Praeva's pre-deal advisor search helps investors find the people a deal needs – from sector advisors and operating partners to portfolio chairs. We bring in individuals with specific sector expertise, relevant growth experience or expertise in areas such as M&A or international expansion.

The role isn't to give a simple yes or no on the deal – that's what diligence is there to establish. A pre-deal advisor brings an independent, expert perspective that can pressure-test the investment thesis, identify where the business or management team could come under strain, and explore the options available. The aim is to give investors greater conviction and, if the deal goes ahead, a clearer plan for creating value from day one.

Our pre-deal search is aimed at investors. We help funds looking to strengthen their own team around a deal, or for someone to pressure-test the investment case, sit on the portfolio board, or advise post-close.

Traditional diligence answers important questions about the financial, commercial and legal case for an investment. Praeva helps fill the gap by bringing in people who can challenge the investment thesis, assess the management team and business from a sector perspective, and identify where the business could come under strain.

Most firms treat deal-side advisor work and management-side search as separate businesses with separate teams. At Praeva they're the same team. The consultant sourcing your operating partner is the same one who knows the leadership landscape in your sector, so you get one view of the market rather than two disconnected ones.

We source operating partners, sector advisors and portfolio chairs, alongside other specialist individuals who can strengthen an investor's conviction around a deal. This might mean someone with deep sector expertise, experience scaling a similar business, or expertise in areas such as M&A or international expansion.

Because search, pre-deal and advisor work all sit inside one sector team at Praeva, we're not starting from zero on a new mandate. We're already close to the management teams, the talent pool and the competitive dynamics in your sector, so when you need someone in your own corner for a deal, Praeva moves faster and with better context.

As early as possible. Advisor and operating partner engagement works best running alongside diligence, not after close – it strengthens your position ahead of the investment committee and gives you your own read on the leadership team, independent of what the company presents.

Both. We work with both investors and management teams. Pre-deal advisor search is built for investors. Praeva's foundation is management teams, which means the advisors and operating partners we bring you are assessed against the same standard we hold our own search candidates to, not a lower bar for deal-side hires.