Disposals

There are numerous reasons why clients look to sell their businesses.

In many cases it represents the only way in which an owner/manager may exit the business and obtain a return on their investment - particularly if there is no succession plan in place. In the case of corporate groups, the motivation can be borne out of a commercial decision to divest itself of an underperforming subsidiary or to diversify away from a particular market sector. Alternatively, the motivation might simply be because an offer is received that is just too good to refuse.

Understanding our client's motivation for selling their business is fundamental as it will often determine their approach to sale negotiations.
We are very experienced at advising clients on the sale of their business, whether by means of a sale of shares in the target company or the sale of the business and assets owned by it.

We have advised on the sale of companies and businesses across all market sectors, from used car dealerships to hi-tech companies and financial services groups.

We can bring considerable added value to clients who instruct us early on in sale discussions. We have particular expertise when it comes to pre-sale planning and preparation. Working with you as our client and your professional advisers, we carry out pre-sale due diligence exercises designed to identify and iron out any issues which might cause sale negotiations to stall or even terminate.

The key to any successful sale is teamwork. We work with clients and their other professional advisers to ensure that the sale is completed on the best achievable terms and within the shortest possible timescale.

Work experience/case studies:

• We advised the sellers on the £60million disposal of Thornbury Nursing Services - the largest privately-owned nursing agency in the UK - which was acquired by private equity house Duke Street Capital. Working alongside our client's "big four" accountants, we had carried out an extensive pre-sale due diligence exercise which assisted considerably in the sale negotiations.
• We advised the owner/managers on their £8.5million disposal of well known South West used car supermarket "Bristol Trade Centre", which was acquired by FTSE-100 listed group Lookers plc.
• We advised the shareholders on their £5.5 million disposal of a leading South Wales transport business to a European transport group.