Over the last 10 years global M&A activity increased by 150%, with the average  transaction value more than doubling. The Russian economy is moving  even more quickly: M&A transactions more than tripled in the same  period, while transaction amounts increased by a factor of more than nine.
 Financial crisis does not halt  the process of consolidation. In fact, it may even stimulate changes  to market sectors and encourage new players to enter the game. 
M&A  transactions are important, but their consequences for  both parties (and the newly formed entity) are no less critical.
 BEFL’s leading team of M&A  specialists can help with areas including:
- providing objective financial  and legal information on businesses to be acquired, including  business processes and risks
 
- planning a transaction so  that each party’s interests are taken into account, and each can achieve their short-term and long-term objectives
 
- ensuring maximum efficiency  from the transaction for the Client.
 
 We can act as consultants  throughout the M&A lifecycle: from the origination and planning of a transaction to completion and integration of the  businesses.
For vendors (sellers), we can offer services including:
- forming the preliminary  position with regard to selling or future partnership
 
- choosing potential purchasers  or partners
 
- preliminary evaluation
 
- analyzing the company’s  industry or sector, its position within it, and the ways of its  strategic development
 
- researching details of  operational activity and generating insight into competitive  advantage(s)
 
- forming a strategy for selling  or establishing a new partnership
 
- providing recommendations on  reducing risks that could be significant to potential purchasers or  partners
 
- drafting an information  memorandum.
 
For purchasers,  we can offer services including:
- researching and identifying  companies that might be interested in selling (in whole or in part)
 
- gauging the merits of  purchasing a particular business, based on strategic ‘fit’ and  the risks involved in the transaction
 
- analyzing and estimating the  synergistic outcome of the transaction
 
- valuing the target business;  analyzing the reasoning behind the vendor’s own valuation
 
- preparing and executing  complex due diligence on the business to be acquired
 
- researching and drafting a  proposal for reducing risks.
 
Other  services benefiting both  vendors and purchasers include:
- managing the entire process of  acquiring or divesting a business (or any specific stage of the  process), including building a team and hiring consultants as  required
 
- drafting the preliminary  agreement
 
- structuring the transaction,  taking tax issues into account
 
- drafting final agreements and  contracts
 
- monitoring the activities of  the parties to the transaction
 
- help with negotiation, signing  agreements, contracts and buy-in.
 
 Since 2000 we have supported  over 250 M&A transactions, involving a total transacted amount of  over $1.5 bn. Over the past 5 years we helped manage over 100 transactions in the agricultural sector alone, involving a  total land area of 550,000 ha. We also specialize in sectors such as  food production, engineering, mining and transport. In geographical  terms, we offer extensive experience of M&A transactions in the  CIS territories (Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia etc).