Karen Urwin

Karen has extensive experience at an executive level within large New Zealand companies focusing on M&A activity. This experience has provided her with an intimate understanding of both the art and science behind selling a business and she now shares this with Barker’s premium clients.

Karen has a broad understanding of most sectors, but an in-depth knowledge of aged care manufacturing, wholesale/retail chains, automotive, infrastructure maintenance and heavy equipment.  She is equally comfortable negotiating for her client, working at a strategic level or rolling up her sleeves and living the due diligence detail.

Prior to licensing as a business broker, Karen completed > $900m of M&A transactions from within the organisation, running the end-to-end process of transactions with sales price ranging from $1m-$350m.   

Virtual Dataroom specialist to preserve confidentiality and enhance due diligence.

Her senior commercial roles included leading acquisitions & development for NZX investment company Hellaby Holdings, where she held a pivotal role delivering the “buy, build and harvest” strategy of the diverse group.    

When she wasn’t managing an acquisition or sale process, she was instrumental in leading operational transformations and creating significant value for stakeholders.  Karen enjoys analysing the operation behind the numbers and working with owners to ensure every accretive opportunity has been explored to maximise performance and the divestment price.

Proven success with  industry roll-ups, takeovers, sale & leasebacks and venture capital.

With first hand experience with many top and mid-tier advisory firms, Karen can adapt her learnings to  ensure transaction stress is minimised and successfully navigate even the most complex process elements.

A bespoke fee structure and marketing plan will be discussed and tailored, acknowledging the differences with every premium level transaction.

Karen will use her extensive experience to work for you.  Having owned businesses herself, she understands the need to ensure the outcome aligns with your sales motivation.  This may be achieving the highest sale price, preserving founder legacy,  realising growth aspirations,  security for staff and brand,  or of course all of the above. 

Whether the sale of your business is imminent or on your 3-5 year horizon, phone Karen and take comfort in her guidance to optimise your sales outcome.  Make the focus of any sleepless night, how you intend to celebrate the final chapter of your business plan. 

Professional Designations: CA, MInstD