True North has developed a disciplined and creative sale process that is designed to maximize the results for the seller while permitting management to continue to focus its energy on operating the company and maintaining sales and profits.
True North manages the entire process: pre-sale consulting, strategic planning and problem-solving; identification and solicitation of potential buyers; development of offering materials; preparation of management for meetings with buyers; and simultaneous negotiation with multiple prospective buyers. During this process, we often are able to identify areas for operational improvement to assist the client in achieving its growth goals and increasing its value.
Our disciplined process, experience and creativity help achieve a successful transaction, whether dealing with a strategic buyer, a financial buyer such as a private equity or other investment firm, or the executive team in a management buyout.
Not all transactions require this full sale process. When a company has already received an offer from a potential acquirer and does not want to approach other potential acquirers, we assist in valuing the business and negotiating the transaction. In these engagements, our ability to justify higher values, creatively structure transactions, and negotiate in complex situations, are often critical to the success of the transaction.
In a purchase transaction, our process starts with analyses of the acquiring company, its potential targets, their industries, and critical success factors. After working with management to develop the acquisition criteria, we identify targets, make the initial contacts, assist in due diligence, and negotiate the transaction. This process is designed to maximize success for the acquirer, both in concluding a transaction and in merging and managing the enterprises after a transaction. Through our highly experienced Executives in Residence, we are able to provide assistance in the transition period after the transaction.