Buying & Selling Businesses
Strategic business evaluation: optimising value, taxation, and post-transaction success.
Before committing to buying or selling a business, it is crucial to have a comprehensive understanding of what you will receive or what potential buyers may perceive about your business.
This includes assessing the value placed on it, considering other relevant factors, and anticipating any post-acquisition or sale requirements. Additionally, it is essential to optimise returns and minimise tax liabilities for both the business and yourself.
Our team can provide you with guidance and advice on all aspects, including:
Strategic review of your options – when is the best time to buy/sell, what are the market conditions, sources and availability of funding and what are the best options – trade sale, MBO, equity finance, debt finance.
Business valuations – What’s the value of your business? What will potential buyers pay? Can you support your claim if the seller has inflated the price?
Post-deal impacts – We’ll create a financial model to forecast the acquisition/sale’s initial and three-year impacts on your business.
Fundraising – We’ll assist you in choosing the ideal finance option for funding the transaction. Additionally, we’ll handle communication with banks, funders, and potential investors to secure the appropriate funding package that meets your needs.
Grooming for a potential sale – we will help you to analyse all the aspects of your business that will be scrutinised by potential investors so that we can get your business investment ready (how long this will take will depend on the investment readiness of your business – sometimes it can take a few months, in other situations it can take 1-2 years to get a business investment ready).
Identification of potential buyers including the preparation of the Information Memorandum and conducting Due Diligence.
Manage the purchase/sales administration process on your behalf – dealing with enquiries, negotiations, agreeing Heads of Terms and liaising with other accountants, lawyers & funders involved in the transaction.
Tax planning – we will help you to structure the transaction effectively to minimise both the buyer’s and seller’s tax liability and to maximise the value both parties receive from the deal.
We will support you throughout the acquisition/disposal process, representing your interests when dealing with various professionals such as banks, investors, venture capitalists, grant providers, lawyers, HMRC, and other relevant agencies or consultants.
Our expertise lies in thorough analysis, going beyond surface-level information and financial figures. We will provide you with comprehensive insights into the true performance and market outlook of the business you wish to acquire. By examining financial projections for the coming years, we will give you an accurate understanding of the investment and potential returns, enabling effective negotiation.
We will guide you through the entire process, ensuring a strong foundation. This includes addressing planning, succession, integration, and funding considerations.
Our goal is to empower you with the necessary information for well-informed decision-making regarding the purchase or sale.
And last but not least, post-deal support
Once the sale/purchase is finalised, we will assist you in preparing the completion accounts, which may involve calculating deferred consideration, evaluating the impact on corporation tax, and determining any payable capital gains resulting from the transaction.
Furthermore, we will consider the effects on your personal tax position to minimise any personal tax obligations that may arise.
