About - Raphael Financial Advisory

Deal different
Our Motto

We are a M&A Advisory boutique.

We don’t follow the beaten path—we forge our own. We design tailor-made solutions, sometimes bold ones, where others stick to conventional methods. Under the leadership of Benoît O’Mahony and Florent Haïk, we have developed a distinctive approach to financial transactions, where agility, analytical acumen and creativity come together to deliver genuine deal-making expertise.

Our signature “Deal Different” is not just a slogan; it is our DNA.

Tenacious, demanding and committed, we stand alongside entrepreneurs, decision-makers and their teams with one goal: to make every transaction a financial success and a springboard to the future.

Deal different
Our Data

2015

Inception date

Offices: Paris and Singapore

20-400 M€

Sell-side sweet spot

200–2000 M€

Buy-side sweet spot

80%

Primary deals

70%

Sell-side

50/50

Private equity / Blue chip trade buyers

207

Deals completed

Negotiate smart deals with best in class buyers

We have a proven ability to sell small — even very small — businesses to large corporates at premium valuations, backed by a compelling strategic rationale.

Organize first-time LBOs

With a strong track record and a deep investor network, we bring our clients the right investors and the right deal.

Identify and secure off-market proprietary deals for private equity investors

We match the right asset to the right investor at the right moment, crafting the right angle to deliver proprietary deals.

Act as trusted advisor to families and entrepreneurs over-time

We remain close to our clients beyond M&A, proactively sharing ideas — from key hires to build-ups, non-core disposals, and balance-sheet optimisation. And when the right answer is “don’t do it,” we say so.

Find a liquidity to non-core or underperforming assets

We explore every avenue, finding creative financial solutions that align stakeholders’ interests.

Optimise capital structures

With deep relationships across lenders in France and abroad (private debt, international banks, high-yield), we tailor capital structures that balance the needs of the business and its shareholders.

Deal different
How we make it

We run bespoke (“haute couture”) sale processes: a sharp equity story, proactive issue de-risking (management, IT, etc.), optimized process design and timing, and highly targeted outreach to the right counterparties.

We maximise buyer appetite by running a creative teaser strategy, leveraging senior decision-maker relationships, and customising the equity story and messaging to each counterparty.

We steer due diligence with discernment — pre-empting and resolving audit issues, focusing on what matters and streamlining Q&A to protect management time.

We master the art of the deal: we have a strong command of negotiation techniques and never underestimate the psychological dynamics at play. With a problem-solving mindset, we find creative solutions that move negotiations forward.

We ensure the deal is a complete success — for our client and for the company’s future — and we remain available long after closing.

Precision:
the art lies in the detail.

A successful deal is one mastered down to the last detail. We leave nothing to chance: every word and every number is refined to secure the best possible outcome.

Uncompromising rigour in the quality of our analysis and deliverables.

The ability to spot what others miss — a hidden lever, a flaw, an opportunity.

Disciplined, rigorous transaction management from start to finish.

Agility:
always one step ahead.

In a transaction, the context is constantly shifting. We adapt quickly and recalibrate in real time to choose the best course of action — even in the most uncertain environments.

Fast, sound decision-making under pressure.

Adaptable in our interactions and in managing the unexpected.

Flexible, inventive structuring to set up the deal for success.

Tenacity:
relentlessly focused on our clients’ interests.

We stand by our clients with unwavering determination. We don’t give up — we push for the best outcome, whatever it takes.

Endurance and resilience in long, demanding negotiations.

A strong sense of duty and accountability to our clients.

Uncompromising ethics and loyalty in everything we do.

Openness:
the backbone of how we work.

Our approach is frank, direct, and authentic. We speak plainly, act fairly, and build relationships grounded in trust.

Strong personalities, able to champion a clear, compelling vision.

The freedom to think outside the box and innovate.

Authenticity and transparency in every interaction.

Boldness:
the right balance.

We don’t simply follow the rules — we challenge them and, when needed, redefine them. We thrive in complex situations. Where others see a wall, we see a field of opportunities.

The ability to question the obvious and think differently.

An entrepreneurial mindset and a genuine appetite for challenge.

Fearless in negotiation, relentless in creating value for our clients.