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Laurent CapitalMergers & Acquisitions

Buy-Side Advisory & Acquisition Search

We find, qualify and engage acquisition targets that are not for sale through an intermediary, then support the transaction through letter of intent and diligence. Our platform refreshes target lists daily, so the pipeline reflects the market as it is rather than as it was last quarter.

When to engage us

  • Your company has a defined acquisition strategy but no dedicated team to identify and contact owners at the necessary scale.
  • You are a private equity sponsor building a platform and need a steady flow of add-on candidates that fit a precise thesis.
  • Previous searches through intermediaries have produced only banked processes with crowded auctions and full valuations.
  • You want to enter an adjacent market, geography or capability and need to understand who the realistic targets are before committing.
  • The target segment is fragmented across many small, founder-owned companies that do not appear in standard databases.

How we run it

How we run an acquisition search

Most attractive companies in the lower middle market are not for sale at any given moment. Their owners are running the business, have not engaged a banker and will consider a transaction only if the right buyer approaches them in the right way. An acquisition search that relies on deals already in the market will see the same opportunities as every other buyer, at the same prices.

Our approach starts from the other direction. We identify every company that fits your criteria, learn enough about each to judge its suitability, and contact the owners directly. The work is systematic and persistent, because the timing of an owner’s interest is rarely predictable.

What the platform does, and what our bankers do

LC Scout identifies companies that match the thesis, including those with little public profile. LC Enrich assembles what can be learned about each one: ownership, leadership, scale indicators, customer base and signals such as founder age or recent leadership changes. LC Outreach manages confidential, personalized contact at a volume no internal team could sustain. Target lists refresh daily, so new entrants and changes in ownership are captured as they occur.

Judgment remains with people. Our bankers decide which companies to prioritize, write and review the approaches, speak with owners before any introduction and advise you on how to conduct the first conversation. Owners respond to a credible, informed approach, and a poorly handled first contact can close a door permanently.

Discretion on both sides

  • Your company is not named in initial outreach unless you choose otherwise.
  • Owner information is shared with you only once the owner has agreed to a conversation.
  • Every interaction is recorded, so you can see the full history of the search at any point.

Fees for buy-side work are results-based, tied to qualified meetings delivered and to a successful transaction, so our compensation follows the outcomes you are paying for.

What we deliver

Acquisition criteria and thesis

A written definition of what a good target looks like: size, geography, customer profile, capabilities, ownership and deal structure, agreed with your team before any outreach begins.

Target universe

A comprehensive map of companies that meet the criteria, built with LC Scout and reviewed by our bankers. The list is refreshed continuously as companies grow, change hands or come into scope.

Company intelligence profiles

For each priority target, a profile prepared with LC Enrich covering products, customers, estimated scale, ownership, leadership and any signals of succession or capital needs.

Confidential owner outreach

Direct, personal outreach to owners through LC Outreach, written and supervised by our team. Your identity is disclosed only when an owner has expressed interest and you have agreed.

Qualified meetings and pipeline reporting

Introductions to owners who are open to a conversation, prepared with background and talking points, and a regular report on every target’s status and the reasons behind it.

Transaction support

Valuation perspective, letter of intent drafting support, diligence coordination and negotiation through closing, alongside your legal and accounting advisors.

Timeline

  1. 1

    Thesis and criteria

    Weeks 1–2

    We work with your leadership or deal team to define the acquisition rationale and screening criteria. We also agree how your identity will be presented and which companies are off limits.

  2. 2

    Market mapping

    Weeks 2–4

    We build and tier the target universe, then review it with you so that effort is concentrated where the fit is strongest. Early mapping often reshapes the thesis itself.

  3. 3

    Outreach

    Weeks 4–16

    Owners are contacted in waves, with messaging tailored to each company. Responses are qualified by our bankers before any introduction is made.

  4. 4

    Meetings and evaluation

    Weeks 6–24

    We arrange and prepare introductory meetings, collect preliminary information and help you decide which conversations merit an indication of value.

  5. 5

    Letter of intent to close

    Weeks 16–40

    For targets you choose to pursue, we support the letter of intent, manage the flow of diligence information and help negotiate terms through the purchase agreement.

Frequently asked questions

How is this different from receiving deal flow from investment banks?

Banked deals are offered to many buyers at once and are priced accordingly. A proprietary search reaches owners who have not started a process, which allows for a more direct relationship and, often, more flexibility on structure and timing.

How many targets will you contact?

It depends on the thesis. A narrow search may involve a few dozen companies; a broad add-on program may involve several hundred. We agree the scope at the outset and report on coverage throughout.

Will owners know who the buyer is?

Only when you decide. Initial outreach typically describes the buyer in general terms. Your name is shared once an owner has expressed interest and you have agreed to proceed.

Can you support us after a target is identified?

Yes. We advise on valuation and structure, support the letter of intent, coordinate diligence and help negotiate the purchase agreement alongside your counsel.

Related insights

Considering a sale, an acquisition or a recapitalization?

Conversations with Laurent Capital are confidential and carry no obligation. A senior member of the firm responds to every inquiry within one business day.

Start a confidential conversation

(650) 999-9845|info@laurent.capital