Why choose PCB?
PCB are the leading specialist Buy-Side advisor in the evolving Technology eco-systems and business services markets.
We are paid and retained by our clients to source off-market, under the radar assets – the best businesses in the world, who don’t necessarily have a ‘for sale’ sign above their door.
We bring our clients unique access to under the radar assets.
Our team has unrivalled experience from entrepreneurs to PE industry heavyweights and deal-making senior leaders.
Our extensive following in the digital marketplace means we are able to validate targets with the relevant platform ecosystem CEO’s.
We have years of experience vetting and validating prospects at founder level which saves you time and ultimately money.
We find things that others don’t.
We avoid costly bidding wars with rival buyers.
We persuade sellers not looking to exit, that now is the right time to sell and that you are the right strategic acquirer.
Deal execution process
Define strategic objectives and acquisition criteria.
Examine strategic options.
Match criteria to market realities.
Identify and analyse targets by horizontal capability and vertical sector.
Gather appropriate information about people & culture, financials, ownership structure and market position of potential targets.
Delivering the long list.
Contact the Targets to initiate discussions and conduct personal meetings as appropriate between PCB Partners and Target firms
Evaluate Targets’ interest
Analyse the competences and fit of Targets willing to enter into negotiations
Present results of this analysis
Facilitate meetings between for selected Targets to progress acquisition discussions
Advise on negotiations with respect to the proposed acquisition with the Target’s management, shareholders and advisers as appropriate;
Attend meetings and give advice relating to the documentation by which the transaction is to be effected
Prepare detailed timetables of events in consultation and its other advisers and seek to ensure that other advisers meet deadlines implicit in such timetables;
Coordinate and conduct, as necessary, meetings with other advisers, including the coordination of due diligence
PCB carry out other ad hoc duties as may be agreed with the client, which are relevant having regard to the nature of the Transaction
Meet the experts
"PCB Partners, led by Khilan Shah and supported by Dani Patel and James Stafford, delivered an excellent result for Inciper Limited executing our sell-side process. Having had limited exposure to complex M&A activities, it was important for us to engage with a partner that could manage the complexities of the end-to-end process while understanding our non-negotiables for the outcome. We initially engaged with Ben Doltis and were then guided through the process by Khilan and team who produced high quality deliverables, managed the complexities and enabled David and me to focus on running the business with confidence that we would achieve the best possible outcome from the process. PCB Partners where the ideal partner for us and I would recommend them to other considering funding or acquisitions options. "
Mark Roberts, Co-founder of Inciper
"PCB Partners, led by Khilan Shah and supported by James Stafford, ran a smooth and successful sell-side process for Three Plus Consulting. As founders who had not been previously exposed to the M&A market, we appreciated their network that enabled the definition of a potential buyer list, their guidance when receiving and negotiating offers, and their experience when conducting due diligence. PCB would make a great partner for any founders considering funding or acquisition options for their business, and we would recommend engaging with them. "
Chris Howarth, Managing Director and Co-Founder, Three Plus Consulting
"Solutions Integrator Insight recently acquired award winning software development and digital services specialist Amdaris. The acquisition added Amdaris' innovative software development, application support, managed services and consultancy services to Insight's broad solutions portfolio and IT supply chain capabilities. Throughout the acquisition, we were able to rely on PCB Partners as trusted M&A advisors, supporting Insight from the early evaluation stages, bringing the different parties together around the table and adding valuable insights up until the successful close. It has been a pleasure working with Ben Doltis, Brett Newland and team at PCB Partners throughout the process, their expertise, guidance and responsiveness contributed greatly to the successful execution of this acquisition."
President EMEA, Insight
"We’re extremely appreciative for PCB Partners role in our acquisition of Pracedo. They were instrumental in helping us to make a compelling case to Pracedo as to why we would be a strong partner in the next evolution of their growth to become a leading SFDC partners globally. The PCB team was extremely responsive, attentive to detail, and dedicated to producing the best outcome possible for Collabera Digital. Their support extends to all facets of M&A from sourcing to deal execution. This would not have been possible without the relentless folks at PCB."
SVP Corporate Development, Collabera Digital
"We partner with PCB to find us special assets in the European IT services marketplace. Their deep network of industry leaders and corporate finance coverage in the technology services space helped immensely in gathering traction, delivering the brief and bringing the right businesses to the table. Ultimately, PCB were instrumental in providing support throughout the transaction and remained centre stage across important negotiations, helping achieve the right outcome for all parties involved."
Senior VP Legal & Commercial EMEA, Insight
"We partner with PCB to find us special assets in particular market segments of Consulting and Digital Services. The PCB Partners have worked at senior levels in our industry and indeed have entrepreneurs in their firm, that have successfully built and sold their own consulting businesses. This first-hand experience, their technology domain expertise and their deep network of industry contacts, is a fundamental factor of their success. They always deliver to the brief quickly and discreetly, that ultimately has led in 2020 to two acquisitions in our UK region bolstering our Cloud capability and our Financial Services industry group."
Senior Partner and Head of M&A, Reply S.p.A
"Congratulations Ben on this deal. We can all be very proud of this deal that will set the scene in the digital market in Italy, creating a new powerful champion for the digital growth of my country"
CEO, Atos Italia
"We have been working with PCB Partners to accelerate our development in the UK. They brought a deep knowledge of the consulting market in the UK, which helped us to accelerate the screening and initiate meaningful conversations with relevant targets. And they added continuously value during the execution of the deal, securing the process until the closing. I look forward working with the team on new opportunities."
Strategic Development Director, Wavestone
"We engaged PCB to assist us sourcing a distinct target asset in a specific segment. The task was essential to BIP's strategy to plug a gap in its capability to drive growth and momentum in key markets. It needed to be done discreetly and at pace, but with utmost professional qualification. Ben and Brett’s knowledge covers the gamut of the consulting market with deep and strong relationships with key mid-size European consulting assets. The PCB team delivered to the brief with a level of service that fully satisfied BIP and the firm would not hesitate in re-engaging to help in future critical activity"
Chief Executive Officer, Bip Consulting
"ECI successfully sold Edenhouse, the UK’s largest independent SAP consultancy, to Accenture in February of 2021. PCB Partners were instrumental in brokering the vital early stages of the transaction, by bringing the two parties together and ensuring the interests of all parties were aligned up front and early on in the process. This was an important and valuable exercise for ECI that ultimately led to a very successful outcome for ourselves, the founder and major shareholder in the business and Accenture."
Partner, ECI Partners
"We use PCB as a trusted partner with specialised expertise. They work closely with our key stakeholders and have a strong understanding of our business. We have seen on many M&A strategic assignments that PCB has an intimate network and sector insights that we can leverage to inform our executive decisions."
Managing Director UK&I, Middle East & Africa, HPE
"PCB partners is one of the few M&A specialists having an accurate vision on how trends currently at work in the company transformation value chain should be read. From my industrial investor standpoint, I trust their capacity to originate the right deal situations to fit our expansion strategy and advise us on the best stance to smoothly close them."
Senior Managing Director, OnePoint
"Proxima is a world-leading procurement and supply chain consultancy. In 2019, we decided to look at all the exit options for shareholders to provide liquidity and also support the business in its future growth ambitions. We appointed Tim Farazmand and his team at PCB Partners as Management Advisors to the team because they understood the sector and had deep experience of the private equity community. They provided valuable insights into private equity and helped the management team evaluate all options; in 2021 Proxima completed a corporate recapitalisation."
Chairman, Proxima Group
"Whether you are pro-actively planning to sell your company or have an interested party unexpectedly reach out you will need a partner that takes the time to truly understands you, your business and the process. I cannot recommend The PCB team highly enough for their professionalism, diligence, and real-world experience. Not only did Brett and the team help me navigate the complexity of the process and the mechanics behind the deal they ensured the deal was right for the right reasons - cultural fit, shared values, future sustainability, and growth. PCB were an integral part of getting a great deal over the line - from introduction to completion."
Dean Gray – Previous Founder and CEO of Graymatter and now proud Partner of Reply Graymatter