cim-builder

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".

CIM Builder

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