INDEPENDENT CAPITAL ADVISORY FOR BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS
Better acquisitions build a stronger New Zealand.
The Multiple Co is an independent capital advisory firm for business acquisitions - bringing institutional-grade discipline to New Zealand’s $1M–$20M deal market.
We work only with buyers, assessing the business and its capital structure together, helping capable buyers acquire well and fund smartly.
Business Acquisitions Auckland
OUR PHILOSOPHY
Why capital structure comes first.
Business Acquisitions Auckland New Zealand
Most buyers ask "will the bank give me a loan for this business?" We start with "what can this business carry?"
A loan can be approved and still leave the business carrying the wrong mix of debt. When an acquisition is built around getting the loan, the earnings are stretched thin and the business spends years paying for its own purchase.
Our philosophy is that after you acquire the business, the earnings have three jobs:
Service the business debt
Pay you a fair income as the owner
Leave money to reinvest in the business
Your capital structure is how the purchase is paid for: bank debt, vendor finance and your own equity.
We design it around those three jobs first, then take it to the lenders and capital providers suited to the deal.
Lender criteria still apply. We make sure the deal works on both sides of the approval.
WHAT WE DO
Our Services
Two questions every buyer should answer before they commit.
Acquisition Assessment:
Is this the right business?
Screen the business before you spend on due diligence.
A pre-due diligence screening that tests the earnings, flags the risks and checks whether the deal can carry the capital it needs. You find out before spending thousands on due diligence for the wrong business.
Learn about our Acquisition Assessment service offering.
Acquisition Capital Advisory:
Is this the right capital structure?
Capital structured around the acquisition opportunity.
We work out how much:
Debt the business can carry
Design the right capital structure - across senior debt, vendor finance and equity
Run the capital raise - raising the debt from the banks, non-bank lenders and private credit providers suited to the deal - through to settlement.
Learn about our Acquisition Capital Advisory service offering.
Business Acquisitions Auckland
BOOK A CONSULTATION WITH US.
How it works.
Screen the business. Our Acquisition Assessment tests the earnings, flags the risks and checks whether the deal can carry its capital structure.
Design the capital structure. We work out what the business can carry and the right mix of senior debt, vendor finance and equity, leaving room for your income and reinvestment.
Run the capital raise. We raise the debt from the banks, non-bank lenders and private credit providers suited to the transaction, and assess the term sheets with you.
Settle with confidence. We keep the capital provider, your lawyer and your accountant aligned through to settlement.
Use both services together, or start with whichever you need.
Business Acquisitions Auckland
Who we work with.
Management buy-outs
You've helped manage the business for years and have the opportunity to own it. We assess the acquisition and design a capital structure that works for the transaction and for the business you'll run after settlement.
First-time buyers
Executives and operators buying their first business. Experienced professionals stepping into ownership, with a clear view of the risks and the right capital structure from the start.
Business owners acquiring to expand
Established owners buying a competitor, supplier or complementary business to add revenue, capability or market reach. We assess the target and design a capital structure that works for the combined business, without overloading the one you already own.
Buying a business in New Zealand?
Talk to us before you make an offer.
Business Acquisitions Auckland
FAQs about The Multiple Co. services
What is capital advisory for a business acquisition?
It is advice on how a business purchase should be paid for. A capital adviser works out how much debt the business can sustainably carry, designs the mix of senior debt, vendor finance and equity, and then runs the capital raise, raising the debt from banks, non-bank lenders and private credit providers.
How is a capital adviser different from a business finance broker?
A finance broker typically finds a loan for the deal as it's presented.
A capital adviser starts earlier, with whether the business can carry the debt, pay you fairly and still have room to reinvest, and designs the capital structure before any lender is approached. Lender approval is the minimum standard, not the goal.
Is The Multiple Co. a business broker?
No. Business brokers typically act for sellers. We work only with buyers on business acquisitions between $1M and $20M.
Do you lend the capital yourselves?
No. The Multiple Co. is not a lender.
We design the capital structure, then approach trading banks, non-bank lenders and private credit providers on your behalf.
How much debt can a business carry when you buy it?
It depends on whether the earnings can cover three things: the debt repayments, an income for you as the owner, and money to reinvest in the business.
We work this out from normalised earnings and stress-test it against higher rates and softer trading before any capital provider is approached.
How should the purchase of a business be structured?
Usually through a mix of senior debt, vendor finance and your own equity.
The right mix depends on the earnings, the assets and the deal terms. Getting the capital structure right first decides how the business performs after settlement, not just whether the deal completes.
How do I know if a business is worth buying before due diligence?
Test whether the earnings hold up once add-backs are checked, how dependent the business is on the owner and its top customers, and whether the deal can support the capital structure you need.
Our Acquisition Assessment does this before you commit to the cost of full due diligence.
Do you handle legal and commercial due diligence?
No. Legal and financial due diligence stay with your lawyer and accountant. We work alongside them on deal viability and acquisition capital.