Specialist Advisory Services

Acquisitions, disposals, strategic alliances, public offerings, restructuring

 

Specialist Advisory Services comprise complex consulting services surrounding the buying or selling of businesses, strategic alliances and public offerings.

Mergers and acquisitions are all but routine transactions for owners and management. They often mark a milestone in the history of the company. Economic, tax and accounting aspects of the deal are closely linked together and time is of the essence. Depending on the nature of the assignment Grant Thornton Unitreu teams up specialists and sector experts. The personal engagement partner of the client however stays the same.

Specialist Advisory Services involve the following:

 

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Structuring of transactions
• Identifying likely partners/investors
• Assisting in negotiating and signing the transaction
• Closing

 

Acquisition or disposal of companies as part of succession plans

• Consulting regarding the legal, tax and economic implications on a national and international level
• Consideration of relevant aspects of company law, inheritance law and family law
• Advice on structuring family enterprises
• Estate planning
• Company valuation

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Capital Market Transactions

• Planning and managing Initial Public Offerings (IPO)
• Advice on the issuance of bonds
• Consulting and support in connection with capital increases and decreases/ audits according to the Squeeze-out Act
• Company valuations according to Austrian and international standards
• Advice on the choice of an investment bank
• Support in the drafting of the prospectus
• Providing assurance on the data in the prospectus in a comfort letter
• Consulting in connection with reorganization prior to going public
• Drafting of a prospectus in accordance with the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a listing on the New York Stock Exchange in cooperation with the Grant Thornton SEC partners

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Due Diligence

Whether a company is bought or sold or intending to go public,  the hidden risks and liabilities of a transaction can be identified and analyzed during a due diligence. Depending on the purpose of the due diligence, the following aspects are covered

• Tax and Legal Due Diligence
• Financial Due Diligence
• Commercial Due Diligence

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Company Valuations

Company valuations are required in different contexts. This includes business decisions such as acquisitions, disposals, public offerings, capital increases, contractual agreements such as transfers of ownership between incoming or outgoing partners and settlement payments, but also regulatory requirements as in connection with squeeze-outs and mergers.  Valuations are also required by Austrian or International Accounting Standards or under US-GAAP (valuation of financial instruments, impairment testing, purchase price allocation).

Company valuation services at a glance

• Deriving the data that forms the basis for the company valuation
• Defining the targets
• Conducting company valuations as an advisor or as an independent appraiser according to national and international standards.
• Comparison of different valuation methods and selection of a suitable valuation method.
• Analyzing and assessing the profitability of the company based on past performance
• Analyzing and assessing future strategies and forecasted results

The first and foremost goal is to obtain a plausible estimate of sustainable future earnings. This requires an analysis of the market and the competitive situation. The forecast is based on the results of this analysis.

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Reorganization

In today’s changing climate companies may face challenges that need to be addressed. Grant Thornton Unitreu offers services ranging from the assessment of a restructuring concept to the execution of comprehensive restructuring plans:

• Assessment of restructuring concepts
• Going Concern assessment
• Insolvency assessment/Debt Restructuring
• Financing concepts
• Independent appraisals on matters of accounting, valuation and insolvency

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Forensic Services

Companies are confronted with an increase in fraudulent and abusive activity. Grant Thornton Unitreu can assist to deter and detect illegal acts:

• Uncovering corruption and malversations
• Uncovering fraud involving employees or management
• Investigating and preventing money laundering
• Safeguarding of assets, controlling damage
• Support in the litigation or arbitration process

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