Frequently Asked Questions

Synergy AI is an AI-powered M&A intelligence platform that helps advisors, PE firms, and corporate development teams discover, evaluate, and execute mergers and acquisitions more efficiently. Our platform combines Gemini AI with company registry data and SERP enrichment to deliver actionable deal intelligence. Learn more on our About page.

Synergy AI is designed for M&A advisors, private equity firms, corporate development teams, investment banks, and boutique advisory firms. Whether you are managing a single deal or running a high-volume pipeline, our platform scales to your needs. See our Services page for how we support each segment.

Our AI target discovery engine uses a multi-layer approach: (1) it analyzes your acquisition mandate or criteria, (2) queries company registries across multiple European countries, (3) enriches results with SERP data, financial filings, and industry signals via Gemini AI, and (4) ranks targets by strategic fit, financial profile, and deal feasibility. Try it yourself with our Valuation Tool.

Synergy AI currently covers Belgium, France, the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Nordics (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland). We continuously expand our registry integrations and data coverage. Read more about our European M&A focus in our Blog.

Unlike generic CRM tools adapted for M&A, Synergy AI is purpose-built for deal sourcing and execution. We combine real-time registry data from 10+ European countries, AI-powered target scoring, automated CIM analysis, integrated data rooms, and a Kanban-style deal pipeline — all in one platform designed by M&A professionals for M&A professionals. Explore the Platform to see it in action.

Due diligence is the comprehensive investigation of a target company before completing an M&A transaction. It covers financial, legal, operational, commercial, and technical aspects. The goal is to identify risks, verify assumptions, and confirm the value of the deal. Synergy AI automates significant portions of the due diligence process through AI-powered document analysis. Read our guide on due diligence best practices.

A typical M&A transaction takes 6 to 12 months from initial target identification to closing. The timeline depends on deal complexity, regulatory approvals, due diligence scope, and negotiation dynamics. Small to mid-market deals can sometimes close in 3-6 months, while cross-border or regulated transactions may take 12-18 months.

A CIM (Confidential Information Memorandum) is a detailed document prepared by the sell-side that presents a company for sale. It typically includes an executive summary, business overview, financial performance, market analysis, growth strategy, and management profiles. Synergy AI can automatically analyze CIMs and extract key data points using AI.

M&A valuation multiples vary significantly by sector, geography, and deal size. EV/EBITDA multiples typically range from 5x to 12x — with technology and healthcare often commanding 10-15x, industrial and manufacturing at 6-9x, and services businesses at 5-8x. Our platform provides real-time comparable transaction data to benchmark valuations. Try our Valuation Tool for a quick estimate.

A data room (or virtual data room) is a secure online repository used during M&A due diligence to share confidential documents between buyers, sellers, and advisors. It provides granular access controls, audit trails, and watermarking. Synergy AI includes a built-in data room with document sharing and AI-powered document indexing.

Yes. Synergy AI offers a free trial that includes 3 AI-powered target discoveries, access to the deal pipeline, CIM analysis, and our valuation tools. No credit card is required to get started. You can upgrade to a paid plan at any time to unlock unlimited discoveries and premium features. Start your free trial.

Synergy AI supports exporting reports, target profiles, and pipeline data in PDF, DOCX (Microsoft Word), and Excel (XLSX) formats. All exports are professionally formatted with your branding and can be shared directly with clients and deal teams.

Security is a core priority at Synergy AI. We maintain SOC 2 compliance, encrypt all data at rest (AES-256) and in transit (TLS 1.3), implement role-based access controls, and maintain detailed audit logs. Our infrastructure runs on enterprise-grade cloud providers with multi-region redundancy. See our Privacy Policy for full details.

Synergy AI offers Starter, Professional, and Enterprise plans. The Starter plan is ideal for individual advisors, Professional is designed for boutique firms and mid-market teams, and Enterprise includes custom integrations, dedicated support, and API access. Contact us for custom pricing.

You can reach our support team at support@masynergy.eu. We also offer in-app live chat for Professional and Enterprise plans. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 9:00-18:00 CET, and we aim to respond within 4 hours during business hours.

Yes. Every new customer receives a personalized onboarding session, including a live platform demo, account setup assistance, and guidance on configuring your first acquisition mandate. Enterprise customers receive dedicated onboarding with a customer success manager. Schedule a demo to get started.

Yes. Synergy AI provides API access on the Enterprise plan (on request), enabling integration with your existing CRM, deal management, or data systems. Contact our team to discuss your integration requirements.

Yes. We provide comprehensive documentation, video tutorials, and a knowledge base covering all platform features. Professional and Enterprise customers also receive access to exclusive webinars and M&A best-practice guides created by our advisory team. Visit our Blog for free M&A insights.

The core due diligence workstreams are: Financial DD (quality of earnings, working capital normalization, net debt analysis), Legal DD (contracts, litigation, IP, regulatory compliance), Tax DD (tax structuring, transfer pricing, historical positions), Commercial DD (market analysis, competitive position, customer concentration), IT DD (tech stack, cybersecurity, scalability), HR DD (key person dependencies, employment contracts, pensions), and ESG DD (environmental risks, governance, social compliance under CSRD). Most mid-market European deals involve 3-5 of these workstreams running in parallel over 4-8 weeks. Read our complete due diligence guide.

A Quality of Earnings analysis examines the sustainability and accuracy of a company’s reported earnings. It identifies one-time items, non-recurring revenue, owner adjustments, accounting policy differences, and revenue recognition issues to arrive at a normalized EBITDA figure. This adjusted EBITDA forms the basis for enterprise value calculations. In European mid-market deals (EUR 5-50M EV), QoE adjustments typically range from 5-25% of reported EBITDA. Learn more about EBITDA adjustments.

European M&A valuations primarily use three methodologies: (1) Comparable Transactions Analysis — examining recent M&A deals to derive EV/Revenue and EV/EBITDA multiples, (2) Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) — projecting future free cash flows and discounting at WACC (typically 8-14% for European mid-market), and (3) Comparable Company Analysis — benchmarking against listed peers. Common mid-market multiples: EV/EBITDA 5-8x for industrial, 8-15x for tech/SaaS, 7-10x for healthcare. See our valuation methods guide.

Enterprise Value (EV) represents the total value of a business regardless of capital structure: EV = Equity Value + Net Debt + Minority Interests + Preferred Stock - Cash. Equity Value is what the shareholders receive. The bridge from EV to Equity Value involves subtracting net financial debt, pension obligations, contingent liabilities, and adding surplus cash. Working capital adjustments (locked box or completion accounts) are then applied. In practice, the SPA negotiation around the “EV-to-Equity bridge” is where significant value transfer occurs.

Vendor Due Diligence is a comprehensive analysis commissioned by the seller before going to market. VDD is recommended when: (1) the company has complex financials, (2) you expect multiple bidders, (3) you want to identify and fix issues proactively, (4) speed matters in a competitive process. VDD typically costs EUR 50-200K for mid-market deals but can accelerate the process by 4-8 weeks and improve sale price by 5-15%. Read our VDD guide.

In a share deal, the buyer acquires the shares of the target company, inheriting all assets, liabilities, contracts, and obligations. In an asset deal, the buyer selectively acquires specific assets and assumes specific liabilities. Share deals are more common in European mid-market M&A (~75% of transactions) because they preserve contractual relationships. Asset deals are preferred when avoiding hidden liabilities or cherry-picking assets. Tax treatment differs significantly by jurisdiction. See our deal structures guide.

An earn-out is a deferred purchase price mechanism where a portion of the total consideration is contingent on post-closing performance milestones. Earn-outs bridge valuation gaps. Typical structures: 20-40% of total consideration, 1-3 year duration, based on revenue or EBITDA targets. Key negotiation points: metric definition, accounting policies, management autonomy, and dispute resolution. Earn-outs appear in ~30% of European mid-market deals. Read our earn-out structures guide.

Locked box: Price is fixed based on a historical balance sheet date; the seller guarantees no value leakage between that date and closing. Completion accounts: Final price adjusted post-closing based on actual working capital, net debt, and cash. Locked box is favored in European auctions (~60-70% of private deals) for price certainty. Completion accounts are common in bilateral negotiations. Learn about working capital adjustments.

R&W insurance covers losses from breaches of the seller’s representations and warranties in the SPA. It replaces or supplements traditional escrow/holdback mechanisms. Benefits: clean exit for sellers, increased deal certainty, faster negotiations. Cost: typically 1-3% of the policy limit (usually 10-20% of EV). R&W insurance is now standard in European PE transactions and increasingly used in mid-market deals above EUR 20M. Read our R&W insurance guide.

Key regulatory approvals depend on deal size and sector: (1) Competition/Antitrust — EU Merger Regulation for large deals, national authorities for smaller ones (BCA, Bundeskartellamt), (2) FDI screening — most EU countries now screen foreign acquisitions in strategic sectors, (3) Sector-specific regulators — FSMA, BaFin, AMF for financial services; EMA for healthcare, (4) Works council consultations — mandatory in Belgium (Renault Law), France, Germany, and Netherlands before closing.

A typical sell-side process takes 6-12 months from mandate to closing: preparation (4-8 weeks), marketing (4-6 weeks), management presentations (3-4 weeks), due diligence (4-8 weeks), SPA negotiation (3-6 weeks), and signing to closing (2-8 weeks). Competitive auctions tend to be faster (6-9 months) than bilateral negotiations (8-14 months). See our sell-side process guide.

A CIM is a detailed document presenting the target company to potential buyers after NDA execution. It contains: executive summary, investment highlights, company overview, market analysis, financial performance (3-5 year historical + projections), management team, and growth opportunities. A mid-market CIM is typically 40-80 pages. Read our CIM guide.

Start 12-18 months before sale: (1) Financial clean-up: audited accounts, normalized EBITDA, (2) Reduce owner dependency: strengthen management team, (3) Optimize working capital: reduce inventory, improve collections, (4) Legal housekeeping: resolve litigation, secure contracts, (5) Data room preparation: organize all documents, (6) Growth story: credible 3-5 year business plan. Read our preparation guide.

European mid-market advisor fees: (1) Retainer: EUR 5-15K/month, (2) Success fee: 1.5-5% of EV on a sliding scale. Example: for a EUR 20M deal, expect 3-4% (EUR 600-800K). Additional costs: VDD (EUR 50-200K), legal (EUR 50-150K), tax advisory (EUR 20-50K). Total transaction costs for a EUR 20M deal: EUR 800K-1.5M. See our advisory roles guide.

The European M&A market in 2026 features: strong PE dry powder (EUR 300B+ for deployment), recovering deal volumes, sector consolidation in healthcare, tech, and energy transition, increased cross-border activity, growing ESG importance, and new FDI screening complexity. Mid-market (EUR 10-250M EV) represents ~70% of deal volume. Read our 2026 M&A outlook.

Belgium: SME-dominated, strong PE ecosystem, bilingual complexity, Renault Law works council rules, favorable holding regime. France: larger deals, industrial base (aerospace, luxury), strong employee protections, active government via Bpifrance. Germany: Mittelstand culture, manufacturing excellence, co-determination requirements, rigorous competition review. See our Belgian M&A guide.

Most active sectors in 2026: (1) Technology — SaaS, cybersecurity, AI (10-20x EV/EBITDA), (2) Healthcare — pharma services, medtech, digital health, (3) Energy transition — renewables, EV infrastructure, carbon capture, (4) Business services — IT services, consulting with PE buy-and-build, (5) Industrial technology — automation, robotics, Industry 4.0. Read our healthcare M&A analysis.

GDPR impacts M&A in multiple ways: (1) DD access — personal data requires anonymization or legitimate interest, (2) Data room — personal data must be minimized and access-controlled, (3) Employee notification — may be required depending on jurisdiction, (4) Compliance as DD workstream — non-compliance can impact valuation (fines up to 4% of global turnover), (5) Post-merger integration — data mapping and DPO appointments required.

Works councils are critical in European M&A: Belgium — Renault Law requires information and consultation before collective changes. France — CSE consultation required before change of control (1-3 months). Germany — Betriebsrat has co-determination rights on employment matters. Netherlands — Ondernemingsraad has advisory rights on significant changes. Failure to consult can delay or block transactions.