Identifying Opportunities
Criteria for Acquisition
What we seek
At Columbus Capital, our acquisition strategy is guided by a clear vision and a set of well-defined criteria designed to identify and support companies with strong growth potential.
We seek out companies that stand out for their financial strength and share our vision.
Company Profile
Our research focuses on companies that demonstrate solid economic performance and a clear competitive advantage in their target market. Specifically, we evaluate companies that exhibit the following characteristics:
The company must have achieved positive results over the past five years and must not be experiencing a crisis or financial stress. We are looking for a production value of between €10 and €40 million, with an EBITDA margin of over 10% (or at least €1.5 million).
High cash flow generation, a sign of efficient management and a sustainable business model.
We favour business models that generate significant recurring revenue and/or a loyal customer base, which ensures stability and predictable turnover.
In order to succeed, the company must have a clear competitive advantage in its sector, whether technological, market-related or operational.
We value the many possibilities for future growth, whether organic or inorganic, horizontal or vertical, or through expansion into new markets or services.
Strong middle management is essential to ensure business continuity and support post-acquisition growth.
We seek reasonable company valuations and realistic liquidity options for our investments within three to six years.
What we offer
We offer tailor-made conditions with full or partial cash out
We take over the day-to-day management of the company's activities
We guarantee a fast process that can be adapted to your timetable
We aim for long-term sustainable growth
The Acquisition Process
Our acquisitions process is clear and structured, designed to ensure efficiency and transparency at every stage.
These are the steps that guide us in the selection and integration of new entities into Columbus Capital, from the initial identification to the finalisation of the deal:
First
Contact
Introductory
Meetig
In-depth
conversation
Intents
Letters
Due
Diligence
Operation
Closure
Payment and
transfer of shares
The Seller's Context
We target entrepreneurs who are motivated to sell all or most of their company's shares. Preferred reasons for sale are not commercial and related to the company's performance, but rather strategic, such as:
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Lack of generational transition;
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Desire to professionalise management.
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The need to accelerate growth and ensure continuity through a strategic partner.
We offer selling entrepreneurs the opportunity to reinvest in the new company, thus maintaining their involvement in its future growth.
Areas of Interest
We focus on sectors that are dynamic and growing. These sectors have specific characteristics that favour their development and profitability.
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Sector fragmentation: Sectors characterised by a fragmented industry offer greater opportunities for consolidation and acquisition.
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Growth and capacity: Sectors that are large in terms of both turnover and the number of companies, allowing for large-scale operations.
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Simple management: We operate in sectors where management complexity is low.
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Life cycle: We prefer sectors that are relatively at the beginning of their life cycle and have large margins for future development.
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Healthy and sustainable margins: We seek robust and sustainable profit margins.
Target presence: Sectors with a high number of companies within the desired size range (turnover of 10–40 million euros).
Focusing on Energy Transition
Our initial focus is on businesses at the heart of the energy transition. Recognising the growth potential in this crucial area, we have identified the following sub-sectors in particular:
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Operation and maintenance: Companies that specialise in operating and maintaining energy (electricity and gas) and fire prevention facilities and infrastructure.
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Energy efficiency and services: Companies offering energy efficiency services and solutions, including HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, heat recovery and ESCO (Energy Service Company) models.
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Engineering and consulting for sustainability: Engineering and consulting companies supporting digitisation, the energy transition, decarbonisation, electrification and Industry 5.0. These services include preparation for installation, monitoring and asset management, focusing on industrial process efficiency, generation plants, batteries and flexibility, and electric mobility.
Additionally, our team has identified the green and circular economy as another relevant area of interest, particularly with regard to the management of 'non-waste' and recycling.