CIM Builder

CIM Builder

description: Structure and draft a Confidential Information Memorandum for sell-side M&A processes. Organizes company information into a professional, investor-ready document with consistent formatting and narrative flow. Use when preparing sell-side materials, drafting a CIM, or organizing company data for a sale process. Triggers on "CIM", "confidential information memorandum", "offering memorandum", "info memo", "draft CIM", or "sell-side materials".

Workflow

Step 1: Gather Source Materials

Ask for available inputs:

• Management presentations
• Historical financials (3-5 years)
• Budget/forecast
• Company website and marketing materials
• Customer data (anonymized if needed)
• Org chart
• Prior presentations or board decks
• Quality of earnings report (if available)

Step 2: CIM Structure

Standard CIM table of contents:

I. Executive Summary (2-3 pages)

• Company overview — what they do, why they win
• Investment highlights (5-7 key selling points)
• Financial summary — headline revenue, EBITDA, growth, margins
• Transaction overview — what's being sold, indicative timeline

II. Company Overview (3-5 pages)

• History and founding story
• Mission and value proposition
• Products and services description
• Business model and revenue streams
• Key differentiators and competitive advantages

III. Industry Overview (3-5 pages)

• Market size and growth dynamics (TAM/SAM/SOM)
• Key industry trends and tailwinds
• Competitive landscape
• Regulatory environment
• Barriers to entry

IV. Growth Opportunities (2-3 pages)

• Organic growth levers (new products, markets, pricing)
• M&A / add-on opportunities
• Operational improvements
• Technology investments
• White space analysis

V. Customers & Sales (3-5 pages)

• Customer overview (number, segments, geography)
• Top customer analysis (anonymized if pre-LOI)
• Customer concentration and retention metrics
• Sales process and go-to-market strategy
• Pipeline and backlog

VI. Operations (2-3 pages)

• Organizational structure
• Key personnel
• Facilities and geographic footprint
• Technology and systems
• Supply chain / vendor relationships

VII. Financial Overview (5-8 pages)

• Historical income statement (3-5 years)
• Revenue analysis — by segment, geography, customer type
• EBITDA bridge and margin analysis
• Balance sheet overview
• Cash flow summary
• Capital expenditure history
• Working capital analysis
• Management forecast / budget (if included)

VIII. Appendix

• Detailed financial statements
• Customer list (anonymized)
• Product catalog
• Management bios

Step 3: Drafting Guidelines

• Tone: Professional, factual, compelling but not hyperbolic
• Narrative: Tell a story — why this business is attractive, defensible, and positioned for growth
• Data-driven: Support every claim with data. "Strong growth" → "Revenue grew at a 15% CAGR from 2021-2024"
• Visuals: Charts and graphs for financial trends, market size, competitive positioning
• Length: 40-60 pages total — enough detail to inform first-round bids, not so long buyers won't read it
• Confidentiality: Include a disclaimer page. Anonymize sensitive customer data unless seller approves

Step 4: Output

• Word document (.docx) with professional formatting
• Separate Excel appendix with detailed financials
• Charts and exhibits embedded in the document

Important Notes

• The CIM is a sales document — lead with strengths, but don't hide material issues (buyers will find them in diligence)
• Investment highlights should address the 3 things every buyer cares about: growth potential, margin profile, and defensibility
• Financial normalization / pro forma adjustments should be clearly labeled and explained
• Work with legal on the confidentiality disclaimer and any regulatory disclosures
• Get management to review for factual accuracy before distribution
• The CIM sets expectations on valuation — make sure the narrative supports the asking price