CasE #TI2404A
M&A transaction for a buyer from the CIS
Service area: Cross-border Transactions and Projects
Sector: Manufacturing
Region: CIS Countries — Italy (Lombardy)
Sector: Manufacturing
Region: CIS Countries — Italy (Lombardy)
Context
An entrepreneur from a major CIS region was considering the acquisition of a controlling stake in a small Italian manufacturing company. The transaction was complex: multiple shareholders with different levels of involvement, outdated financial reporting, and an informal management culture.
What made it complex
The client did not want to overload their legal team in the CIS with operational work on the Italian side, while still requiring full control over the process. The sellers' Italian advisors communicated exclusively in Italian and operated on their own timelines.
Scope of work
- Organising and leading negotiations with the sellers and their advisors
- Coordinating with an Italian law firm on legal due diligence and transaction structure
- Communicating with the sellers’ commercialista to obtain and validate financial documentation
- Translating and adapting key documents between the parties
- Maintaining regular client updates in a format convenient for the client
Result
The transaction was successfully structured and completed within the agreed timeframe. The client gained a detailed understanding of the acquired asset and received a clear plan for the first 90 days following closing.
Key Takeaway
In cross-border M&A transactions, the biggest delays usually come not from legal issues, but from communication gaps and different working rhythms between the parties involved. A single coordinator who understands both business cultures can save weeks of time.