SEBASTIAN IACONIS

TECHNICAL M&A ADVISOR

Technical Due Diligence, Post-Merger Integration, Sell-Side Readiness, and Operational Strategy for the Food & Beverage Private Equity Sector.

Technical Assurance for High-Stakes Investments

In the high-margin world of flavour and food ingredients, the gap between a spreadsheet valuation and technical reality is where deal value is gained or lost.

With over 25 years of executive R&D and operations experience, I provide Private Equity partners and founder-owners with the technical insight needed to secure asset value — both pre-deal and post-close. I don't just assess flavours; I assess the systems, people, and IP that create them.

My track record includes Post-Merger Integration across Argentina, the UK, and Spain, leading Digital Transformation (AI, ERP, MRP) to lower working capital and increase asset multiples, and operational professionalisation of mid-market flavour houses preparing for liquidity events.

Disclosure: I am also founder of Binacru, an AI compliance platform for the flavour industry. My advisory practice operates independently of Binacru, and any potential conflict of interest is disclosed in writing before engagement.

25+ Years Experience
M&A UK, Spain, Arg Integration
30+ Headcount Management

De-Risking Your Portfolio

🤝 M&A Technical Integration

  • Post-Merger Harmonization of R&D protocols.
  • Unifying raw material coding and libraries across acquired sites.
  • Technical Due Diligence pre-acquisition (IP & Asset Validation).
  • Standardizing global production standards.

🏭 Industrial Automation & CAPEX

  • Factory setup & production line design (China, India, UK).
  • Process Optimization for scale-up efficiency.
  • Validation of CAPEX requirements for investors.
  • HACCP & Quality Systems auditing.

💻 ERP & Digital Systems

  • ERP Implementation for Flavour Houses.
  • Lowering working capital through automated MRP.
  • Data migration and IP security strategies.
  • LIMS (Lab Information Management System) setup.

🤖 AI Adoption & Strategy

  • Integrating AI Tools into formulation to reduce time-to-market.
  • Modernizing legacy R&D documentation systems.
  • Predictive modelling for stability and shelf-life.
  • Future-proofing technical assets.

🌍 Global Scalability

  • Export market adaptation (Western vs. Eastern profiles).
  • Regulatory navigation (EU, LatAm, India, MEA).
  • Technical sales strategy definition.
  • Cultural bridge for international teams.

🔬 Product Validation

  • Assessment of "Winning" flavour portfolios.
  • Blind testing and competitor analysis.
  • Sugar Reduction & Modulation viability checks.
  • Mentoring R&D leadership teams.

📈 Sell-Side Readiness

  • Pre-marketing technical positioning for owners considering a 12–24 month transaction horizon.
  • R&D and operational professionalisation to lift EBITDA multiples.
  • IP cataloguing, formula library structuring, and data-room preparation.
  • Buyer-readiness assessment — anticipating DD questions before they're asked.

Engagement Models

Project-Based

  • Pre-deal technical due diligence (typically 2–6 weeks).
  • Post-close 100-day integration plans.
  • Targeted operational diagnostics with defined deliverables.

Retained Advisory

  • Fractional Technical Director for portfolio companies.
  • Multi-month sell-side preparation programmes.
  • Ongoing technical board / R&D committee participation.

Operating Partner Roster

  • Available to PE firms with active flavour, fragrance, or specialty-ingredient deal flow.
  • Confidentiality and exclusivity arrangements considered.
  • References available on request.

De-risk your next acquisition. Or maximise your next exit.

Available for Pre-Deal Due Diligence, Post-Close Integration, and Sell-Side Readiness.
Based in Spain, available globally.

Contact for Advisory Chat on WhatsApp

Email: sebastian@flavcon.com

Mobile: +34 614 03 52 82