The private community for business acquirers
Build a bigger, more valuable business through smarter acquisitions.
Join The Acquirers Club — a private community for UK business owners who want to find better acquisition opportunities, make more confident decisions and develop a repeatable approach to growth.
Expert-led briefings · Practical acquisition tools · Market intelligence · Experienced peers
Founded by Michael Ferguson, ACCA — Partner at CDI Global and an experienced buy-side M&A adviser.
Real acquisition experience. Shared with the people putting capital at risk.
The Acquirers Club was founded by Michael Ferguson, ACCA, a Partner at CDI Global, where he works with businesses pursuing growth through acquisition.
His career spans investment banking, corporate finance and senior commercial and financial leadership roles, including experience with Morgan Stanley, Grant Thornton, Capita and William Grant & Sons.
He created The Acquirers Club around a simple idea: ambitious business owners should have better access to the knowledge, frameworks and professional relationships that make acquisitions more successful.
The Club brings practical acquisition education, market intelligence and a community of like-minded owners together in one place.
"An acquisition should be a strategic decision, not a leap into the unknown. I wanted to create a place where ambitious owners could become more informed, better prepared and more confident about growing through acquisition."
Current role
Partner, CDI Global
Previous experience
Morgan Stanley
Grant Thornton
Capita
William Grant & Sons
Former employers are listed for career history only and do not endorse or sponsor the Club.
For business owners who see acquisitions as their next stage of growth.
Whether you're planning your first acquisition or building a repeatable acquisition strategy, the Club helps you develop the knowledge, relationships and confidence to pursue growth more effectively.
First-Time Acquirer
You've built a profitable business and want to buy another. You need to know where to start, what to look for and how to avoid costly mistakes.
Repeat Acquirer
You've completed one or more acquisitions. You want a clearer, more efficient way to find, assess and complete the next one.
Buy-and-Build Leader
You plan to buy several businesses and bring them together. You want better market intelligence, practical tools and the right relationships.
Preparing Acquirer
Acquisitions are part of your plan for the next few years. You want to build the knowledge now, before you commit capital.
The Club is designed mainly for owners and leaders of established UK businesses, typically with annual revenue of £2m to £50m. It's built for growing an existing company, rather than for buying a first business to run yourself.
Acquisitions can accelerate years of growth. Getting one wrong can undo them.
An acquisition can be one of the strongest ways to grow. But most owners face big decisions they haven't made before, with significant capital at stake, incomplete information and real risk in getting it done.
Identifying the right acquisition targets
The best businesses to buy are often not advertised. Knowing where to look takes time and a clear plan.
Understanding valuation and risk
A price can look attractive at first. It can prove too high once you look properly at quality, risk and future performance.
Approaching potential sellers
Many owners haven't put their business up for sale. How you first approach them can make or break the opportunity.
Structuring and financing the deal
Paying up front, paying later, or paying against future results — and how you fund it — can change the outcome significantly.
Managing the acquisition process
Checking the business, agreeing terms and running your own company at the same time puts real pressure on management.
Integration and value creation
Completing the deal is only the start. Bringing the business together with yours decides whether it pays off.
You don't have to learn everything through expensive mistakes, or work through it alone.
Everything you need to become a more capable acquirer.
The Club helps members develop their acquisition knowledge, understand where opportunities exist, evaluate deals more effectively and connect with others pursuing similar ambitions.
LEARN
Understand how successful acquisitions work.
- Introductory guides to the basics
- How to choose what to buy
- How valuation and deal terms work
- Lessons on checks, negotiation and integration
- Recordings of past briefings
FIND
Identify where acquisition opportunities exist.
- Selected UK acquisition insights
- Which sectors are consolidating, and why
- Lessons from real transactions
- How to map out a market
- Discussion of acquisition strategies
EVALUATE
Make better-informed acquisition decisions.
- Introductory checklists and tools
- Simple ways to assess a business
- Common red flags and mistakes
- Practical examples and case studies
- Better questions to ask sellers and advisers
CONNECT
Build relationships with other ambitious acquirers.
- A moderated community of business owners
- Questions and peer discussion
- Shared experience and practical lessons
- Live group briefings with Q&A
- Useful professional relationships
Free members get introductory guides, tools and selected insights. The full resource library, advanced tools and deeper market reports are part of paid Acquirer Membership. Neither includes a database of businesses for sale or someone finding deals for you.
A look inside
More than a newsletter. A place to become a better acquirer.
Membership gives you an ongoing source of practical knowledge, acquisition intelligence and relevant conversations as your ambitions develop.
Illustrations only. These are not screenshots of the member platform.
A community that becomes more valuable with every acquisition.
The Club supports you over time, not just for one deal. It stays useful between acquisitions too.
1
Live briefing
A focused session on a practical acquisition topic, a market development or a lesson for owners.
2
Market intelligence
Selected insights on acquisition activity, industry developments and emerging opportunities.
3
Practical tool
A guide, checklist or framework you can apply to your own acquisition thinking.
4
Member conversations
Ask questions, exchange ideas and learn from other owners between sessions.
The quality of the Club starts with the quality of its members.
The Acquirers Club is designed for genuine business owners and decision-makers who want to learn, contribute and develop their acquisition capabilities.
- Owners and decision-makers firstBuilt around people with genuine acquisition ambitions.
- No unsolicited pitchingNot a marketplace for brokers, lead generators or advisers to sell to members.
- Respect confidential informationMembers agree not to disclose private information shared in the community. No online community can guarantee absolute confidentiality.
- Contribute before promotingShare experience, lessons and useful perspectives rather than promotional material.
- Moderation protects the communityClear rules and active oversight keep the standard of discussion high.
Built on real-world buy-side M&A experience.
Founder experience
Michael Ferguson is a Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA) and a Partner at CDI Global, where he leads work with businesses growing through acquisition.
His career has included investment banking at Morgan Stanley, corporate finance at Grant Thornton, finance leadership at Capita and leading M&A at William Grant & Sons.
Practical expertise
- Sourcing
- Valuation
- Negotiation
- Transaction execution
- Integration
Start free. Go further when you're ready.
Most members begin with the free Community. For those who want deeper resources or more structured implementation support, two further programmes are available.
Available now
Free Community
Learn, stay informed and connect.
- Monthly live briefing
- Selected acquisition intelligence
- Introductory guides and checklists
- Moderated peer community
- Group discussion and Q&A
Opening soon
Acquirer Membership
Systematically develop your acquisition capability.
- Everything in the free Community
- Full Academy and advanced resource library
- Deeper market and sector intelligence
- Additional working sessions
- More comprehensive tools and frameworks
By invitation
Acquisition Accelerator
Implement a working acquisition process over 90 days, whether it's your first deal or your fifth.
- Small-group implementation programme
- 12 weekly working sessions
- Three in-person meetups
- 12 practical acquisition work products
- Structured progress to a working acquisition approach
Join the Acquirer Membership waitlist
Be the first to hear when Membership opens. Joining the waitlist doesn't commit you to a purchase.
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Request an invitation to the Accelerator
Places are limited. Tell us about your business and what you want to build or improve. Every request is reviewed, and a request is not an acceptance.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Club really free?
Yes. Free Community membership has no payment requirement or expiry. Additional programmes may be offered separately.
Who is eligible?
The Club is intended mainly for owners and senior leaders of established businesses who are actively acquiring or seriously considering growth through acquisition.
Do I need acquisition experience?
No. The Club is designed for both first-time and experienced acquirers who own or lead established businesses.
How much time will it take?
Participation is flexible. Attend briefings, use the resources and join discussions at your own pace.
Will the Club find acquisition targets for me?
Not through free membership. The Club provides education, selected market intelligence and peer learning. Bespoke target origination and transaction advisory services are separate.
Can I join without paying for Membership or the Accelerator?
Yes. The free Community is designed to offer ongoing value on its own.
Are discussions confidential?
Members must follow the Community Guidelines, including rules on confidential and commercially sensitive information. Don't post confidential live-deal information without appropriate protections.
Can I leave?
Yes. You can ask us to close your account and manage optional marketing emails at any time. Account deletion and data retention follow our Privacy Policy.
Terms & Conditions · Privacy Policy · Community Guidelines · Contact
Your next acquisition starts with better preparation.
Join business owners committed to growing through smarter acquisitions. Access practical resources, expert-led briefings and a community built around better acquisition decisions.