FaMAS Research Ltd · Birkirkara, Malta
Over 500 transactions p.a. Over 7,000 registered investors
Since 2007, FaMAS has supported corporate buyers with 360° M&A advisory. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience and an exceptionally broad range of deals and clients, we support you at every stage: we develop the right M&A strategy with you, align your organisation and processes up to board level, and guide you from deal research and IT through contract negotiation to PMI and recruiting. FaMAS also helps finance transactions of up to EUR 150 million – together with investors and with its own capital.
This helps buyers make better deals, and sellers and their advisors find new groups of buyers.
What we do
We help find better deals for investors and entrepreneurs
Leading M&A advisors and international accounting firms recommend FaMAS to their clients for investment research.
100% buy-side. FaMAS works exclusively for investors. Together with hand-picked partners, FaMAS helps finance transactions of EUR 5–150 million and also invests its own capital. These range from full acquisitions to minority stakes and shareholder loans.
From a sector search, through support and advice during the transaction process, to structuring and negotiating the offer with an option of co-financing, we stay with you until your transaction closes.
Our clients are investors and corporate buyers domiciled outside the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland).
Customer Benefits
What FaMAS Research offers you
Choose the group that describes you to see services, pricing and what you can expect from us.
Buyers & Investors
Off-market deal flow and target sector searches with up to 10x more opportunities.
Sellers & Business Owners
Free access to 7,000 registered, mostly corporate investors.
Advisors & Consultants
Multiply your investor universe, with fee sharing for referrals.
Recruiting Services
M&A, Private Equity, Turnaround and Corporate Finance positions, permanent and interim.
Corporate buyers and investors
A complete market overview of all target firms, with at least 75% of company owners or managers interviewed within 6 months, a competitor analysis and negotiation support.
Private Equity and institutional equity providers
Customised off-market search for buy-and-build strategies or unique add-ons, drawing on about 20 sourcing strategies tested since 1999.
Debt funds, mezzanine and financing providers
Tailored marketing and mailing options and road shows to 500 pre-screened M&A firms and corporate finance advisors, plus 12,500 direct corporate contacts.
Individual buyers and MBI/MBO candidates
Coaching, training and due diligence templates, with financing of up to 25x your own investment, plus international strategic partners to expand growth.
Services and pricing
| Features | Virtual Office for Deal Sourcing | Off-market Deal or Sector Search | Off-market Service | Opportunistic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum annual fee in EUR (subject to a fee agreement) | 30,000 | 16,000 | 6,000 | Zero |
| Probability of finding a matching company within a year (subject to an agreed profile) | 60–95% | 50–75% | 1–10% | 0–1% |
| Custom market research of a specific long-list of target companies | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| Market and competitor analysis and consultation | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| Regular personal consultation on active deals and progress | Bi-weekly | Bi-weekly | Monthly | – |
| Exclusivity on research for the individual investor | ✓ | ✓ | – | – |
| Active marketing to 2,500 intermediary firms in DACH up to 10 times a year | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Processing of NDAs on behalf of the client | ✓ | ✓ | EUR 500 each | – |
| Specialist investor road shows to visit companies or intermediaries | Quarterly, fees included | Once, fees extra | Extra fees and costs | Extra fees and costs |
| Monthly anonymous summary table of all active FaMAS deals | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access to up to 400 live deal opportunities a year | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Extra charge |
| Financing support on individual deals | ✓ | Extra charge | Extra charge | Extra charge |
| Transaction fee from (subject to a completed transaction) | To be discussed | EUR 100,000 | EUR 100,000 | EUR 120,000 |
For a detailed presentation, contact us by email or phone (see Contact).
Why off-market deals work better
More and better target matches
Targets are pre-screened against the investor profile. In our experience this raises the matching probability by 100–1,000% compared with an opportunistic approach.
Higher travel efficiency
With more time to evaluate, we can arrange 2–3 company visits in one trip instead of flying in for a single meeting.
More time for evaluation
Off-market sellers are usually not running a sale process, so investors have more time to assess the opportunity. This matters especially for first-time investors in Germany.
Better investment terms
Negotiating in private, without competing bidders, usually means a lower price, better terms and local deal financing that needs less capital from the investor.
Deal origination for foreign Private Equity funds
We market PE investors to the German-speaking deal community, screen deals and meet targets or their advisers, with about 1,200 such conversations a year. The service includes monthly update calls, structured activity reports and guidance on offer letters and transaction structure.
By our own and our clients’ estimates, it saves up to 80% of the fixed cost of even a one-person local office. To avoid conflicts, we serve a maximum of 5 PE funds at a time, each on an exclusive basis.
Target sector search for foreign corporate investors
- Define realistic search parameters: industry, product, size, profitability and financing need.
- Evaluate a long-list of usually 50–100 companies, prioritised by the investor.
- Approach target stakeholders directly (by our in-house professionals only).
- Introduction calls between investor and target.
- Travel planning and site visits to selected targets.
- Agree basic investment terms, followed by due diligence.
Large service firms typically charge over EUR 100,000 for this work. Ask us for a quote to compare.
Transaction advisory support
Where needed, FaMAS acts as project manager and coordinates legal, tax and industry specialists. FaMAS does not provide binding tax, legal or banking services, but helps you find suitable providers.
- Project coordination and domestic deal financing support
- Structured finance advisory and valuation of assets, debt and equity
- Long-term agreement (LTA) negotiations with German automotive OEMs
- Third-party industry experts for almost any sector
- Commercial due diligence and business development planning
- Market entry, work-permit and residence support
- Purchasing, operations and sales improvement specialists
- Headhunting for interim and permanent positions in the target company
Business owners wanting to sell
Reach strategic industrial buyers who understand your business and bring growth and development synergies.
Businesses seeking financing
Reach international financial investors with more flexible and attractive terms than banks.
Managers planning a management buy-out
Find international partners to help grow the business, plus FaMAS financing options for the transaction.
- Direct access to 7,000 FaMAS investors, about 80% of them corporates
- Access to a further 10,000 corporate investors through the FaMAS network
- Free consultation for sellers and business managers
- No fees for consultation, introduction and completion with FaMAS clients
Features and pricing for sellers and business owners
| Features | FaMAS Standard | FaMAS Catalyst Programme | FaMAS Qualified Advisory Partners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Access to FaMAS clients | Free | Free | Free |
| Initial consultation on financing or deal strategy | Free | Free | Free |
| Additional anonymous marketing to up to 10,000 investors | Not included | Included | Included |
| Deal marketing support for up to 12 months | Not included | Included | Included |
| Preparation of a deal summary (teaser) | Optional | Included | Included |
| Company presentation for investors | Not included | Not included | By specialist partner |
| Data room for investors | Not included | Not included | By specialist partner |
| Legal and contractual transaction documents | Not included | Not included | By specialist partner |
| On-site investor meetings and detailed negotiation support | Not included | Not included | By specialist partner |
| Advice on transaction documents | Not included | Limited | Full |
| FaMAS fees | Zero | Fixed annual fee | Set by specialist partner and scope |
| Duration of service | Unlimited | Up to 12 months | 6–18 months |
FaMAS does not provide sell-side advice itself. Where you need it, we recommend suitable service providers free of charge.
- Anonymous access to hand-picked investors and buyers from 90 countries, free of charge
- Free of charge for you, your clients and your suppliers
- FaMAS fee sharing for other consultants: we pay you
- Optional customised investor search for 12 months at a low flat rate
M&A and corporate finance advisors
Get a higher price for your deal from foreign investors, add our 7,000 registered investors and over 10,000 others to your universe, and gain introductions to new sell-side mandates. Matching is anonymous and professional, with no risk to your client’s business or the transaction.
Interim managers and management consultants
Help clients who need external capital, face a succession issue or could grow internationally. Free for your client, with the option of a fee for you.
Due diligence advisors: audit, legal and tax
Our foreign investors often need audit, legal or tax support that FaMAS does not provide, which creates additional work for you.
Banks and other lenders
Fresh equity improves your borrowers’ ratings and reduces risk in your loan book. We also support insolvency cases, free of charge for you and your debtor.
Supply chain managers
Reduce the risk of supply chain disruption by helping your suppliers expand, improve efficiency and overcome temporary cash problems.
Sales managers
Give your customers additional financing options and cash to buy your products or services.
What we look for
Size
Established companies with at least EUR 10 million revenue or 50 employees. Smaller companies only with high growth (over 25%) and at least EUR 1 million revenue in the previous year.
Industries
Any industry, including traditional sectors such as foundries.
Profitability
Any profitability, including loss-making, insolvent or bankrupt companies, provided they meet the minimum size.
Location
Headquarters or main business in Europe, excluding countries east of the EU border.
Recruiting for M&A, Private Equity, Turnaround Management and Corporate Finance
Deals depend on the people who source, execute and manage them. FaMAS Research recruits for permanent and interim positions across the transaction lifecycle, using the same network of investors, advisors and specialists that drives our deal flow.
M&A
Corporate development and M&A professionals for corporate buyers, investors and advisory firms, from analyst to director level.
Private Equity
Investment professionals and operating partners for funds, and management for portfolio companies.
Turnaround Management & Interim
Interim managers, CROs and restructuring specialists for companies in special situations, available at short notice.
Corporate Finance
CFOs, finance directors and corporate finance specialists for permanent and interim roles.
How we work
- Agree the role profile, timing and terms with you.
- Search our network and the market for suitable candidates.
- Pre-screen and interview candidates.
- Present a shortlist and arrange interviews.
- Support you through the offer and onboarding.
Fees on request. Please contact us to discuss a position.
About Us
Buy-side advisory since 2007
Since its first acquisition in 1995, the FaMAS management has advised on or invested in about 100 transactions. Each year we review over 500 transactions in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and present cases selectively to more than 7,000 registered investors.
Over 95% of our investment partners come from one of 90 countries, have no head office in Germany and seek strategic investment opportunities. Since 1999 the search for investments has been professionalised into more than 10 standardised procedures. Running costs are lower than those of an in-house employee, and effectiveness is 10–100 times higher, especially for off-market opportunities.
FaMAS does not provide sell-side advice or legal, financial or tax due diligence. Where these are needed, we recommend our cooperation partners.
Milestones
- 2007Founded as deal-by-deal investors with foreign partners
- 2010–11Shift to advisory and an international investor base of over 500
- 2014Over 400 deals screened a year in the DACH region
- 2017International cooperation network with over 700 partner firms
- 2018Over 2,500 registered international investors
- 2019Management buy-in service with deal flow and funding support
- 2022Over 5,000 qualified deal sourcing contacts in DACH
References
What investors say
Dimitrij and his team found a unique deal opportunity for us. It was a complicated and difficult process, which would have been much harder, maybe impossible, without his help.
FaMAS did a fantastic job coordinating and guiding us through the entire acquisition process. We would not have been able to do the investment without FaMAS.
It was the first time a professional service company helped us really understand the opportunity, avoid pitfalls and even advised us not to do a deal because of the risk and an unfavourable valuation.
Great service. Delivered always on time. Very flexible. Better service than most large professional firms for only a fraction of the cost.
Contact
Talk to us about your next acquisition or hire
Call or email us for a detailed presentation, a quote for a target search, or to discuss a position.
- Company
- FaMAS Research Ltd
- Address
- Tower Business Centre, 2nd Floor
Tower Street, Swatar
Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta - Phone
- +356 2546 6666
- info@famas-research.com
Legal
Imprint
FaMAS Research Ltd
Tower Business Centre, 2nd Floor, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta
Registered with the Malta Business Registry under company number C 95335
VAT number: MT27096003
Managing Director: Victoria Doerr
Phone: +356 2546 6666
Email: info@famas-research.com
Responsible for content: Victoria Doerr, address as above.
Photos: Unsplash (unsplash.com), used under the Unsplash License.
FaMAS Research Ltd does not provide legal, tax, audit or banking services. Information on this website does not constitute an offer or investment advice.
Privacy Policy
Controller
FaMAS Research Ltd, Tower Business Centre, 2nd Floor, Tower Street, Swatar, Birkirkara BKR 4013, Malta. Email: info@famas-research.com.
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