Trusted Specialist in Corporate Transactions

Tony Vandervale profile picture

A transaction specialist with 35+ years’ experience in audit, due diligence, and deal advisory—former National Head of Transaction Services at RSM, now offering independent support for complex business transactions.

About vdv corporate finance

VDV Corporate Finance is the trading name of Peter Vandervelde ACA.

Peter has enjoyed a career in corporate finance, specifically in transaction services and undertaking due diligence for individuals, corporates and private equity houses.

Having retired as a senior partner from RSM where Peter led the national transaction services team, Peter now works on projects with clients on a sole practitioner basis and can, where appropriate work with other CF specialists including financial modellers, tax specialists and lawyers.

He now accepts projects where he can bring his experience to help people and companies:

  • Contemplating a transaction – whether buying or selling – and wondering where the pitfalls and problems may arise
  • Executing a transaction – and uncertain about any aspect of it
  • Entering a dispute post deal relating to, for example, completion accounts or earn out mechanisms

Case studies

Individuals selling their business – Completion Accounts dispute

Peter was approached by a couple who had sold their retirement home business. They had expected to receive additional funds in excess of the initial consideration but on preparing Completion Accounts were faced with a position where they had to repay money to the buyer. They could not understand this and did not receive an explanation they could understand from their accountant who had advised them on aspects of the transaction.

Intervention

  • Peter quickly identified errors in the Sale & Purchase Agreement.
  • The issues stemmed from misstatements and drafting oversights.
  • He collaborated with the sellers, accountant, and solicitor.
  • Drafted a revised Completion Accounts statement and buyer communications.

Outcome

  • The sellers received an additional £125,000 in consideration.
  • The dispute was resolved without escalation.

Private equity backed company acquiring a business​

A private equity–backed company was actively exploring the acquisition of a carved-out business unit, with the strategic intent to consolidate operations and realise operational synergies. The transaction involved a complex carve-out scenario, requiring detailed analysis of transitional service arrangements, standalone financials, and go-forward trading mechanisms. An internal financial model had been developed to support valuation, incorporating assumptions around revenue continuity, cost base rationalisation, and integration efficiencies. Peter was engaged to perform a robust model review, applying financial due diligence principles to challenge key inputs, stress-test sensitivities, and identify areas of potential risk exposure.

Intervention

  • Peter was engaged to conduct a rigorous model review using financial due diligence principles.
  • He challenged key inputs, stress-tested sensitivities, and flagged risk exposures.
  • Identified a material error affecting valuation outputs.

Outcome

  • Management refined the investment case with greater precision.
  • Financial projections gained credibility with stakeholders.

Earn out accounts dispute​

A group of shareholders sold a company to a larger PLC group. A significant element of the consideration was based on the EBITDA in the year after the acquisition. The rules around the preparation of those accounts were ambiguous in a number of respects and there were significant differences in opinion on the appropriate Adjusted EBITDA.

Intervention

  • Peter was brought in at a critical stage of the dispute to assess the sellers’ position.
  • He confirmed the sellers had a strong and credible case based on the transaction documentation and underlying financials.
  • Worked closely with the sellers to re-examine the disputed EBITDA adjustments, including treatment of exceptional items, transitional costs, and normalisation entries.
  • Collaborated with the sellers’ accountant and legal adviser to prepare a robust submission to the appointed Expert, clearly articulating the rationale behind the revised calculations.

Outcome

  • The sellers’ position was strengthened through clear, evidence-based analysis.
  • The submission helped clarify the accounting treatment and support the sellers’ entitlement.

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