In January 2024, Morten Jensen and Jesper Ditlevsen sold their business, JD Steel, to Lynx Equity, a Canadian Private Equity Fund who had made several Danish acquisitions in the past. Faqtum M&A served as M&A advisor to Jesper and Morten throughout the process.

We asked Jesper and Morten to share their best advice for other business owners considering selling their businesses.

From the outset, choose the right advisors

Initially we were very persuaded to engage with a different M&A firm who claimed to have a buyer for our business. Unfortunately, this turned out not to be the case and we lost not only money but also valuable time - 14 months - and a lot of frustrations. In hindsight, we should have chosen Faqtum M&A, even though their valuation of our business was slightly lower than what was proposed by the other firm.

Be ambitious but also realistic

Make an agreement with your advisor to aim high but at the same time maintain a realistic approach and align expectations. With Faqtum M&A, we secured a sale to an attractive and professional new owner and a transaction that matched our initial expectations.

Be patient and keep focus on business operations

A sales process is time consuming and includes periods when you feel like little progress is made. It is important to be patient and have trust in your M&A advisor acting on your behalf and securing the best possible outcome for you. You may request and expect to receive regular updates on progress from your advisor.

With Faqtum M&A at our side, we got a professional advisor who fully lived up to their promises. We were not just assigned a single person but had a strong team that collectively guided us through the process. We felt the entire team contributed with their understanding, expertise, resources, and network.

On another positive note, Faqtum M&A recommended the right M&A lawyer for our specific process.

Our advice if you are contemplating selling your business; start by having a coffee with Faqtum M&A.

Morten Jensen and Jesper Ditlevsen,
sellers of JD Steel

A few years back, my business partner and I started contemplating the sale of our company, SKS Application Service, and got the opportunity to participate in a seminar on ownership transition and valuation together with Faqtum M&A. The seminar was enriching and provided us with a solid introduction and fundamental understanding of what is required when you embark on an ownership transition process. We quickly realized how complex and different M&A is from our daily activities, where we provide software solutions to the public sector, and it became clear why it is crucial to engage with skilled, experienced and trustworthy advisors to manage and guide us through such a journey.

• M&A is complex, and it is impossible to understand everything, which is why trust in your advisors is paramount. Faqtum M&A guided us in every step of the way so that we understood each part and were comfortable in the decisions we made" said Jeppe Andersen, CEO and founder of SKS Application Service. 

Start by having your M&A advisor prepare a realistic valuation of your company. It is important to have aligned expectations when you decide upon selling your business. Step two, is developing a realistic business plan together with your M&A advisor and to reach out to the "right" buyers. In our case, the "right" buyer was found internationally, adding another dimension to the negotiation process.

Thanks to Faqtum M&A and our skilled M&A lawyer, we were on solid ground throughout the process, and I look forward to continue to manage SKS Application Service during the next phase.

Jeppe Andersen,
Seller of SKS Applikation Service ApS

"In planning the generational change in my company, Fontenay A/S, my board and I surveyed the market for advisors to manage the process.

After careful consideration and external recommendations, we chose Faqtum M&A. Of the M&A advisors we spoke with, Faqtum M&A was without comparison the best at understanding our wishes and needs.

Faqtum M&A was skilled at filtering out buyers who could not meet our expectations and presenting several serious and matching buyers to us, so we ended up with multiple options to choose from.

The whole process from the first meeting to closing has only taken seven months and has been without any hiccups.

Faqtum M&A has vast experience and has been a good sparring partner when it came to the tough decisions.

I can only recommend Faqtum M&A as a partner when it comes to generational succession and selling a business.

The sooner you get them involved, the more precise the process becomes."

Uffe de Fontenay,
seller of Fontenay A/S

"For me, participating in a Faqtum seminar was a decisive turning point. Afterwards, I contacted Faqtum M&A and suggested we meet at my company so they could get an impression of the business.

After another couple of months of reflections, I contacted Faqtum M&A again and received a concrete proposal. Shortly thereafter, they came back with a potential buyer. Things simply moved so quickly. I had braced myself for patience and thought it would take at least a year. But now was the time. Seize the opportunity when it presents itself.

Now the sale is complete, and I can look back on a good, albeit busy time with a highly professional partner in Faqtum M&A. They are exceptionally kind and helpful, and you get the impression that they are almost working on your project 24/7. I have been consistently guided by the hand through the extensive process of transferring a company.

If you're harboring the same thoughts I did, then contact Faqtum M&A and move forward. It's a truly good experience."

Karen Søgaard,
seller of Karema Foods A/S

"We have long looked at expanding our market position in the Swedish market. But managing an acquisition process - especially outside the home country's borders - required a strong and experienced advisor.

We have reached our goal, and with the new acquisition, Flightcases International A/S consolidates all its Swedish activities in Spectrum Cases AB, becoming one of the largest suppliers of professional cases in Sweden.

Thanks to Faqtum M&A for assisting me and us in this process. You have simply been unsurpassed!"

Keld Wedell Seerup,
CEO and owner of Flightcases International A/S

"Faqtum M&A has acted as our advisor in the sale of Schilling A/S.

Together with our lawyer, they have ensured that we achieved a satisfactory outcome and provided us with the necessary comfort throughout the negotiations with the buyer, the US-based listed company TSS, which is highly experienced in corporate acquisitions.

Faqtum M&A receives our warmest recommendations."

Jesper Schilling,
co-owner of Schilling A/S