Corporate Development Teams
We support corporate development teams that have a clear acquisition strategy and need more qualified targets than their own capacity allows. We map the market, approach owners confidentially and support the transaction through letter of intent and diligence.
What we hear most often
“Our pipeline is the same list everyone else has.”
“We have the strategy but not the bandwidth.”
“Founders are wary of large acquirers.”
“Every deal has to survive internal approval.”
How we help
Thesis-to-target mapping
We translate the acquisition strategy into precise criteria and build a complete, tiered universe of companies that meet them.
Confidential outreach
We contact owners on your behalf without naming your company until there is interest and you have agreed to proceed.
Prepared introductions
Each qualified meeting comes with a company profile, the owner’s stated priorities and guidance on how to conduct the first conversation.
Transaction and divestiture support
We support valuation, letters of intent and diligence coordination, and we run sale processes for business units you decide to divest.
Working together
Extending the corporate development team
Corporate acquirers often know exactly what they want to buy: a capability, a customer segment, a geography or a product line. The difficulty is finding every company that fits and reaching owners who are not looking to sell. We act as an extension of the internal team for that work, while acquisition decisions, integration planning and internal approvals remain with you.
Our platform identifies companies that meet the criteria, including those with little public profile, and builds a working profile of each. Our bankers then approach owners directly and confidentially. Because target lists refresh daily, the pipeline reflects companies that have recently grown into scope or changed leadership.
Approaching founders well
Founders of smaller companies respond to an approach that shows understanding of their business and respect for what they have built. We explain why your company is interested, what would likely happen after a transaction and how a conversation could proceed without commitment.
- Initial outreach is anonymous unless you choose otherwise.
- Owner information is shared only with the owner’s agreement.
- Every contact and response is recorded and reported to your team.
Buy-side fees are results-based, tied to qualified meetings delivered and to completed transactions.
Supporting the business case
Internal approval depends on a clear rationale and a realistic price. For each priority target, we provide an informed view of its scale, market position and likely valuation range, so that leadership can decide early whether a conversation is worth pursuing. When a target proceeds, we help structure the letter of intent and coordinate diligence alongside your legal, finance and integration teams.
We also advise corporate clients on the other side of the portfolio, running sale processes for business units that no longer fit the strategy.
Relevant services
Buy-Side Advisory & Acquisition Search
Buy-side M&A advisory and proprietary acquisition search for corporate acquirers and private equity sponsors, with confidential outreach to business owners.
Learn moreValuation Advisory
Indicative valuation ranges for owners, boards and acquirers planning a transaction. For decision-making only; not fairness opinions or tax appraisals.
Learn moreSell-Side Advisory
Sell-side M&A advisory for founder-owned, family-owned and sponsor-backed B2B companies: preparation, buyer outreach, negotiation and closing.
Learn moreFrequently asked questions
Will owners know which company is interested?
Not until you decide. Our outreach describes the acquirer in general terms, and your company is named only after an owner expresses interest and you agree to proceed.
Can you help us evaluate a target we have already identified?
Yes. We can prepare an indicative valuation, advise on approach and structure, and support the letter of intent and diligence.
Do you advise on divestitures?
Yes. We run sale processes for non-core business units and subsidiaries, reaching strategic and financial buyers in North America and cross-border.
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.