Workstream 1
Intellectual property
Confirm which code, trademarks, domains and data belong to the unit, and how any shared technology will be licensed or split.
- Code and repository ownership
- Trademarks and domains
- Licences for shared technology
Corporate carve-outs
Separate cleanly.
Sell the division. Keep the core business moving.
A product line, brand or business unit can be worth more to a focused owner than it is inside your group. The value is won or lost in the separation. We plan what moves, what stays and what is shared before any buyer sees the opportunity.
- Workstreams planned before launch
- 5
- Workstreams planned before launch
- Transitional services scoped early
- TSA
- Transitional services scoped early
- Upfront fees for the assessment
- 0
- Upfront fees for the assessment
Separation plan
Confidential
- Perimeter defined: what is in the dealDone
- IP and code ownership mappedDone
- Standalone financials builtIn progress
- Shared contracts and suppliersNext
- People and roles that transferNext
- Transitional services scopedNext
Buyers see a business that can stand on its own from day one.
Why carve-outs are different
Buyers price the separation. Plan it before they do.
Selling a whole company means selling everything. Selling part of one means deciding exactly where the line falls: which code, customers, contracts, people and costs belong to the unit. When that line is vague, buyers fill the gap with caution, longer diligence and lower offers. When it is clear, the unit competes on its own merits.
- A defined deal perimeter that buyers can rely on.
- Financials that show the unit as a standalone business.
- A realistic plan for shared systems after completion.
- Less disruption to the business you keep.
The separation playbook
Five workstreams, planned up front.
Each workstream answers a question every serious buyer will ask. Getting the answers ready early keeps the process fast and the price firm.
Workstream 2
Standalone financials
Rebuild the unit as if it were its own company: its revenue, its direct costs and a fair share of the costs it will need on its own.
- Carve-out P&L
- Allocated and replacement costs
- Normalised earnings view
Workstream 3
Contracts and customers
Identify customer, supplier and partner contracts that must transfer, be split or be replaced, and any consents needed.
- Assignment and consent review
- Shared customer accounts
- Supplier continuity
Workstream 4
People
Agree which roles move with the unit, which stay, and how key people are kept engaged through the sale.
- Transferring team
- Retention for key people
- Clear internal messaging
Workstream 5
Transitional services
Scope the services your group will keep providing for a period after completion, such as hosting, finance or HR, and how they are priced.
- Service list and duration
- Pricing and exit terms
- Hand-over milestones
Alongside
Specialist advisers
Employment, tax, IP and corporate lawyers and accountants handle the legal and tax structure. We introduce independent firms and coordinate them.
- Legal and tax via licensed firms
- One coordinated timetable
- No conflicting workstreams
Where value leaks
Common gaps, and the fix.
These are the areas buyers most often push back on in a carve-out, and how a prepared seller answers them.
| Area | What buyers worry about | What a prepared seller shows |
|---|---|---|
| Perimeter | Unclear what is actually included | A written list of assets, contracts and people in scope |
| Financials | Costs hidden inside the group | A standalone P&L with allocated and replacement costs explained |
| Technology | Shared code or infrastructure | Ownership map plus a licence or migration plan |
| Customers | Contracts that may not transfer | Consent review and a plan for shared accounts |
| Day one | Will it run after completion? | A scoped transitional services agreement with exit dates |
Legal and tax structuring is handled by licensed lawyers and accountants. Acquiry introduces them and runs the process.
How it runs
From assessment to completion.
A structured sequence that keeps the core business focused while the unit goes to market.
Request an assessment- 01
Carve-out assessment
Weeks 1 to 2
Under NDA, we review the unit, the likely deal perimeter and the separation questions buyers will ask.
OutputPerimeter and gap list
- 02
Separation preparation
Weeks 2 to 8
Standalone financials, IP map, contract review and a transitional services outline, built with your team and advisers.
OutputBuyer-ready information
- 03
Targeted buyer outreach
Weeks 8 to 14
Confidential approaches to buyers who want this specific unit, including strategics, sponsors and adjacent operators.
OutputShortlist and offers
- 04
Negotiation and completion
Weeks 14 onwards
Offers compared on price, certainty and separation terms, then managed through diligence to completion and hand-over.
OutputSigned transaction
Quiet by design
Your core business keeps its focus.
A carve-out works best when only a small group knows about it. We keep the circle tight, approach buyers under NDA and agree internal messaging with you before anything is shared.
Every Acquiry mandate runs under strict NDA.
What it costs
Assessment is free. Fees are agreed first.
Assessment
The confidential review of the unit and its separation questions has no upfront fee and no obligation.
The mandate
If you proceed, the fee is agreed in writing before work begins and is largely success-based, paid when the transaction completes.
Specialist advisers
Lawyers, accountants and tax advisers are engaged by you directly. We introduce independent firms with carve-out experience.
Questions
What founders and boards ask us.
What counts as a carve-out?
Any sale or spin-out of part of a business: a product line, brand, regional operation, platform or business unit, rather than the whole company.
Do we need standalone financials before we start?
No. Building them is part of the preparation. We work with your finance team and accountants to produce a clear standalone view of the unit.
What is a transitional services agreement?
An agreement under which your group keeps providing certain services, such as hosting, payroll or finance, to the unit for a limited period after completion. Its legal terms are drafted by lawyers.
Will our staff and customers find out?
Only when you decide. The process runs with a small internal group, buyers sign NDAs, and we plan the timing and wording of any announcement with you.
Do you give legal or tax advice?
No. Acquiry introduces buyers and runs the process. Legal, tax and employment advice comes from licensed professionals, whom we can introduce.
Request a carve-out assessment
Tell us about the unit.
A short outline is enough. We reply directly, usually the same working day, and sign an NDA before any detail is shared.
- Strict NDA before any document is shared.
- No buyer is contacted without your approval.
- No upfront fee for the assessment.