Challenge

Our client, the owner of a highly profitable limited company with a multi-million-pound turnover, was ready to sell a majority stake in the business.

Multiple potential buyers had expressed strong interest, but the challenge lay in structuring the deal in a way that aligned with the client’s financial goals, personal preferences, and the funding needs of another project we were advising on concurrently. The sale needed to be carefully managed to maximise value, ensure tax efficiency, and allow the client to retain a minority interest in the company moving forward.

How We Assisted

We provided strategic support from the outset. This included:

  • Assessing all disposal options, alongside the associated tax implications
  • Advising on the purchaser’s funding methods to ensure our client received a meaningful portion of the consideration upfront, a critical factor for enabling a separate business venture
  • Working closely with the client to determine how to legitimately extract assets from the company before the sale, without incurring unnecessary tax liabilities
  • Introducing trusted legal professionals to manage the legal complexities, particularly around deferred consideration, and ensuring our client was properly protected
  • Offering comprehensive guidance on when and how tax would be payable, giving our client full financial clarity at every step

How the Process Took Place

We remained closely involved throughout the transaction, providing hands-on support from negotiation through to completion. 

Our role was to ensure that the client’s objectives were front and centre, and that the process unfolded with minimal stress and maximum financial benefit. We worked in tandem with legal advisors, liaised with the buyer’s team, and stayed ahead of key milestones to keep everything on track and aligned with our client’s vision.

The outcome

The client successfully sold a majority stake in the business while retaining a minority shareholding in what continues to be a highly successful company. He was able to unlock immediate capital for his next project, optimise the tax outcome of the sale, and maintain a level of involvement in the company’s future.

The client has gone on record to say that our support was “invaluable” and that he was “delighted with the level of our involvement” throughout the transaction.