Since inception, this service has been effective for a number of diverse clients. Prior to starting my own business in 1984, I spent fifteen years with Computer Sciences Corporation, establishing and managing their successful acquisition and divestiture program. Having been involved in a great many searches for acquisition candidates in various business areas, I understand the internal time and effort involved in such a task, and the possibility, particularly in a competitive environment, of not finding appropriate companies.

It is extremely productive for buyers to obtain assistance in their ongoing search efforts, even if these efforts are the prime responsibility of a full-time individual or staff. Such assistance should come from a dedicated, determined consultant, working for only one client in a particular area of interest.

There are a great many intermediaries in today's merger and acquisition community, most of whom represent sellers, and most of whom depend on a "shotgun" approach to potential buyers. Every potential buyer is the recipient of large volumes of mail and numerous telephone solicitations describing seller candidates. Typically, these candidates do not even approximate buyers' carefully thought out specifications.

There is little value in buyer companies undertaking individual visits to potential acquisition candidates without adequate advance preparation to establish the characteristics, desirability and genuine "for sale" status of the candidate in question. With current activities taking up so much time, buyers also need to avoid time consuming meetings with candidate companies that are really not for sale, or whose price expectations are unreasonable.

Against this background, I offer my CORPORATE ACQUISITION SEARCH SERVICE™, based upon individually established and narrowly defined criteria.

• On commencing the assignment, I meet with clients to review specific candidate details, such as industry, market niche, size, location, base purchase price, and other criteria against which the search, and subsequent negotiations, will be conducted.
• In analyzing specific situations, I concentrate on summarizing the characteristics of the business; reporting on past, present, and future activities; arriving at a judgment as to the quality of management; reporting on the ownership structure; assessing the "for sale" status, both in general and in relation to clients and their likely purchase considerations; considering the future potential of the business, ongoing management attitudes, and the likely reaction to supervisory input from a new owner.
• The analysis work arrives at a judgement as to the desirability and acquirability of the business and the likelihood that the transaction would be completed.
• Clients receive continuing reports summarizing the results of all telephone conversations and meetings.
• As soon as a client believes that the prospect company is attractive from the standpoint of fit and price, I gather such additional information as might be required; arrange and attend preliminary meetings; and subsequently assist in financial and other due diligence reviews, and negotiations.

• The search is conducted under client control, and is done in an absolutely EXCLUSIVE, CONFIDENTIAL, PROFESSIONAL, and PROPRIETARY manner. Since the service is highly personal in nature, I never compete one client against another. I guarantee not to accept an assignment to search for similarly defined companies on behalf of another client during the period of my assignment.
• Information is gathered exclusively by personal contact with principals of the potential seller company.
• With a minimum expenditure of time, I provide a good third party assessment as to the ultimate potential for completion of a transaction with a candidate company.
• Search work concentrates clearly on the acquisition opportunity: reporting on characteristics, operating data and ownership structure; providing a considerate, comparative judgement as to its desirability and acquirability; and undertaking sufficient preparatory work to ensure that a meeting between my client and principals of the potential seller company only takes place with the optimum chance of success.

Monthly and other term fees are available, and represent the most economically sound approach for clients. Monthly fees are calculated to meet the needs of individual clients, and are based upon relative expenditures of effort. Clients are also responsible for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

The CORPORATE ACQUISITION SEARCH SERVICE™ is extremely time dependent. No more than two or three assignments are ever accepted at the same time. Concrete search results are apparent within two to three months after commencement of each assignment. This necessitates only a minimal commitment on the part of clients, following which they will be completely satisfied, or terminate the search.