Complex Transaction Advisory
Charting the Course for Flawless Closing
Due Diligence, Structuring and Execution Oversight for Capital Owners
In significant private transactions, value depends on more than the quality of the asset and the price agreed. The ownership structure, source-of-funds readiness, allocation of risk, enforceability of documentation, security of settlement and the ability of the transaction to withstand scrutiny from banks, regulators and institutional counterparties are equally important.
Catamaran Family Office acts as the capital owner’s central co-ordination point throughout the transaction. We bring together the client’s internal team, legal and tax advisers, banks, custodians, administrators, technical specialists and counterparties within a single mandate, timetable and control framework.
We do not replace authorised professionals or specialist advisers. Our role is to design and manage the transaction process, ensure that key assumptions are independently tested, oversee the implementation of agreed decisions and escalate material risks to the Principal or investment committee at the appropriate stage.
Our Capabilities
Comprehensive Asset and Counterparty Due Diligence: We co-ordinate the legal, financial, tax, commercial and reputational review of each transaction. The assessment may cover ownership structures, the authority and standing of the parties, financial models, quality of earnings and cash flows, liabilities, security interests, litigation exposure, material contracts and exit provisions.
Where appropriate, we commission sector-specific, technical, cyber-security and other specialist reviews. Findings are consolidated into a single risk map, prioritised by materiality and accompanied by practical mitigation measures.
Transaction Structuring: We co-ordinate the selection of ownership and financing structures in accordance with the family’s objectives, investment horizon, applicable law, tax position, banking requirements and prospective exit strategy.
The scope may include establishing UK, UAE or other international special-purpose vehicles; designing governance arrangements; allocating decision-making authority; and co-ordinating negotiations relating to shareholders’ agreements, share purchase agreements and other transaction documents. We also assist in defining investor protections, reserved matters, covenants, control mechanisms, liability provisions and dispute-resolution arrangements.
Legal and tax opinions are provided by appropriately qualified advisers in the relevant jurisdictions.
Cross-Border Settlements, OTC Transactions and Digital Assets: For transactions involving increased operational or compliance complexity, we design the proposed settlement route and supporting documentation package in advance.
Counterparties, source of funds and source of wealth are reviewed alongside anti-money laundering, sanctions and reputational considerations. Settlement is co-ordinated through compliant banks, authorised brokers, custodians, escrow agents and other regulated service providers.
For digital-asset transactions, the review may also cover counterparty, custody, technology, wallet and blockchain-related risks, with regard to the regulatory framework applicable in each relevant jurisdiction, including the United Kingdom and the UAE.
Execution and Closing: For each transaction, we establish a responsibility matrix, conditions-precedent checklist, execution timetable, approval protocol and secure document-exchange process.
We oversee the satisfaction of conditions precedent, execution and circulation of documents, movement of funds, completion of corporate approvals, readiness of banking and settlement arrangements, transfer of legal title and preparation of a comprehensive closing file.
Following completion, where required, we support the integration of the asset into the family’s ownership, governance, compliance and reporting framework. We also monitor post-completion obligations and provide consolidated reporting to the Principal.