Brief
Written acquisition brief
One agreed document setting out what you buy, what you avoid and how we describe you.
Buy-side sourcing, explained
What a sourcing engagement involves.
From your acquisition strategy to qualified conversations with owners.
A buy-side sourcing engagement turns your acquisition criteria into a mapped universe of companies, direct conversations with their owners and introductions to the ones that fit. This page sets out each stage, what you receive, what we need from you and what is agreed before any outreach begins.
- Scope and terms agreed before outreach
- Written
- Scope and terms agreed before outreach
- On every mandate
- NDA
- On every mandate
- Decide on every introduction
- You
- Decide on every introduction
Sourcing engagement
Example
- Scope and terms agreedSigned
- Acquisition briefApproved
- Target universe mappedReviewed
- Owner outreachIn progress
- Qualified conversationsReported weekly
- IntroductionsYour approval
Every engagement is scoped to the buyer. Stages and timing vary by mandate.
The short version
You set the strategy. We find and open the conversations. You decide who you meet.
A sourcing engagement is origination work: finding companies that fit your thesis, reaching their owners, including owners who are not looking to sell, and qualifying interest before an introduction. Valuation, negotiation, diligence and legal work stay with you and your own advisers.
- One written brief that both sides work from.
- A mapped target universe you review before outreach starts.
- Direct, credible outreach to owners on your behalf.
- Introductions only to owners who are interested and fit.
Stages
How an engagement runs.
Most engagements follow these stages. The timing depends on the breadth of the thesis and how many markets it covers.
Discuss a sourcing engagement- 01
Scope and terms
Before any work
We agree the mandate in writing: the thesis, markets, confidentiality, how you are described to owners, reporting and fees.
OutputSigned engagement terms
- 02
Acquisition brief
First stage
We turn your strategy into a brief: sectors, business models, size, geography, ownership, structures you consider and deal-breakers.
OutputApproved brief
- 03
Target mapping
After the brief
We research and map the companies that fit, with ownership and decision-makers, and you review the list before anyone is contacted.
OutputReviewed target universe
- 04
Owner outreach
Ongoing
We contact owners directly with a specific, credible approach that matches how you want to be described.
OutputConversations opened
- 05
Qualification
Ongoing
We confirm interest, timing, ownership and the basics of fit with each owner before suggesting an introduction.
OutputQualified opportunities
- 06
Introductions and handover
On your approval
With both sides agreed, we introduce you to the owner and hand over the context. You lead from there with your own team and advisers.
OutputIntroduction and briefing note
Deliverables
What you receive.
Every deliverable is agreed at scoping, so you know what to expect from the start.
Universe
Mapped target list
The companies that fit, with ownership and decision-makers, ready for your review before outreach.
Reporting
Regular pipeline reports
Who has been contacted, who responded, who is interested and what happens next, on an agreed cadence.
Qualification
Qualified opportunity notes
A short note on each interested owner: the business, their timing and the basics of fit.
Introductions
Warm introductions
Introductions to owners who have agreed to talk, with the context from our conversations.
Learning
Market feedback
What owners in your market are saying about timing, expectations and buyers, so the thesis can sharpen.
Responsibilities
Who does what.
Clear roles keep the engagement moving and make sure decisions stay with you.
Acquiry
You and your advisers
Strategy
AcquiryTurns your thesis into a written brief
You and your advisersSets the strategy and approves the brief
Targets
AcquiryResearches and maps the universe
You and your advisersReviews the list and removes any names
Outreach
AcquiryContacts owners and runs the conversations
You and your advisersApproves how you are described
Qualification
AcquiryConfirms interest, timing and basic fit
You and your advisersDecides which owners to meet
Deal work
AcquiryHands over context after the introduction
You and your advisersLeads valuation, negotiation, diligence and legal work
Acquiry introduces and runs the sourcing process. It does not give valuation, legal, tax or investment advice.
Before outreach
What is agreed before we contact anyone.
These points are settled in writing at scoping, so owners hear a consistent, accurate message.
Mandate
What we are looking for and on whose behalf.
Thesis and criteria
Sectors, models, size, geography, ownership and deal-breakers.
Exclusions
Companies, competitors or markets that must not be approached.
Confidentiality
How you are presented to owners.
Named or unnamed
Whether outreach names you or describes you anonymously until an owner signs an NDA.
Information sharing
What can be shared with owners, and when.
Commercials
How the engagement is paid for.
Fees
Agreed in writing for each mandate before outreach begins, based on scope and complexity.
Reporting and term
Reporting cadence, review points and how either side can end the engagement.
Engagement terms, explained
The provisions you will see, in plain English.
Sourcing engagements usually address the points below. The right column shows what is fixed for every Acquiry engagement and what is negotiated for each mandate.
| Provision | What it means | At Acquiry |
|---|---|---|
| Scope and deliverables | What will be searched, delivered and reported. | Agreed in writing per mandate |
| Confidentiality | How your identity, brief and owner information are protected. | Every mandate runs under strict NDA |
| Existing-target exclusions | Companies you already know or are talking to, listed so they are not counted as introductions. | Your list is recorded before outreach |
| Fee triggers | The event that makes a fee payable, for example completing an acquisition of an introduced company. | Agreed per mandate |
| Upfront or retainer fees | Fees paid before or during the search, regardless of outcome. | Not charged unless a signed engagement agreement expressly provides for them |
| Exclusivity | Whether one firm runs the search, or several sources can bring targets. | Negotiated per mandate |
| Tail provision | A period after the engagement ends during which a completed deal with an introduced company still counts. | Negotiated per mandate |
| Role | What the firm does and does not do. | Introductions and deal communications only; no valuation, legal, tax or investment advice |
This is an explanation, not a contract. Your engagement terms are set out in your own signed agreement, which takes priority over this page.
Information at each stage
What you know, and what to reconfirm.
Information about a target arrives in layers. Facts from public sources or early conversations should be treated as indicative until the owner confirms them under NDA.
| Stage | What is usually available | What to reconfirm |
|---|---|---|
| Target mapping | Company, product, location, public signals of size and ownership | Ownership, decision-maker and whether the business still fits the brief |
| First conversation | Owner’s openness to talk, rough timing and priorities | Whether interest is real and who else needs to agree |
| Qualification | Headline revenue band, business model, customer type, team | Revenue figures, recurring share and customer concentration, from the owner |
| After introduction and NDA | Financials and operating data shared directly with you | Everything, through your own diligence and advisers |
Questions
What founders and boards ask us.
What is a buy-side sourcing engagement?
An engagement where Acquiry finds companies that fit your acquisition criteria, contacts their owners on your behalf, qualifies interest and introduces you to the owners who want to talk.
Do you contact owners who are not selling?
Yes. Much of the work is with owners who have not decided to sell. We approach them with a specific, credible reason to talk and only introduce those who are interested.
Will owners know who we are?
That is agreed at scoping. Outreach can name you, or describe you anonymously until an owner signs an NDA.
How are fees set?
Fees are agreed in writing for each mandate before outreach begins, based on the scope and complexity of the search. Acquiry does not charge upfront or retainer fees unless a signed engagement agreement expressly provides for them.
Can we exclude companies we already know?
Yes. You give us a list of companies you already know or are talking to before outreach starts, and those are recorded as excluded.
Is there a sample agreement?
Your terms are set out in your own engagement agreement. We will walk you through it, and the provisions on this page, when we scope the engagement.
Do you negotiate or run due diligence?
No. After the introduction, you lead valuation, negotiation, diligence and legal work with your own team and advisers.
Which sectors do you cover?
We focus on digital, software, AI, fintech and technology-enabled businesses, but we are not limited to listed sectors or markets.
Discuss an engagement
Tell us what you want to buy.
Share the outline of your acquisition strategy. We will be in touch to discuss it in detail and scope an engagement.
- Your brief stays confidential.
- Scope and terms agreed in writing first.
- No outreach without your approval.