Counsel for defining transactions
Whitcombe Capital Partners advises the owners of private companies on the sale of a business, on acquisitions, and on raising capital. A partner directs every mandate, and each is conducted with complete discretion.
Four principles
The standards that govern every mandate we accept, whatever its size or complexity.
Discretion
Your intentions remain private until you decide otherwise. Information is shared in stages, and only with parties who have earned it.
Candor
We tell you what we believe about value, timing, and risk, even when the right course is patience.
Partnership
A partner leads each engagement personally and remains at the table until the transaction is complete.
Alignment
The larger share of our compensation is contingent on a transaction you have approved reaching completion.
Ownership and financing
Because we advise on both, we can weigh a sale against a recapitalization or a raise, and recommend the course that best serves you.
Mergers & acquisitions
Representing shareholders in the sale of all or part of a company, and acquirers seeking businesses of quality.
- Exclusive sale mandatesA managed auction among chosen buyers.
- RecapitalizationsPartial liquidity with a continuing stake.
- Acquisition advisoryApproaches to companies not for sale.
- Ownership successionTransfers to family or management.
Capital markets
Arranging equity and debt for private companies pursuing growth, acquisitions, liquidity, or a stronger balance sheet.
- Private equity placementsMinority and control investment.
- Senior and unitranche debtBank and direct lender facilities.
- Acquisition financeCapital committed before an approach.
- Capital structure advisoryRefinancing debt that no longer fits.
Our services
The six mandates we are most often asked to lead. Select one to see what it involves and whom it suits.
Sale of a company
A complete sale, run as a confidential and competitive process. We prepare the company, assemble the buyers with the most to gain from owning it, and negotiate price and terms until the transaction is complete.
Best suited to: Owners ready to realize the full value of what they have built.
Recapitalization
A partial sale to an institutional or family investor that balances cash today against a continuing stake. Structure, governance, and your future role are negotiated alongside price.
Best suited to: Owners seeking liquidity without stepping away from the business.
Acquisitions
A disciplined search for companies that fit your strategy, including those that are not on the market. We make the approach, assess value, and lead the negotiation.
Best suited to: Companies and investors growing by acquisition.
Succession
Transfers of ownership to the next generation or to management, with a fair valuation, sound financing, and clear agreements among the shareholders.
Best suited to: Families and founders planning an orderly handover.
Equity capital
Minority or control investment from carefully chosen private equity funds and family offices, negotiated on valuation, governance rights, and the investor’s plans for an eventual exit.
Best suited to: Growing companies that want a capable partner.
Debt financing
Senior, unitranche, and subordinated facilities arranged with banks and direct lenders, and shaped to the company’s cash generation and plans.
Best suited to: Companies funding growth, an acquisition, or a refinancing.
Some of the most valuable advice is knowing when to wait.
How a mandate unfolds
Five stages, each agreed with you in advance. The timetable is set at the outset and reviewed at every milestone.
- Stage one
Consultation
A private discussion of your objectives, your company, and the options before you.
- Stage two
Assessment
Our considered opinion on value, preparedness, and the counterparties most likely to engage.
- Stage three
Preparation
Financial analysis, offering materials, and a data room, all completed before any approach.
- Stage four
Negotiation
Confidential outreach, competing proposals, and patient work on every term.
- Stage five
Completion
Diligence, definitive agreements, closing, and support through the transition.
Questions we are often asked
What kinds of companies do you advise?
Established, profitable private companies, most often owned by founders, families, or management teams, across a broad range of industries. What they share is an owner facing a decision of real consequence.
Do you represent buyers as well as sellers?
Yes. We advise owners on sales and recapitalizations, and we act for companies and investors pursuing acquisitions. We never act for both sides of the same transaction.
Is a first conversation confidential?
Entirely. Initial discussions are held in confidence, and we are glad to sign a confidentiality agreement before you share anything sensitive.
How do you differ from a business broker?
Our work centers on larger, more complex transactions, and on financing as well as sales. Each mandate is led by a partner, and every process is built around a carefully selected group of buyers or investors rather than a public listing.
How do you decide whether to take on an engagement?
We accept a mandate when we believe we can achieve a meaningful result for the client. If the moment is not right, or preparation should come first, we will say so plainly and help you plan for it.
What happens after I get in touch?
A partner will reply personally to arrange a call at a time that suits you. The conversation is exploratory, carries no fee or obligation, and is the beginning of an honest assessment.
Arrange a private conversation
Send a short note describing your company and the decision ahead of you. A partner will reply personally, and your message will be held in strict confidence.
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