Calm advice for decisive moments
Driftstone Corporate Finance stands beside the owners of private companies as they sell, acquire, and secure new equity or debt. We bring a steady hand and a clear view to choices that are rarely simple and never small.
What we do
Two areas of work that fit together, so a sale can be weighed honestly against a raise. Switch between them to see the services in each.
Mergers & acquisitions
We represent owners parting with a share or the whole of their business, and the companies and investors looking to buy. The work runs from an early read on value to the day the transaction closes.
Read about M&ASelling your company
A carefully run sale that invites real competition among buyers suited to your business.
Selling a stake
Bringing in an investor for part of the company while you keep a share and a say.
Finding acquisitions
Identifying and approaching companies that fit your plans, whether or not they are for sale.
Passing on ownership
Buyouts by management or transfers within a family, set up to last.
Capital markets
Investor money and lending for established companies that are expanding, acquiring, buying out a shareholder, or putting their borrowing on a better footing.
Read about capital marketsEquity investment
Minority or majority stakes taken by buyout funds and family investors.
Bank lending
Term loans and credit lines, negotiated across more than one bank.
Private credit
Bigger or looser loans from specialist funds, with the price made clear.
Funding an acquisition
Debt and equity secured before you bid, so your offer can be relied on.
What moves a valuation
Buyers rarely value two companies the same way, even in one industry. Move each slider to describe your business and see where the needle settles. Nothing you choose is saved or sent.
Who provides the capital
Each source of money has its own appetite, price, and expectations. Knowing which to approach, and in what order, is much of the work.
| Provider | What they provide | What they look for | Relative cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial banks | Term loans, revolving credit, and equipment finance | Steady cash flow, collateral, and conservative borrowing levels | Lowest |
| Private credit funds | Unitranche and senior loans beyond typical bank limits | Predictable earnings and a clear path to repayment | Moderate |
| Junior capital providers | Subordinated and mezzanine debt, sometimes with warrants | Room in the capital structure and a credible growth plan | Higher |
| Private equity firms | Minority or majority equity | Growth potential, strong management, and a route to exit in several years | Highest |
| Family offices | Patient equity, often as a minority investor | Alignment with the owners and a long-term outlook | Varies |
| Strategic investors | Equity from companies in related fields | Commercial ties, shared technology, or access to new markets | Varies |
One step at a time
Each engagement moves through five stages that we agree with you at the outset. Each one rests on the one before it.
- Stage 1
Listening
Your goals, your company, and your timing, described in your own words.
- Stage 2
Diagnosis
A frank reading of value and of what buyers or investors will question.
- Stage 3
Groundwork
Analysis, written materials, and a data room assembled ahead of any outreach.
- Stage 4
Outreach
Quiet approaches to well-matched parties, then offers compared and improved.
- Stage 5
Closing
Diligence steered, documents agreed, and the transaction completed.
Questions we hear first
Is it too soon to speak with an adviser?
Rarely. Many of our most useful conversations happen two or three years before a transaction, when there is still time to strengthen the drivers that matter most to buyers and investors.
Do you only handle company sales?
No. Acquisitions and capital raises are just as much a part of our work. Some clients arrive asking about one and choose another, once they see that selling a stake or refinancing suits them better.
What size of company do you work with?
Established, profitable private companies, from family businesses to sponsor-backed groups. Size matters less to us than an owner facing a real decision.
Will our conversation stay private?
Yes. Everything you tell us is confidential, and we are happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement before you share any details.
What does a first meeting involve?
An unhurried discussion, usually by video or phone, about your company and the choices in front of you. It costs nothing, commits you to nothing, and should leave you with a clearer picture of the paths open to you.
Start with a conversation
Drop us a line describing the business and the decision on your mind. A senior adviser will answer personally, and everything you share stays confidential.