M&A in the Mid-Market: How Carl Finance is Digitalizing Company Sales

About this episode

While headlines typically focus on multi-million acquisitions of large corporations, M&A processes in the mid-market often remain invisible. Yet behind every successful exit lies intensive strategic planning – and this is exactly where Kurosch Daniel Habibi steps in with his platform Carl Finance.

The Path to an M&A Platform

Kurosch Daniel Habibi founded Carl Finance in 2016 with the goal of automating and simplifying acquisition processes in the mid-market. What began as a vision is now an established platform: over 120 companies are actively managed, with a deal volume exceeding 800 million euros. These figures illustrate the enormous potential that lies dormant in the mid-market M&A space.

The recognition of his work is also reflected in his inclusion in the Forbes 30 under 30 list – an accolade that underscores his position as one of the leading young entrepreneurs in the financial sector.

The Reality of Company Sales

Contrary to widespread belief, investors don't simply knock on the doors of successful companies. Rather, a successful exit requires structured preparation and strategic approach. The transaction process encompasses far more than just negotiations over the purchase price.

Corona and Its Impact on M&A Transactions

The pandemic hasn't spared the M&A market either. While some industries came under severe pressure, new opportunities emerged in other sectors. Digital business models experienced an additional boost, while traditional industries had to rethink their strategies.

Company Valuation: More Than Just Numbers

Proper company valuation forms the foundation of every transaction. This involves not only current financial metrics but also future-oriented factors such as market position, growth potential, and management team quality. Carl Finance has developed methods to standardize these complex valuation processes and make them more transparent.

The Time Factor in M&A Deals

An often underestimated aspect is the duration of M&A transactions. From initial contact to successful completion, months or even years can pass. This timeframe requires not only patience from all parties involved but also continuous strategic alignment.

Success Factors for an Exit

Beyond financial performance, companies must meet additional requirements to become attractive to investors:

• –Scalable business models
• –Strong market position
• –Professional corporate governance
• –Transparent financial structures
• –Clear growth strategy

The Future of Mid-Market M&A

With platforms like Carl Finance, the M&A process in the mid-market is becoming increasingly professionalized and digitalized. This opens new opportunities for both sellers and buyers to find suitable partners and execute transactions more efficiently.

The development shows: successful exits are plannable – provided one understands market mechanisms and prepares strategically. Carl Finance demonstrates how technology and expertise can be combined to make the complex M&A process more accessible for the mid-market.