Selling or Refinancing a (Family) Business

You are considering selling or refinancing your (family) business. The reasons for this can vary: the lack of a suitable successor, cashing in on accumulated success, or spinning off business units that no longer align with your strategic direction. At this stage, you often receive a wide range of advice, in which transactions and returns are sometimes presented in a more optimistic and simplified light than they actually turn out to be in practice.

The reality is usually more complex. A sale or refinancing process affects not only the financial structure but also the strategy, governance, continuity, and emotional stakes—especially within family businesses. You therefore need an independent party to help you carefully prepare for the process, maintain realistic expectations, and stay in control.

In this situation, you benefit from support that is not driven by the interests of banks, investors, or advisors who are primarily focused on the transaction. Independence creates a strong starting position, in which the focus is first on gaining insight, establishing structure, and making decisions before taking steps toward the market. This reduces the risk of disappointments, delays, or unwanted concessions later in the process.

You’ll receive guidance throughout the entire process: from strategic assessment and positioning to preparation, stakeholder management, and decision-making. Our experience with a wide range of financing and ownership transfer structures—including initial public offerings (IPOs), sales to strategic buyers, private equity, as well as angel investors, crowdfunding, and investment funds—provides a clear picture of what is and isn’t feasible in your specific situation.

An important part of this process is critically examining assumptions and expectations. We help you make well-considered choices, explicitly identify risks, and carefully weigh the timing. This sometimes means slowing down rather than speeding up, and making improvements first before selling or refinancing. This approach can be challenging, but it demonstrably increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.