Managing an M&A project is a challenging task that tests the character of any business leader. The industry is a high-risk, high-reward undertaking and not for the faint-hearted. There are key stages in M&A that are critical to success. Firstly, quality research capabilities are fundamental, strong technical, and financial skills paramount, building strong client and investor relationships integral, and most importantly, intelligent negotiations which are collaborative versus adversarial. Operating in small and medium-sized markets, the most important facet of M&A is the ability to build trusting relationships with clients. These are companies built by founders with love and nurtured over decades. Parting with this legacy is an arduous, emotional decision for clients and M&A advisors have to be mindful of this.
Haig Capital has built a strong reputation in the Singapore M&A sector. Haig Capital is a boutique M&A advisory firm with more than 20 years of experience handling simple and complex transactions. For Haig, there is a social element to M&A. The company wants to help business owners find the right strategic partner and receive the best value for the companies they have nurtured for years.
Driving the Needed Innovation
M&A is an old industry and innovation is not easy to find. Haig's business model is founded on having a deep appreciation for the founders. At the heart of the Haig, model is spending time with founders to build a relationship based on mutual trust and transparency. In terms of the transaction, unlike other advisories that charge non-refundable retainer fees or absorb the risk of payment only on completion, Haig has introduced an innovative feature. To tackle the advisory's need to manage their own working capital needs and the client's conservative nature, Haig has introduced the "refundable retainer." Clients pay Haig a monthly retainer which is refundable and deducted from the final transaction fee when the project is completed.
Most clients consider this fair and honorable on the part of Haig. "'The refundable retainer fee' is something we've introduced into the market, and it's been a big success", highlights Anil Pradhan, Managing Partner at Haig Capital.
Spearheading Company's Operation
Haig Capital is spearheaded by Anil Pradhan who brings decades of experience in the M&A space. During his illustrious career, he has led the M&A practice across the Asia Pacific with some of the most renowned names in the world of business including Michelin, United Technologies (UTC), and Lafarge Holcim. He originally started his career in consulting. Anil left his corporate journey with the sole mission of helping SMEs derive value through divestment. He is a results-oriented professional who has demonstrated the ability to translate vision into action by combining effective communication and strong technical capabilities to inspire/motivate teams and build a collaborative approach to the M&A process. Haig Capital is further supported by a capable staff of seasoned specialists, ranging from senior executives to research and financial analysts and interns.
Haig Capital is a boutique M&A advisory firm focusing on aiding SME clients by ensuring they get the best value out of the business that they have nurtured for years
Haig recognises that investors attribute the true value of a company to the founder without whom there would be no company. "We form close personal bonds and a collaborative partnership with the founder. We move away from the transactional side of M&A and work in close partnership to deliver the value these founders deserve for all their years of hard work. An SME is diametrically opposite to how a corporate operates and unless advisories recognize this, they will always struggle to understand the DNA of a founder and how to successfully complete a transaction. Given my experience working with CEOs, we are the bridge between the CEO and the founder and that is where our value lies", shares Anil Pradhan.
"Haig Capital has an excellent track record in the Singapore market and is gaining momentum. We are not sector agnostic and currently focus on the Facilities Management, M&E Engineering, F&B Manufacturing, and Education sectors. We will be entering the Tech/Cybersecurity, Biotech, and ESG sectors specifically because these sectors are attracting significant attention and are also high-value transactions. The future is exciting for Haig. I believe that the true test of character is to follow your passion and work relentlessly in delivering value to clients. The cushy corporate jobs are the handcuffs that prevent one from realizing his/her dreams", concludes Anil Pradhan.
Anil Pradhan, Managing Partner
Anil is a strategic thinker with over 20 years of experience developing external growth strategies for major corporations and executing international business development transactions to achieve growth ambitions in key emerging markets across Asia. He brings to the table functional expertise which is complemented with strong P/L experience.
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