonymized.

Owner‑operator sale — Vancouver, British Columbia
A founder‑led business explored a sale after receiving an unsolicited offer. The engagement focused on assessing readiness, preparing the business, managing buyer discussions, and negotiating transaction terms that improved value and certainty.

PE‑backed acquisition — Minneapolis, Minnesota
A private equity sponsor pursued an acquisition for a new buy-and-build strategy under a compressed timeline. The engagement included target assessment, financial analysis, negotiation support, and execution through closing.

Partial liquidity transaction — Vancouver, British Columbia
An owner sought liquidity while retaining meaningful ownership and control. The engagement focused on evaluating alternatives and executing a transaction aligned with long‑term objectives.

Why Clients Work With KitsWest

Independent advice
We are not a buyer, seller, or investor. Our advice is aligned solely with the client’s interests.

Clear judgment
We help clients think through decisions, not just execute transactions.

Process discipline
We bring structure, preparation, and follow‑through to complex situations.

Senior‑led execution
Experienced advisors remain directly involved from start to finish.

Integrated with Debt & Capital Advisory and Valuations

M&A decisions are often connected to capital, transaction planning, and shareholder outcomes.

We frequently integrate our M&A advisory with our valuation and debt & capital advisory services to ensure decisions are made with a clear understanding of their impact on value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an advisor if I already have an offer?
Often, yes. We are frequently engaged to help clients evaluate offers, understand trade‑offs, and negotiate improved terms.

When should I start preparing for a sale?
Preparation ideally begins before going to market. Even limited preparation can materially impact outcomes.

Do you work with first‑time buyers or sellers?
Yes. Many clients engage us for their first transaction, where guidance and perspective are especially important.

Do you advise on both buy‑side and sell‑side transactions?
Yes. Our role depends on the client’s objectives and situation.

What is the difference between buy-side and sell-side work?
Buy-side work focuses on helping a buyer identify, evaluate and execute acquisitions. Sell-side work focuses on preparing and running a sale process to achieve the best outcome for the seller.

How do you protect confidentiality during a sale?
We use staged information sharing, non-disclosure agreements and controlled data rooms to limit exposure while testing market interest.

How long does a typical sale or acquisition take?
Timelines vary by complexity; many mid-market processes conclude within three to six months while complicated or cross-border deals can take longer.

How do you value a target or business for sale?
We combine market comps, financial analysis and sector-specific metrics to produce pragmatic valuations that reflect likely buyer behavior.

Can you help with financing an acquisition?
Yes. We provide financing strategy guidance and support your discussions and negotiations with lenders or other financing partners as you explore options to fund an acquisition.

What information do you need to start an engagement?
High-level financials, strategic objectives and any timing or confidentiality constraints are sufficient to begin strategy work.