STRATEGIC BUSiness ACQUISITION ADVISORY
Growing Through Acquisitions, with a Systematic Approach
A poorly planned acquisition. A poorly evaluated target. A haphazard integration. In most cases, what causes an acquisition-driven growth strategy to fail isn’t a lack of ambition—it’s a lack of preparation.
Entering a new market, accelerating a growth trajectory that would take years to achieve through organic growth, and gaining access to technology, a customer base, or a team that you would otherwise have to build on your own: a targeted acquisition is one of the most powerful drivers of growth—provided it is thoroughly prepared.
That’s what thinkGo offers: strategic consulting that places acquisition at the heart of your growth trajectory, from the initial assessment through to execution.
Our mission: to help your business grow through acquisitions, with consistency and impact
Growth through acquisitions can’t be improvised. A good opportunity that’s poorly prepared can end up costing more than a missed opportunity. Our role is to help you build an ambitious yet realistic external growth strategy—one that is grounded in your resources, culture, and objectives, and supported by rigorous analytical tools.
We provide support throughout the entire process: clarifying growth strategy and acquisition criteria, identifying and qualifying targets, conducting commercial due diligence on target companies, conducting market research to ensure a successful entry into a new sector or territory, developing business plans and financing proposals, structuring measurable action plans, establishing performance metrics and management budgets, and aligning teams around shared objectives.
For whom?
This service is designed for executives and entrepreneurs who view external growth as a driver of their development:
- The executive who wants to accelerate growth through acquisitions. Organic growth alone would take too long. He wants to assess whether one or more targeted acquisitions could save him years—by providing access to a market, technology, customer base, or team that he couldn’t build on his own as quickly.
- The small business looking to take its business to the next level. It has worked well so far, but the company feels that its organic growth is reaching its limits. Acquiring a competitor, a supplier, or complementary expertise could be the right strategy—provided it is evaluated systematically.
- A company looking to expand internationally. Entering French-speaking Switzerland, German-speaking Switzerland, France, Germany, Italy, or any other European market requires thorough preparation—analyzing opportunities, adapting the product or service offering, and often acquiring an established local player rather than starting from scratch.
- A business owner who is preparing for a succession or sale. Before entering into negotiations, he must accurately assess the value of his business—a thorough business audit and a credible business plan make all the difference when dealing with a buyer or investor.
Our Tools to Support Your Acquisition Strategy
Each tool below is designed from the perspective of an experienced M&A advisor—not as an academic exercise, but as a decision-making tool to support your acquisition or growth initiative.
MARKET RESEARCH
Entering a new market or acquiring a company that is already established there without having studied that market is like sailing without a map.
Our market research combines analysis of industry trends, insight into target customers, competitive analysis, and the identification of acquisition targets or opportunities for external growth. Designed to be immediately actionable—to inform a concrete acquisition decision, not to gather dust in a drawer.
BUSINESS PLAN
Structuring an acquisition, convincing an investor, preparing a fundraising round—a business plan is only valuable if it is credible.
With 30 years of hands-on experience in business development and M&A, we create business plans that stand up to tough questions—the kind asked by bankers, acquirers, and experienced investors. A good business plan isn’t just something you read; it’s something you defend.
PROVISIONAL P&L
A business plan is convincing because it is based on sound figures, item by item.
We prepare a detailed 3- to 5-year projected income statement: revenue by segment, entity, or market; margin trends; personnel and operating expenses; depreciation and amortization—including goodwill; cost of debt; and tax expense. Each assumption is documented and presented in both a conservative scenario and a target scenario to withstand scrutiny from a banker, acquirer, or investor. This forms the numerical foundation of your business plan and your financing proposal.
Why thinkGo?
These tools are not offered in addition to M&A consulting—they are a natural extension of it. We don’t produce reports that end up gathering dust in a drawer. We work with you to develop strategies you can implement—and we stay by your side throughout the execution process.
A buyer entering a new market needs thorough market research to safeguard their investment. An entrepreneur looking to accelerate growth through acquisitions needs a credible business plan to attract the right financial partners.
At thinkGo, every analytical tool is built with the insight of an experienced M&A advisor with over 30 years of experience in business development and acquisitions, both in Switzerland and internationally—which fundamentally changes the nature and quality of the deliverables, as well as the reliability of your external growth strategy.