Sell-Side Advisory Mandate for an Industrial Metal Manufacturing Company

Mandate Description

The mandate consisted of a sell-side advisory assignment carried out on behalf of a French industrial group specialised in the processing and manufacture of metal components for industrial and construction applications.

The company, based in France, operated a high-capacity production site including a large industrial facility and several assembly lines.

The assignment aimed to prepare the transfer of ownership in the context of the main shareholder’s retirement, while ensuring employment continuity and the transmission of technical know-how within the company.

Key Issues

The primary challenge of the mandate lay in the strategic positioning of a capital-intensive company characterised by a substantial industrial footprint and significant tangible assets.

The assignment required the modelling of indicative financial scenarios based on projected cash flows and market benchmarks observed in the metallurgy sector, generally ranging between five and eight times EBITDA depending on company size, specialisation and level of industrial integration.

The objective of these analyses was to position the company within its competitive environment and support transactional discussions, without constituting a formal independent valuation.

Another key aspect involved the preparation of transaction documentation, including a briefing note, teaser and preliminary list of potential buyers, as well as coordination with legal and tax advisers.

The mandate was carried out in a context of generational transition and competitive market conditions, requiring a balanced technical, human and structured approach.

Approach and Results

The advisory team supported the shareholder and management throughout the transfer process.

• This included a financial review, preparation of a business plan and structuring of the sale mandate.
• On-site industrial visits were organised to assess production capacity, land value and key technical assets.
• The team ensured coordination among all stakeholders, including the shareholder, legal advisers, potential buyers and banking institutions, in order to facilitate the transaction process.
• The assignment resulted in a clear strategic positioning of the company, identification of relevant industrial buyers and completion of the sale under favourable conditions for the seller.

This transaction enabled the successful transfer of a family-owned business while preserving industrial know-how and valuing the human dimension of a regional player recognised for the quality of its metal manufacturing capabilities.