From the first conversation to closing day: how an acquisition works in Alberta, where buyers get hurt, and where an independent advisor adds the most value.
Xito Capital Partners works from Calgary, with a managing partner involved from first look to close.
The sequence is similar everywhere. What changes is how much of it you do in the right order.
Industry, size, geography, owner involvement and the earnings you need. A clear brief saves months of looking at the wrong businesses.
Targets typically come from business brokers, your own network or direct outreach. Sign the NDA, review the teaser or CIM, and screen for earnings quality early.
Form your own view of value from normalized earnings and market multiples before you anchor to the seller's asking price.
The letter of intent sets price, structure, working capital terms and an exclusivity window. Most terms are non-binding; confidentiality and exclusivity usually are.
Financial, legal, tax, operational and employee diligence, run in waves so the expensive work comes after the first screens.
Finalize financing, the purchase agreement and closing deliverables with your lawyer and accountant.
Most Alberta deals are structured one of two ways. Each shifts risk, tax and paperwork differently.
| Asset purchase | Share purchase | |
|---|---|---|
| What you buy | Selected assets and assumed contracts of the business. | The company itself, with everything inside it. |
| Liabilities | You generally leave behind liabilities you do not assume. | You inherit the company's history, known and unknown. |
| Tax | The price can be allocated across assets, which may support deductions for the buyer. | Sellers often prefer share sales, partly because the lifetime capital gains exemption may be available on qualifying shares. |
| Contracts & permits | Leases, licences and key contracts often need consent or assignment. | Usually stay in place, subject to change-of-control clauses. |
| Employees | Employment is generally re-established with the buyer. | Employment continues with the same employer. |
| Complexity | More transfer paperwork. | More diligence on the company's history. |
Swipe sideways to see all columns.
These are common starting points for an Alberta acquisition. Your lawyer will tailor the list to the business, the structure and the industry.
Financial diligence runs alongside: earnings, working capital and debt-like items are where most price adjustments come from.
Talk Through a DealYou do not need help with every step. These are the three where an independent view changes outcomes.
An independent view of value and offer strategy, so you negotiate from numbers instead of the seller's asking price.
A buy-side Quality of Earnings review or a fixed-fee Deal Risk Scan, depending on the size of the deal.
A funding stack the business can carry, with a VTB or earn-out where it helps and independent lenders at the table.
Buy-Side AdvisoryBuy-Side QoEAcquisition Financing & VTBFinancing in Calgary & Alberta
Yes. The purchase agreement, title searches, security and closing documents should be handled by an Alberta lawyer. Xito Capital Partners is an advisory firm, not a law firm. We work alongside your lawyer and accountant on price, numbers and structure.
It depends on tax, liability and contract facts specific to the deal, and the answer is often different for buyer and seller. Raise it with your lawyer and CPA before the LOI, because it shapes the price you can offer.
For a mid-market deal, commonly several months from signed LOI to closing, driven mostly by diligence, financing and third-party consents. Starting lender conversations and the QoE early shortens it.
It depends on normalized earnings, the risk and growth profile, the size of the business and what comparable businesses sell for. We give you an independent view of value so you can negotiate from your own numbers, not the seller's asking price.
We are not a listings marketplace. Targets typically come from business brokers, your network or direct outreach. When you have a target or a clear set of criteria, we help you evaluate and pursue it.
Start with the Buyer's Acquisition Pack and, once you have a target, a Pre-QoE Deal Risk Scan. Partner-led mandates generally start at $2M. Tell us about your deal and we will be straightforward about whether we can help.
Yes. All submissions are covered by our Mutual NDA and handled under strict confidentiality protocols. See our Privacy Policy. Confidentiality matters even more on the buy side, where early disclosure of your interest can change how a seller or their employees behave.
Xito Capital Partners is an advisory firm. We are not a law firm, an accounting firm or a lender, and nothing on this page is legal, tax or accounting advice. Have a qualified lawyer and accountant in your province review any agreement or structure before you rely on it. Quality of Earnings and Deal Risk Scan work is financial diligence analysis, not an audit, review engagement or assurance opinion.
This form goes directly to a managing partner. We will follow up within one business day to discuss the target, your timeline and next steps.
Prefer to talk first? Call our Calgary desk directly.
403-827-1014
Buying something under $2M? The Buyer's Acquisition Pack and the Pre-QoE Deal Risk Scan are usually the better fit, and you can start either one today.
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