eCommerce
You've built a great brand, now let's maximize your deal value.
Unlock the full potential of your brand. Our expert M&A process ensures maximum value realization.
Expert Wall Street Guidance
Unlike many lower middle market M&A firms, our team has real wall street experience. Our CEO, Emmett Kilduff worked on Wall Street at firms including Morgan Stanley. He has completed >$20bn of deals since 2000.
Data-Driven Valuation Insights
We host the leading valuation webinar bi-annually and issue a detailed valuation report following this explicitly focused on eCommerce brand valuations. Our team are true experts on all trends and value drivers.
Superior Acquiror Relationships
We have developed strong relationships with eCommerce acquirors to best serve our clients, including creating a unique WhatsApp community that connects engaged and active buyers in the eCommerce space.
Annual eCommerce Acquiror Conference
Each year we host the only acquiror conference solely dedicated to acquirors of eCommerce brands. The conference, held in New York, is part of our wider Acquiror Summit which includes networking and value creation events across one week in January. If you are interested in registering for our next event, please click here.
eCommerce Operational Experts
Our focus and expertise is our strength. Our leadership team have genuine eCommerce expertise. Co-Founder & CCO, Paul Hanley has worked for brands WaterWipes, Philips and Turtlebeach, scaling >$500m in revenue across DTC, marketplaces and big box retail. He works closely with our clients on positioning, performance analysis and forecasting growth.
Our Leading 8-Step Exit Process
Our 8-step exit process is designed to maximize your companies valuation while allowing you time and energy to focus on continued business growth while we do the heavy lift of al transactional services. This includes materials building, target list creation, marketing and transactional preparation.
Join The Leading Discussion On eCommerce Valuations
Our focus is our strength and as such we pride ourselves on being experts on the topic of eCommerce brand valuations. Twice per year we bring together an expert panel and discuss key valuation trends and tactics to drive increased brand value.
The Only Dedicated Conference To eCommerce Acquirors In The Lower Middle Market Sector
Each year, we invite to New York, acquirors of eCommerce brands to discuss valuation trends, market dynamics and value creation tactics. We are joined each year by >100 PE firms, strategics and roll-up type acquirors.
Maximize Your Value Through Our 8-Step Exit Process
Realizing your brands full potential: Our M&A guidance delivers strategic exits and seamless transitions.
1. Early Preparation
This stage has the biggest impact on valuation. Clients utilize the 3 best tactics in M&A:
- the best approach to deals making is flirt > date > marry.
- the best laid plans don't survive contact with the enemy - so we get early feedback from the enemy.
- the best businesses get bought not sold - we encourage bids to take deals off the market.
2. Final Preparation
When you are ready to formally begin the exit process we will prepare a deal teaser, virtual dataroom and a 50+ page confidential information memorandum (CIM).
3. Marketing
Once all deal materials are finalized, we will being marketing to all relevant targets. We pride ourselves on having strong relationships with acquirors and can market your deal to senior decision makers.
4. LOIs
As targets start issuing LOIs, we help you compare terms on a like-for-like basis. We help you negotiate and select the most preferential terms for your business.
5. Due Diligence
We will partner with you throughout the entire due diligence process ensuring you are prepared to accommodate any additional materials and information.
6. Documentation
Together with your legal advisors we will help you with the signing of all key documentation.
7. Closing
Once documentation has been signed we ensure payments are processed in an agreed timely fashion.
8. Post-Completion
Post completion we remain in communication to ensure any deferred or earnout component are being acted on as agreed.
Successful Transactions
Our team has been involved in the following successful transactions:
Let’s discuss your M&A journey
Reach out for customized M&A and valuation guidance
In our first call, we can discuss:
Valuation multiples
Gain insights into the market trends impacting your company's valuation and discover strategies to enhance it in the near term.
Timing of the deal
Learn if now is the right time to sell considering your company's KPIs and market environment.
How early preparation maximizes valuation
Discuss operational tactics of how you can start working on adding value into your company today ahead of an exit process. The best businesses get bought not sold and top deals spend years planning their exit strategy.
Schedule a complimentary, non-obligatory consultation today!
Helpful Resources
Find the answers to your M&A questions and gain inspiration from our industry-leading research.
Theta and Tadpull Masterclass: 3C's Flywheel, A framework for compounding growth.
Feb 16th, 2025
Subscribe To Our eCommerce Newsletter
In our monthly newsletter, we present how we think about eCommerce valuations and from macro to micro and what the biggest impactors and drivers are to value.
You've Built A Great Brand. Now Let'sMaximize Your Deal Value!
Unlock the full potential of your brand. Our expert M&A process ensures maximum value realization.
How We Add Value
Selling your business is a major milestone. Our tech M&A expertise ensures you can focus on future opportunities while we optimize every transaction detail.
Expert Wall Street Guidance
Unlike many lower middle market M&A firms, our team has real wall street experience. Our CEO, Emmett Kilduff worked on Wall Street at firms including Morgan Stanley. He has completed >$20bn of deals since 2000.
Data-Driven Valuation Insights
We host the leading valuation webinar bi-annually and issue a detailed valuation report following this explicitly focused on eCommerce brand valuations. Our team are true experts on all trends and value drivers.
Superior Acquiror Relationships
We have developed strong relationships with eCommerce acquirors to best serve our clients, including creating a unique WhatsApp group that connects engaged and active buyers in the eCommerce space.
Annual eCommerce Acquiror Summit
Each year we host the only acquiror conference solely dedicated to acquirors of eCommerce brands. The conference, held in New York, is part of our wider Acquiror Summit which includes networking and value creation events across one week in January. If you are interested in registering for our next event, please click here.
eCommerce Operational Experts
Our focus and expertise is our strength. Our leadership team have genuine eCommerce expertise. Co-Founder & CCO, Paul Hanley has worked for brands WaterWipes, Philips and Turtlebeach, scaling >$500m in revenue across DTC, marketplaces and big box retail. He works closely with our clients on positioning, performance analysis and forecasting growth.
Our leading 8-Step Exit Process
Our 8-step exit process is designed to maximize your companies valuation while allowing you time and energy to focus on continued business growth while we do the heavy lift of al transactional services. This includes materials building, target list creation, marketing and transactional preparation.
Our Leading 8-Step eCommerce Exit Process
Realizing your eCommerce company’s full potential: Our M&A guidance delivers strategic exits and seamless transitions.
01
Early Preparation
This stage has the biggest impact on valuation. Clients utilize the 3 best tactics in M&A: i) the best approach to deals is flirt > date > marry; ii) the best laid plans don't survive contact with the enemy - so we get early feedback from the enemy; and iii) the best businesses get bought not sold - we encourage bids to take deals off the market.
02
Final Preparation
When you are ready to formally begin the exit process we will prepare a deal teaser, virtual dataroom and a 50+ page confidential information memorandum (CIM).
03
Marketing
Once all deal materials are finalized, we will being marketing to all relevant targets. We pride ourselves on having strong relationships with acquirors and can market your deal to senior decision makers.
04
LOIs
As targets start issuing LOIs, we help you compare terms on a like-for-like basis. We help you negotiate and select the most preferential terms for your business.
05
Due Diligence
We will partner with you throughout the entire due diligence process ensuring you are prepared to accommodate any additional materials and information.
06
Documentation
Together with your legal advisors we will help you with the signing of all key documentation.
07
Closing
Once documentation has been signed we ensure payments are processed in an agreed timely fashion.
08
Post-Completion
Post completion we remain in communication to ensure any deferred or earnout component are being acted on as agreed.
What Is Involved In Early Preparation?
Deep Analysis
The first step is for our team to do a 4 week deep dive into your business.
This includes:
- Financials: analysis of monthly P&L, 3 year historical financial statements and forecasts.
- Platforms: review of data from your sales channels e.g. Shopify, Amazon Seller Central, wholesale, retail etc.
- Questionnaire: review of your responses to our granular diligence questionnaire. It has been developed over 3 years and contains all the questions acquirors will ultimately ask.
- Valuations: discussion current and potential valuation range.
Initial Teaser
An initial teaser is key to succinctly articulate the acquisition opportunity to potential acquirers.
Components:
- Acquisition highlights.
- Category growth.
- Company snapshot.
- Brand overview.
- Supply chain.
- Products.
- Channels to market.
- Marketing.
- Growth opportunities.
- High-level financials.
- Exit rationale.
Early Acquiror Calls
“No battleplan survives contact with the enemy”.
It is important to embrace early feedback from a small number of acquirors (the “enemy”).
There are 5 different types of institutional acquirors we can approach depending on the business:
- Strategics.
- Private equity firms (either as a platform deal or a bolt-on to an existing portfolio company).
- Search funds.
- Family offices.
- eCommerce roll-ups (aggregators).
Action Items
Based on the work of the prior 3 stages we will recommend action items.
Short-term Examples:
- Hire a NED who has sold a similar business.
- Audit of the manufacturer for the VDR.
- Obtain a QOE report.
Medium-term Examples:
- Invest time to better articulate the growth plan e.g. NPD.
- Consider inorganic growth i.e. acquisitions.
- Improve the forecasting model.
Long-term Examples
- Increase recurring revenue – this has a significant impact on valuation.
- Upgrade auditor and produce annual audit.
Benefits
What are the benefits of early preparation
- Incorporating feedback from acquirors means the ‘pitch’ is stronger.
- ”The best businesses get bought, not sold.” During stages 1 and 2 we welcome bids to take your firm off the market.
- Additional time to identify every firm to approach and thereby make the auction as competitive as possible.
- The flirt > date > marry approach to dealmaking yields the best results. For example, it enables the slower moving acquirors (e.g. strategics) time to get your business on their radar.
Join The Leading Webinar On eCommerce Valuations
Our focus is our strength and as such we pride ourselves on being experts on the topic of eCommerce brand valuations. Twice per year we bring together an expert panel and discuss key valuation trends and tactics to drive increased brand value.
Our 2025 Acquiror Summit Key Takeaways
Dates: January 26th - 30th
Location: New York
Let’s discuss your M&A journey
Reach out for customized M&A and valuation guidance
In our first call, we can discuss:
Valuation multiples
Gain insights into the market trends impacting your company's valuation and discover strategies to enhance it in the near term.
Timing of the deal
Learn if now is the right time to sell considering your company's KPIs and market environment.
How early preparation maximizes valuation
Discuss operational tactics of how you can start working on adding value into your company today ahead of an exit process. The best businesses get bought not sold and top deals spend years planning their exit strategy.
Schedule a complimentary, non-obligatory consultation today!
Resources for eCommerce Brand Founders
Find the answers to your M&A questions and gain inspiration from our industry-leading research.
Subscribe to our newsletter
The Leading voice in eCommerce Brand valuations
In our monthly newsletter, we present how we think about eCommerce valuations and from macro to micro and what the biggest impactors and drivers are to value.