The following scenarios help to illustrate our approach:

Case 1

A business owner received an unsolicited approach by a competitor to acquire his business and asked for advice on the disposal process and whether the price offered was reasonable.

Steven Gordon, corporate finance partner explains: "having outlined the process involved with selling a business, we looked at the value achieved in the sale of similar companies, whilst also researching other potential buyers for the business. We found that an acquisition by a supplier would provide that supplier with such synergistic benefits that it would be able to offer a much higher price than the original offer from the competitor. We therefore approached the supplier who was indeed excited by the proposal and the disposal was completed at a much higher value and without the need to provide a competitor with sensitive detailed information."

"By undertaking a researched and targeted approach we were able to add real value to a client and with tax advice on the structure of the deal, very little of the proceeds of sale went to the tax man which is always good news."

 
Case 2

A new client wanted to raise around a £1 million for a start-up business to exploit a technical idea he had developed. The new venture was risky but the returns, if the concept took off, would be phenomenal.

Steven Gordon, corporate finance partner explains: "the client had approached venture capitalists and banks but because of the risk, small value and lack of security involved no one would provide funding."

"Our solution to this type of funding problem is to use our business angel network. This is a group of high net worth individuals who invest relatively small amounts of funding into different businesses which provide a more risky, but higher return on investment, usually taking advantage of tax benefits. For this particular client we introduced 4 silent investors who between them funded the entire project with additional help from a small firms loan guarantee.

"5 years later the investors were fortunate to be able to sell their stake to our client for a high multiple of their original investment. Our client now owns 100% of the equity of a thriving business which we are grooming for an ultimate sale and early retirement for our client. The business angels are currently re-investing and enjoying the proceeds of the transaction."