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The Investment Certificate is the answer to the question that many business owners ask themselves: “Can my company really interest an investor?”
After running your business for a long time, you may be wondering about :
- its long-term viability
- the quality of your management
- internal organization
- the quality of your products/services
- the quality of your business project
- compliance with the regulations in force
If you are in this situation, we advise you to have your company certified as a “Sustainable Investment”.
The experts of Actoria Conseil with multi-sector and multidisciplinary skills will carry out a first audit, a phase of control of recommendations as well as a second audit before attributing you the Certificate of Sustainable Investment.
The Preparation
The purpose of this preparatory phase is to make an initial analysis of the company’s results and its fundamentals.
Economic diagnosis
After an initial work session to gather the necessary documents and information, we will proceed with an in-depth financial and economic diagnosis of the company which will focus on :
- analysis of business results over 3 years
- analysis of financial results over 3 years
- the business case
- financial strategy analysis
Business plan
After a working session in order to gather the necessary documents and information, we will carry out a business plan of your company in order to define your medium and long-term business project.
In addition, a market and competition analysis will be conducted.
This mission will then consist of projecting the company in its economic, legal and financial environment.
Several provisional budgets will be established in connection with the general accounting.
Valuation
After a working session to gather the necessary documents and information, we will carry out a valuation of your company in order to define the value of the company before the audit.
An economic balance sheet will first be established taking into account the necessary adjustments.
Based on a selection of methods, the weighted average value of the company will be determined.
The first audit
After a working session in order to gather the necessary documents and information, we will proceed to the complete audit of the company:
I. Audit of the cycle: fixed assets
1/. Audit procedure for non-valuable and intangible fixed assets
2/. Audit procedure for tangible fixed assets
3/. Audit procedure for financial fixed assets
II. Audit of the cycle: purchasing – supply
1/. The purchasing-supply function
2/. Aims and objectives
3/. Control of the phases of the purchasing cycle
III. Procedure and audit of the sales cycle
1/. The different types of sales
2/. Services Stakeholders
3/. Organizational aspects
IV. Inventory Audit
1/. Basic steps of the inventory audit mission
2/. Methodology of inventory audit by physical observation
V. Audit of the HR cycle: social audit
1/. Definition and roles
2/. Structures and fields of action
3/. Approaches and focus of the social audit
VI. Audit of Corporate Treasury Operations
1/. Overview of internal treasury control
2/. The conditions of exercise of the treasury audit
3/. Examples of detour techniques
4/. Special procedures and reviews
5/. Final consistency check
VII. Production audit
1/. Production cycle
2/. Quality policy
3/. Consistency and productivity
VIII. Legal audit
1/. Corporate legal secretariat
2/. Management and contractual policy
3/. Management and industrial and intellectual policy
4/. Insurance audit
IX. Environmental audit
The complete audit of the company takes the form of a comprehensive report showing the strengths and weaknesses of the company.
Control of the recommendations
A certification procedure with an evaluation grid is set up and defined based on the conclusions of the audit report.
The evaluation grid allows a classification in 3 categories of the recommendations resulting from the audit report.
The “green light” recommendations are to be implemented on an optional basis and without any obligation.
The “orange light” recommendations must be applied without non-compliance leading to a failure of certification unless there is a very large number of these “orange lights”.
The “red light” recommendations must be followed.
Actoria’s experts accompany the client in the implementation of the recommendations and ensure a complete follow-up of the management during this transitional period.
The second Audit
After a working session to gather the necessary documents and information, we will proceed to a new complete audit of the company.
This audit, which is less extensive than the first one, aims to verify compliance with the recommendations, particularly in red and orange.
During this audit, Actoria Conseil’s experts will verify that the red recommendations have been corrected and that significant improvements have been made to the orange recommendations.
This second audit is usually much shorter than the first.
However, it will include a new economic and financial diagnosis as well as a financial valuation to determine the new value of the company.
The 2nd audit is the subject of a detailed report.
The Certification
On the basis of the 2nd audit report, the corrections made to the company’s main weaknesses will allow a Sustainable Investment Certificate to be issued.
This certificate will have many advantages when you decide to sell your business:
- The main weaknesses of your company will have been corrected.
- You will know the objective value of your company before and after certification. Certification results in an average increase in value of 10 to 15%. A new valuation will be established at this stage.
- You will have a very effective working document to present your companies to investors. As such, Actoria Conseil incorporates free of charge to its certification service, the writing of a complete presentation file of your company.
- It will be easy for you to reduce the liability guarantee to the strict minimum.
- The duration of the investor’s audit will be reduced and above all you will be protected from the discovery of a risk in your management by the investor.
FAQ
What services does Actoria provide?
Actoria specializes in mergers and acquisitions advisory for small and mid-sized businesses. Our services include company sales, succession planning, buy-side and sell-side mandates, business valuation, financial diagnostics, investor sourcing, negotiation support and full transaction execution until closing.
Who does Actoria work with?
We support SME owners, family-business leaders, shareholders, entrepreneurs, private investors, and corporate groups seeking to acquire or divest businesses in Europe and North Africa.
In which countries does Actoria operate?
Actoria has local teams in Switzerland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Morocco and Tunisia, and manages cross-border deals across Europe, Africa and the Middle East through an international buyer network.
How many potential buyers are in Actoria’s network?
Our proprietary network includes more than 6,500 qualified industrial buyers, strategic acquirers and financial investors, allowing us to match sellers with high-quality counterparties.
Does Actoria support confidential business sales?
Yes. Confidentiality is fundamental to our process. All discussions, documentation and buyer approaches are handled discreetly to protect the interests of the seller and the business.
What industries does Actoria cover?
We advise companies across multiple sectors, including industrial production, manufacturing, services, IT and digital, healthcare, logistics and distribution, construction, and specialized B2B services.
What is the typical size of businesses Actoria represents?
We primarily advise SMEs with revenues generally ranging from CHF/EUR 2 million to 100 million, depending on jurisdiction and market.
How does Actoria determine the value of a business?
We perform detailed financial and strategic analysis using multiple valuation methods, including discounted cash flows, market multiples, asset-based methods, and sector benchmarking.
How long does a business sale process take?
A standard transaction typically takes 6 to 12 months depending on market conditions, buyer interest, company complexity and diligence requirements.
Why choose Actoria as an M&A advisor?
With over 20 years of experience, a senior advisory team, a structured methodology, and an extensive network of qualified buyers, Actoria delivers independent advice, tailored execution and strong transaction results for SME owners.
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They trust us
Actoria has swiftly identified the inefficiencies in our company’s processes, proposed optimizations, and implemented them effectively. Furthermore, Actoria has provided outstanding support throughout all stages of our company’s transfer to a group within our industry. This includes preparing our company, identifying potential buyer partners, and negotiating up to the point of the partner’s capital entry. Actoria delivered expert negotiation skills and secured a valuable partner for us.
We were quite anxious to find a solution, as my health was deteriorating rapidly. Actoria’s consultant played a crucial role in the successful completion of my company’s sale. Their involvement was essential in executing this delicate project, as it impacted our daily operations. This project, which was close to my heart and increasingly necessary, was made possible thanks to the decisive momentum provided by Actoria.
First, Actoria conducted a thorough assessment of our company’s strengths and weaknesses, and then suggested incorporating these insights into our management approach to enhance our company’s value. Actoria led this project alongside my entire management team, enabling the involvement of all key personnel, and swiftly implementing a solution that allowed an investor to enter our capital. This was complemented by the inclusion of some of my company’s executives and a bank.
I couldn’t be happier with the result, but I am especially pleased with my decision to work with Actoria. The success of this mission was the direct result of Actoria’s hard work and sophisticated professionalism on my business. From our first meeting through the reasonable preparation process, all phases of the transfer, legal and financial operations were managed by the Actoria team. Their skills were even more evident when the complexities of this transaction were at its peak.
Hiring Actoria made the difference to achieve my original goal and move on to my next professional challenge. Selling a company like AMR in this market has not been an easy task. Actoria has demonstrated perseverance in identifying good buyers with knowledge of my industry in order to continue the development of my business, and has provided professional advice throughout the process.
The company’s sales process was a lengthy and challenging journey. The professional support from Actoria made this endeavor much more manageable. I would like to extend special thanks to the consultants from Switzerland and France for their highly effective collaboration. Your consultants proposed creative solutions during the negotiations, which effectively overcame significant obstacles in order to finalize the agreement. Their experience, knowledge, and professionalism played a crucial role in the success of this transaction.