Template for both a buyer's list and initial request list

What up guys/gals?

Hope everyone had some-type of decent holiday break, although most probably worked.

So, I started at boutique shop ( 5 people) a few months ago, who historically completed deals in the $5-$10mm range. Additionally, most of the deals the firm completed in the past were through referrals. So no traditional sell-side process and little financial modeling.

As such, we are getting into bigger deals ( >$30mm) and the MD has tasked me, to create a standard template for sending an initial request list to the client after the engagement letter has been signed, a buyer's list and if also a model set-up.

I have started to create a general template for all three after using WSO's search bar, Google and other templates from different sources, however, I just wanted to see if I could get anymore input.

Thanks,

4 Comments
 
Best Response

There's not going to be a buyers list template as who you approach will depend on the client and their industry. As for financial modeling templates, CapIQ has several as does pretty much every financial modeling training program. Most are vertical models (i.e. they build everything onto one tab), which I cannot stand, but that can be easily fixed by you. As far as diligence lists go, I would sort them by functional area (e.g. finance, legal, HR, etc.). I started at a boutique and did the whole Googling thing myself and was satisfied with what I found. As you get more deals under your belt, you can modify your initial diligence list as you start seeing the same requests from potential buyers pop up time and time again. I hope that helps at least somewhat. Good luck.

 

Thanks for responding. It does help, like originally mentioned in the initial post, I have started creating (piecing together templates) just didn't know if there was anything else. Searching through WSO forums does help. Didn't realize the information on here.

It also helps, with a sanity check, I keep thinking, "how would the bigger firms do it and is there a need to do that extra work?"

I am also going to break-out the diligence list by corporate function.

 

Honestly, the way bigger banks do it is just reusing what they did in the past, and if one group doesn't have it, they ask another. Bigger banks aren't exactly the most original.

Just one small tip, if you don't mind me giving it: try to always add value. Your MD will certainly notice, especially since you're at a small firm. I would piece together what you find online and then try to think and make a few of your own additions. Bring this to your MD and walk him/her through how you put the list together. Try to offer up your opinion (e.g. "I think that we really need to focus on supply chain DD because our clients are all manufacturers."). This goes a long way. Good luck,

 

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