Knowledge Base

Our collection of regular articles, webinars, podcasts and free expert guides provide deep insight and practical advice across all aspects of M&A and strategy.
Capital Gains Tax could hit 45%

Capital Gains Tax Could Hit a Staggering 45% – Article

3 minutes read Capital Gains Tax (CGT) We had cautiously hoped that Capital Gains Tax (CGT) for sellers of businesses would remain untouched following the recent adjustments that significantly reduced Capital Gain Tax annual personal allowances. However, Labour is now advocating an increase in Capital Gains Tax to 45%, specifically targeting private equity executives with the…

Succession - Not Just a Billionaire's Game

Succession – Not Just a Billionaire’s Game – Article

7 minutes read Succession has been a huge TV franchise hit for HBO. It has ageing patriarch Logan Roy contemplating what the future holds for him and his media empire. You may not have an empire, but your business is valuable, and you should consider succession. Will it be to the family, a trade sale, a…

Private Equity - Barbarians to the Gates

Private Equity – Barbarians at the Gate? – Article

10 minutes read In the title, we draw inspiration from the name of the renowned 1989 book “Barbarians at the Gate” on leveraged buyouts written by Byran Burrough and John Helyar. This narrative characterises financial buyers as modern-day raiders who are not armed with “real money.” However, contrary to the position in 1989, today the coffers…

Changes - emphasise the Necessity of Flexibility

Ch-ch Changes – Emphasise the Necessity of Flexibility – Article

9.5 minutes read Changes In 1972, David Bowie released “Changes,” a timeless song that still resonates strongly in today’s era of upheaval. Beyond its musical brilliance, the lyrics hold significant relevance to the ever-evolving landscape of business and exit strategies. They encapsulate the need to adapt to the turbulent environment in which today’s businesses operate.…

valuations

The Art of Business Valuations & Preparing for Sale – Webinar

Understanding the technicalities of company valuations is of paramount importance for investors, entrepreneurs, and business professionals. Valuations also offer valuable insights into a business’s financial health and possible sale preparation. In our upcoming webinar, we explore: 1. Company Valuation Methods: Understanding how to assess a company’s worth, encompassing income, market, and asset-based approaches. 2. The…

To Sell your Business or not sell in Challenging Times

To sell your Business or Not to sell in Challenging Times – Article

9 minutes read The market has shifted, and for many, fast-track growth seems like a distant dream. Investors and buyers are treading more cautiously but there is still good money available for shareholders to sell or take investment where the business is profitable, predictable, and robust. So, you might ask “Why sell your business in a…

Sale Ready - How to prepare for a Sale or Exit

Sale Ready – How to prepare for a sale or exit – Article

5.5 minutes read Preparing your business for sale is a critical step in ensuring a smooth and successful transaction. Even if you are not actively looking to sell your business, being ‘sale ready’ is essential if you are looking to sell in the future as you never know when a buyer may approach.  There are many…

Selling your Business and investing the Proceeds

Selling your Business and Investing the Proceeds – Article

7 minutes read For many, selling your business is the ultimate reward. Providing the opportunity to secure wealth, time, and capital. For many that dream is having enough capital to comfortably live without concerns about work or business, or at the very least having the freedom to make that choice. Wealth is the freedom to decide.…

Running an Employee Ownership Business – Webinar

There are over 300 companies a year choosing Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) as their exit strategy. There are a number of factors which appeal to seller, including 0% Capital Gains Tax, a vendor-led process and the immediacy. But what is it like to run an EOT? Our Chairman, Kevin Uphill, examined life inside an Employee…

Running an Employee-Owned Business

Running an Employee-Owned Business Empowers Success – Article

8 minutes read In 2022, the UK witnessed a surge in the creation of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs), with a record-breaking 332 companies joining the fold. This brought the total number of employee-owned businesses in the country to 1,418 (source: Employee Ownership Association). This trend can be attributed to various factors, including succession planning needs, the…

How Employee Ownership Drives Competitive Advantage

How Employee Ownership Drives Competitive Advantage – Article

7 minutes read Achieving competitive advantage in business is synonymous with outperforming competitors. This advantageous position is founded on four key pillars: efficiency, quality, innovation, and customer responsiveness. By excelling in these areas, a company differentiates its offerings, delivers enhanced value to customers, and potentially operates at a lower cost base, thereby increasing market share and…

EOT - Time is running out for 0% CGT

EOTs- Where does the money come from? – Article

9 minutes read A sale of your business to all the employees via an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is a relatively simple, advisor and vendor-driven exit strategy and therefore more immediate than a trade sale. What’s more, to encourage such sales, they are currently subject to 0% Capital Gains Tax, provided they meet the qualifying rules.…

Due diligence

Due Diligence – What is it all about? – Article

8 minutes read From a legal perspective, when purchasing a company in the UK it is your job to check that everything is accurately represented. UK law operates on the principle of Caveat Emptor, which is derived from the Latin phrase, “quia ignorare non debuit quod jus alienum emit” meaning, ‘let a purchaser beware, for…

As an Exit Option, Why More & More Business Owners Should Seriously Consider Employee Ownership – Webinar

In our live panel discussion on Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) featuring Kevin Uphill (Chairman of Avondale), Mike Dinnell (Director of Business Development at Thincats), and Fran Lord (Head of Communications and Policy at Employee Ownership Association), we explored the competitive advantages of Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT), typical structures, valuations, pros and cons and funding options.…

Employee Ownership Trust (EOT)

Is an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) better for me? – Article

4.5 minutes read Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs) have become quite popular among business owners to sell their businesses. In the UK alone, there are now over 1,300 EOTs, and they received more than 400 applications last year. While the 0% tax break on Capital Gains is a significant advantage, there are other reasons why Employee…

Business Sales – “How to Buy Right” – Webinar

Acquisitions have the potential to propel a company’s growth more rapidly than organic growth. However, they are often fickle, with over half of them failing to achieve the expected value or synergy post-deal. So, how can you improve your chances of success and ‘buy right’? One crucial aspect is to ensure that you don’t overpay,…

CGT - Capital Gains Tax

0% CGT on EOT Sales – A great window of opportunity – Part 2 – Article

4 minutes read EOT – Employee Ownership Trust Employee Ownership Trusts (“EOTs”) are becoming an increasingly popular way for business owners to transfer ownership of their companies to their employees. The UK Government introduced several tax incentives for EOTs in 2014, including a 0% Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) rate on the sale of shares to an…

Acquisitions

Strategic Acquisitions – “How to Buy Right”- Article

9 minutes read Acquisitions can propel companies to competitive advantage faster than organic growth, however, they are fickle with over half failing to achieve the expected synergy or value gain post-deal. So, how do you improve the odds and ‘buy right’? A foundation is to make sure you don’t overpay but rather than another focus on…

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) – The Looming Clock Ticks – Part 1 – Article

3 minutes read Mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”) are increasingly common however, the increasing frequency of M&A deals has raised concerns regarding the tax implications. There is a growing debate about whether Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) rates should be increased for M&A transactions. Proponents of the increase argue that higher CGT rates will generate more revenue for…

Valuations of company

Valuations – Master navigating the jargon with confidence – Article

5 minutes read In business valuations, ‘Debt Free Cash Free’ is a commonly used term that impacts the sale process. At Avondale, we know that selling your business is a huge step and one that will have a far-reaching, and hopefully positive impact on your future. However, the business sale journey will take you down many new…

Today’s budget update – Slow and steady to avoid stumbles in 2023 – Article

3 minutes read With the economy stagnant and following Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-Budget, major stumble in September, Jeremy Hunt today presented a slow and steady budget that aims to trim inflation whilst boosting productivity and growth. But will it work? The key changes for businesses are: Corporation Tax (“CT”): As previously announced this increases from 1 April…

Negotiating the Sale of your Business

Negotiating the Sale of your Business: 3 key rules for success – Article

5 minutes read An outstanding business, with great growth potential in an expanding market and strong recurring revenue, will always command a premium value. It can, however, take many years to design and create such a business, and often it requires time, capital, the right team and place. So, if we put aside the exceptions, how…

Employee Ownership Trusts

Employee Ownership Trusts – Keeping it Simple in 2023 – Article

4 minutes read Why do some advisors insist on using all the legal terms when discussing Employee Ownership Trusts structures (“EOTs”)? Are they wanting to make these transactions seem complex and expensive? Why do they only seek owners who are ‘altruistic’ or team-driven? This approach simply puts people off Employee Ownership Trusts and yet, with nearly…

Private Equity

Private Equity – “Should I sell to them?”- Article

5 minutes read With nearly a third of M&A deals going to Private Equity buyers in 2022, you may be asking “should I sell to them?” The answer will be driven by several factors including the deal structure and of course price, but in a world of abundant capital, a Private Equity (“PE”) sale may be…

How to achieve the "Perfect" Business Sale

How to achieve the “Perfect” Business Sale in 2023- Article

10 minutes read Our series of articles on the ‘Perfect’ Business Sale a couple of years ago proved to be very popular, so we thought it would be good to start 2023 with a summary of what we believe are the key strategies to achieve the perfect business sale. The ‘perfect’ business sale is a fast,…

Is a Capital Gains Tax hike still likely in 2023?

Is a Capital Gains Tax hike still likely in 2023? – Article

3 minutes read Firstly we would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. We hope you had a good break and are now ready to tackle the year ahead making 2023 a successful and prosperous year. With the announcement of the Spring budget set for the 15th of March 2023, there is speculation about potential changes…

Improve Saleability of Your Business

How Best to Improve Saleability of Your Business in 2023? – Article

5 minute read Know Your Business to Improve Saleability As a business leader, you hope your company will be profitable and achieve incremental growth. You have a good feel for the level of profit your company is going to deliver over the next 12 to 18 months but the value you have in the business usually…

Cost Reduction; How to keep profits and run a lean business

Cost Reduction: Maintain Profits and Create a Lean Business – Article

11 minutes read Cost Reduction With margins squeezed and slow growth in a world of inflation, there are fewer opportunities to pass on your increased costs.  Business costs are challenging, on second thoughts, they are psychologically difficult – but there are choices. How do you review your cost base and spot ‘layer cake’? Where can…

Everybody Hurts – Budget Update – Article

3 minutes read Today’s Autumn statement resembled a tightrope walk – increasing income (taxes), cutting costs (the state) and improving the balance sheet (debt and interest) – all whilst inflation is rife, and economic growth has stalled. It felt as though the Government was sway-dancing on the tightrope to ‘Everybody Hurts’ (the 1992 REM classic and…

Deal Trends

2022 Deal Trends in the UK Mergers & Acquisitions – Article

12 minutes read The Market Recessions are not just about poor economic growth, they are often accompanied by other characteristics such as widespread job losses, fewer available jobs, and more Government relief. Investors may baulk, but stocks tend to bounce back rapidly making recessions a good time to invest. With all the turmoil in the…

Market Turmoil; is M&A still Centre Stage? – Article

With all the recent turmoil in number 10 coming after the shocks of Brexit, Covid and the Ukrainian war, one might ask whether now is a good time to carry out Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A)? The answer is yes – M&A creates synergy and economies of scale (which offsets margin pressure) and shareholder value growth…

Employee Ownership

Employee Ownership Trust Management: 3 key considerations for success – Article

10 minutes read Selling a business through an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) is an excellent exit strategy for those shareholders who want to preserve the legacy of their company whilst realising wealth at 0% Capital Gains Tax. It can also be a soft exit for sellers who want to gradually relinquish control – but many, however, do not explore an EOT…

ESG Podcast

The Growing Importance of Environmental & Social Governance (ESG) – Podcast

Environmental & Social Governance (ESG) has been undoubtably moving centre stage for businesses, driven by its significance as well as legislation. We are increasingly seeing ESG crop up on board agendas and throughout due diligence, as well as starting to play a crucial part in growing sales, managing costs and increasing productivity via the need…

Cost Reduction

Cost Reduction; Keeping Profits & Running a Lean Business – Podcast

  With recession looming, companies are seeing their costs increasing and margins being squeezed. In today’s podcast Kevin Uphill, Chairman of Avondale, is joined by Simon Dodson of Expense Reduction Analyst, leading cost optimisation consultants, to discuss how to keep profits in the business through cost reduction and how to run a lean business model…

mini-budget

Mini-Budget and the Impact on M&A

For clients thinking of buying or selling companies Capital Gains Tax (CGT) has by far the biggest impact and so far, there is no indication that the CGT rate has changed in this mini-budget – which is good. The trickle-down economic strategy that the new team in No 10 has adopted of trying to grow…

Selling Out! What next?

“Selling out! – What next? – Article

21 minutes read Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen Some of you may recall “Everybody’s Free to Wear Sunscreen“, the brilliant song by Baz Luhrmann. The line “sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind…” seems particularly apt in these crazy times, it’s also relevant for anyone selling their business – in that timing is important but so…

The Perfect Trade Sale – Insight

Whilst we do not believe that the perfect sale, whether trade or otherwise, exists, in this insight we share some ideas that will help you get as close as possible to your perfect sale. Although predominantly written for sellers, there are a few points that are relevant or even specific to buyers. The Decision to…

Trade Sales versus Private Equity

Trade Sale versus Private Equity – which wins?

10.5 minutes read For many business owners, selling their company to exit is the ultimate reward for years of hard work. Most of the wealth in the world is capital wealth, not income, and realising this wealth can be an important part of a business owner’s journey and the peak of their ambitions. In a world…

Negotiating the best price for your business

Negotiating the Best Price for Your Business – Article

12 minute read Introduction Negotiating the best price for your business is key when research shows that more than half of the companies in the UK are undersold. They do not achieve maximum negotiated value – they only secure financial sale value. Surprisingly, the cause of this is not always sale preparation or the company…

Employee Ownership Trust

Is an Employee Ownership Trust sale right for you?

7.5 minute read Trade, Family Office, Private Equity, or Management Buy-Outs (MBOs) are all recognised exit options for business owners – each with its own pros and cons.  However, we are increasingly seeing a changing trend with shareholders now opting for Employee Ownership Trust structures (EOTs) for sale and succession because they offer significant benefits over…

Exit Strategies

Exit Strategies by Design – Guide

An exit strategy is a plan to create succession or liquidate the value of shares. A successful exit will focus on profitable value and ideally realise the goodwill inherent in a business; that being the customer loyalty that results in both current and future profitable revenue. Some corporates will also divest non-core assets to realise…

Trade Sale

The “Perfect” Trade Sale in 2023

8.5 minute read The “perfect” trade sale – is a fuss-free, maximum value, strategic trade deal with buyers that just “get it”. Yes, this is great in theory, but how can you achieve it? The Right Stuff Preparation, timing, and process all have a bearing on achieving the “perfect” trade sale, however, strategic buyers will be…

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly – Podcast

Download file here. When successfully completed, an acquisition can have a dramatic effect on the business; delivering a significant increase in profit that would have taken many years of organic growth to perhaps achieve, with all the added uncertainties that are all too natural in the business world. Additional potential benefits of an acquisition are…

Employee Ownership Trusts – In Search of Best Practice – Article

This article is contributed by our lead professional trustee firm, Independent Directors and Trustees (IDT). Any opinion expressed or advice is IDTs. The content is considered useful Continuous Professional Development material for owners considering an Employee Ownership Trust. If you have any questions or enquiries, please email us at av@avondale.co.uk or contact IDT directly quoting…

Acquisitions

Acquisitions – Guide

Acquisitions can propel companies to competitive advantage faster than organic growth can deliver. Carried out well, they can grab headlines and secure ‘CEO saviour’ or ‘leader’ reputations. Carried out badly they can also destroy value and create ‘CEO scoundrels’ as we saw with the UK’s Sir Fred Goodwin’s ABN AMRO purchase; poorly delivered and overpaid…

Shareholder Disputes and Negotiations – Podcast

Download file here. Shareholder Disputes and Negotiations We call it shareholder fatigue. Quite simply, the owners no longer see eye to eye. Often this is driven by exhaustion and frustration; there is no common vision or there is a lack of agreement on the direction of the company. Sadly, it can also be driven by…

Top 10 tips to "Good to Great" business strategy

Business Strategy “Good to Great” Top 10 Tips – Article

4.5 minute read   Business Strategy “Good to Great” Top 10 Tips It’s 20 years since Jim Collins published his archetypal business strategy book “Good to Great”, a study on why some companies make the leap to success… and others don’t; it is still a great read today. Central ideas from the book which studied 28…

Financing for Growth or Acquisitions – Podcast

Download file here. Financing for Growth or Acquisitions – Podcast Organic growth is hard work, more so with the headwinds of Brexit, Covid and now the Ukraine war all creating drag, and yet there is superabundant capital, be it bank finance or equity looking for good returns. But which is best? Debt, equity or a…

Financing for growth or acquisitions

Financing for Growth or Acquisitions – Article

Financing for Growth or Acquisitions   Introduction Organic growth is hard work, more so with the headwinds of Brexit, Covid and now the Ukraine war all creating drag, and yet there is superabundant capital, be it bank finance or equity looking for good returns. But which is best? Debt, equity or a mix? Financing for…

Financing

Financing – Guide

If carried out correctly, acquisitions may be the best route to achieving competitive advantage and return on capital employed. However, as with so many elements of mergers and acquisitions, there is an art to financing the deal, including questions like ‘where do we best raise the money and which type and structure of debt is…

Spring Statement March 2022

Spring Statement March 2022 – Article

3.5 minute read So, there you have it another Spring statement and a very difficult act. Quite simply, the UK and increasingly the finances of its households are in a mess. Inflation is rife resulting in the biggest fall in disposable income since records began in the 1950s. Post-pandemic growth is being stifled and the war…

How to Improve the Saleability of Your Business – Webinar

How to Improve the Saleability of Your Business Selling your company is the largest financial transaction most people ever undertake. Despite the large sums of money involved, it is surprising how most business owners do not plan adequately. This is one of the key reasons many business owners get a nasty surprise – approximately a…

Employee Ownership Trusts

Employee Ownership Trusts – Guide

Different people start companies for different reasons, which invariably influences their exit strategy. Trade sales catch the headlines, but family succession, private equity sales and management buy-outs are all commonly used exit strategies. There is however, a developing approach which is creating significant interest. In the last six months (Summer19) Arbuckles Restaurants, Aardman Productions (the…

Securing Competitive Advantage through Employee Ownership – Webinar

Securing Competitive Advantage through Employee Ownership Kevin Uphill, founder and chairman of Avondale Corporate, is joined by Ice Roof & Cladding managing director Gareth Davies in this webinar, ‘Securing Competitive Advantage through Employee Ownership’. Employee Ownership sales are becoming more popular, with 0% capital gains tax and not all companies being suited for trade sales.…

Acquisitions - How do you buy right?

Acquisitions – How do you buy right? – Article

11 minute read Acquisitions can propel companies towards competitive advantage at a faster pace than organic growth can achieve. When well-executed, acquisitions can grab headlines and secure ‘CEO saviour’ or ‘leader’ reputations – but, when badly executed, they can destroy value and create ‘CEO scoundrels’, such as we saw with Sir Fred Goodwin’s ABN AMRO purchase.…

Valuation Methods

Valuation Methods & Multiple Arbitrage – Guide

In an ever-evolving corporate landscape business leaders must recognise the importance of focusing business strategy on creating valuable companies as well as on maintaining day to day functions and profits. Valuations are centred around balanced risk and longevity of cash flow, present value of money and the likely yield we can generate from its effective…

Employee Ownership (EO) 2022

Creating Advantage via Employee Ownership in 2022 – Article

8 minute read Employee Ownership (EO) is an established exit strategy, whereby shareholders sell their company to a trust for the benefit of their employees. Since 2014, (“CGT”) free – this advantage is primarily driven by Government studies demonstrating that Employee Ownership increases company productivity, sustainability, local investment, and social mobility https://www.gov.uk/employee-ownership. There are now circa…

How to Build a More Valuable & Sustainable Business – Webinar

How to Build a More Valuable & Sustainable Business Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, but value is the reason. That is to say, the ‘reason’ many build successful businesses and work incredibly hard is the hope to sell those businesses for ‘beach money’ – beach being the metaphor for the financial freedom to choose…

How Private Companies can build more value and sustainability

How Private Companies can Build More Value and Sustainability – Article

9 minute read The skills and knowledge required to manage companies and create shareholder value have historically sat firmly in the realm of public companies. This is because listed public shares are ‘traded’ daily, thereby providing a daily ‘valuation’ of the business and company executives’ performance based on the value and earnings they achieve per share.…

10 proactive steps to help sell your business

10 Simple Steps to Help Sell Your Business Post-Covid – Article

6.5 minute read The M&A market continues to go from strength to strength. Trade buyers need to make acquisitions to shift their business models and create scale and private capital is looking for the yields that smaller businesses can provide. Valuations are holding and if you are planning to sell your business, the following revisited…

CIMA Virtual Conference 2021 | Mergers & Acquisitions Post-COVID

Mergers & Acquisitions post-COVID Kevin Uphill and Tim Hardman of Avondale Corporate will look at mergers & acquisitions post-COVID-19. From strategic trade deals to Employee Ownership, MBO sales and Private Equity investment. Topics covered include: • Valuation methods and deal structures • Latest trends • Identifying the right deals • Identifying the right buyers or…

Private Equity Demystified – Webinar

Private Equity Demystified Over half of all M&A transactions in the UK in the last year have been Private Equity led or financed. It is no longer good enough to avoid understanding these transactions because we don’t like ‘the suits and spreadsheets’. When structured correctly, they can be hugely effective at blending both exit and…

Pro-business Budget? – Article

Is this a lucky Chancellor? A faster than expected growth economy, plus inflation, has resulted in more taxes being collected and more money available to be spent. In relation to businesses, we see, and welcome, business rates being cut in hard-hit sectors like leisure and hospitality, and the R&D tax reduction remaining in place. Additionally,…

good company

Creating a ‘Good’ Company in 2021 – Article

5 minute read Quite often a ‘good’ company is perceived as being average. In the 1990s, well-known management books such as “Good to Great” and “In Search of Excellence”, further re-enforced this view. ‘Great’ or ‘excellent’ is the mantra and ‘good’ is not sufficient. This is a shame, as it can result in CEOs and…

2021 M&A Trends Update | Structures & Valuations – Webinar

2021 M&A Trends and Mid-Year Review It’s a world of volatility and low organic growth; yet many businesses are still outperforming expectations. It’s also a world of superabundant capital – too much money that is looking for a yield, which is rocket fuel for buy-outs. M&A is a critical component of strategy, so what is…

Private Equity firms

Are Private Equity Firms the New Formidable Imperialists? – Article

6 min read With high fees, leveraged debt and now the takeover of cherished public companies, Private Equity firms (“PE”) may be viewed as the new imperialists, dominating every sphere of the corporate world. So how does this translate within the emerging mid-enterprise (EME) market – that is, businesses with an enterprise value of £3-£50m?…

Exit Strategies – 11 Worst Mistakes – Webinar

Business Exit Strategies: The Do’s And Dont’s A business exit may be the largest transaction a leader will undertake, and the right approach can make a fundamental difference between success and failure. Mistakes can be costly, and here we present the most common slip-ups and how to avoid them. In our Exit Strategies: 11 Worst…

2021 m&a trends

2021 M&A Trends and Mid-Year Review – Article

9.5 min read 2021 M&A Trends and Mid-Year Review Increasingly we are witnessing in 2021 M&A trends as the pandemic has changed many aspects of our world. Whilst it has accelerated virtual working and placed technology at the centre of our business models, it has also left organic growth as no more than a pipe…

Employee Ownership Trust

Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) – 7 Important Questions & Answers – Article

16 min read What Is An Employee Ownership Trust? Employee Ownership is now an established structure when shareholders seeking an exit sell their company shares to their employees. Since 2014, such sales have been 100% Capital Gains Tax (“CGT”) free. This is because the Government believes, quite rightly, that an Employee Ownership Trust increases company…

How to Sell Your Business to Your Team

How To Sell Your Business To Your Team – The Employee Ownership Sale In our ‘How to Sell Your Business to Your Team’ webinar Kevin Uphill, Chairman of Avondale, is joined by employee ownership trust specialist Sue Lawrence, as well as Greg Vincent of Morrisons Solicitors LLP to discuss why employee ownership is centre stage.…

selling your company to employees

Realising Value Through Selling Your Company To Employees – Article

3 min read   Selling Your Company To Employees: A Quick Glance There has been a lot of talk about employee ownership sales over recent months – and clearly, there are a lot of misconceptions. Many people regard it as being a ‘soft’ option to hand over a business to employees with no real upside…

Employee Ownership Sale

11 Key Advantages of An Employee Ownership Sale Over An MBO – Article

6 min read The Semi-New Kid on The Bloc: Employee Ownership Sales Vs The Traditional MBO An Employee Ownership sale involves the sale of a minimum of 51% of your business to your staff through a Trust structure, whilst a Management Buy-Out (MBO) is where your company’s management team purchases the business themselves – not through…

Creating Competitive Advantage in Volatile Markets – Webinar

Creating Competitive Advantage During The Covid Pandemic In the broadcast posted below, Kevin Uphill and business mentor Joe Hinton discuss how to create competitive advantage in volatility. The Covid-19 pandemic has created recession, accelerated virtualisation, and driven some sectors to the ground. Many leaders will focus on business maintenance and avoid deep decisions until there is…

Creating Competitive Advantage

3 Ways to Create Competitive Advantage in Volatile Markets – Article

4.5 min read Creating Competitive Advantage During The Covid Pandemic The Covid-19 pandemic has created recession, accelerated virtualisation, and driven some sectors to the ground. Many leaders will focus on business maintenance and avoid deep decisions until there is more certainty, with the belief that in a storm you should not aim for higher ground, but…

Creating competitive advantage

2021 – Invent Tomorrow and Create a Competitive Advantage – Article

3.5 min read Let’s go invent tomorrow rather than worrying about what happened yesterday”. These were the words of Steve Jobs when he was reinstated as head of Apple Computers in 2007. The idea of looking to the future rather than dwelling on the past certainly resonates in our ‘new’ world. Covid-19 has undoubtedly had a…

SME meaning

SME Meaning | The Solution for the Flawed SME Definition – Article

5 min read SME Meaning: Putting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Room 101  ‘Room 101’ is where we put things that we find torturous. The term comes from George Orwell’s famous novel ‘1984’ and, more recently, the great British TV programme. ‘So, are you suggesting we put 99% of the UK’s businesses in Room 101?’…

M&A Post-Brexit

M&A Post-Brexit – What to Expect? – Article

So long, and thanks for all the fish! Following Ursula von der Leyen’s announcement earlier today, some form of Brexit deal is looking more likely. Leaving the European Union is a political choice ultimately based on sovereignty, and of course ‘fish’ judging by newspaper headlines. My headline is borrowed from the Douglas Adam’s book -…

Tax On Selling A Business – The Changing Wind – Webinar

The Tax On Selling A Business And The Budget  In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill and James Heathcote, director of private client advisory services at Lancaster Knox, discuss the current tax regime, potential 2021 budget and opportunities. The webinar is available below, however, first lets talk about the ‘perfect’ business sale, the tax on selling a…

The ‘Perfect’ Business Sale – Selling A Business – Article

The ‘Perfect’ Business Sale – Selling A Business In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill and Tim Hardman discuss the different types of exits, the steps to the perfect sale and the timeline of selling a business. The webinar is available below, however, first we shall talk about the ‘perfect’ business sale that is ‘easy to define…

The 'perfect' business sale

The ‘Perfect’ Business Sale – The 5 Steps to Success – Article

The ‘Perfect’ Business Sale – A Fast, Fuss-free Transaction on The Right Terms With The Right Buyers, With A Rewarding Journey Afterwards And No Sting in The Tail. The ‘perfect’ business sale is ‘easy to define but hard to align’. Despite the huge distraction caused by the COVID crisis, buyers are still highly active as…

Scale Up To Create Value In Business – Webinar

In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill, Tim Hardman and Peter Drinkwater discuss unlocking growth and breaking the glass ceiling. They also share why most companies plateau and how to create value in business. How To Create Value In Business And Promote Growth To create value in a business is hard and with the current volatility it…

business growth

4 Super Strategies For Business Growth – Article

5 min read Strategies for Business Growth Through Mergers & Acquisitions The restrictions on our personal lives and businesses are gradually beginning to ease, but the coronavirus will likely have long-lasting effects, with no quick return if ever to how things were.  For a business to drive change against slow or negative business growth, part…

How Employee Ownership Can Beat Trade Sales – Webinar

In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill and Sue Lawrence discuss how to build the right team for Employee Ownership sales, how to understand the financial model and how to prepare for the process. They also share the 0% tax and HMRC clearance and why more companies are using the approach post-COVID. Employee Ownership Trusts In the…

Employee Ownership Trusts

Employee Ownership Trust: Selling Your Business To An EOT – Article

8 min read   Employee Ownership Trusts In the last two years, the number of UK Employee Ownership Trusts (EOT) businesses has doubled. This is because, if structured correctly, they can match the value of trade sales but with a capital gains tax of 0% to the selling shareholders. They can also create a more productive…

Blue ocean strategy

Buy Into A Blue Ocean Strategy Through Mergers & Acquisitions – Article

3 min read Blue Ocean Strategy in a Covid and Post-Covid World   Confidence is rising, with the expectation that the economy will soon return to sustained growth as the lockdown continues to ease. However, the longer-term recovery prospects remain highly uncertain. Some of the recent gains in markets reflect short-term bounces as businesses returned…

Business disruption

How Business Disruption Can be Positive During Covid-19 – Article

Some of the best business ideas have come out of economic recessions, as entrepreneurs challenge old ideas to find new markets.  “Survival of the fittest” is a phrase that originated from Darwinian evolutionary theory and in that sense, now is the time for bravery, vision and material positive business disruption. Organisations that successfully adjust to…

business post-covid

Private Equity Sale: Myth vs. Reality – Webinar

Private Equity: Myth Vs Reality In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill discusses how investors add value, what private equity looks for and typical structures and costs. He also shares ideas on investment and Covid-19 and some success stories. What Is It Really Like Working With Private Equity and Should You Explore This Route to Sell Your…

private equity

Private Equity – Myth versus Reality – Article

What is it really like working with Private Equity and should you explore this route to sell your business? Conventional wisdom is that a trade buyer who can gain economies of scale and synergy will pay the most for your business. Today, however, with so much private money looking for yield, Private Equity (PE) is…

M&A jargon

M&A Jargon: Accomplishing Effective Deals Without It – Article

M&A Jargon and Its Place For those of you who do not know, a Babel Fish comes from the Douglas Adams comedy science fiction book “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. In the book, he describes a bright yellow fish that, if placed in your ear, can automatically translate any language into your native tongue.…

Business Post-Covid-19: Mergers & Acquisitions – Webinar

Business Post-Covid: Remain Positive, React Accordingly and We are Usually Successful The media reports constant gloom and we know that shutting sections of the economy such as leisure and travel is going to have a significant long-term shock. However, the history of the economy proves that there are reasons to be cheerful, and the road…

business post-covid

Business Post-Covid: The Important Road M&A Must Travel – Article

Business Post-Covid: Remain Positive, React Accordingly and We are Usually Successful I was listening to some old songs over the weekend that got me thinking. The lyrics “The road I must travel”, from Mr Mister’s cheerful 1986 song entitled Kyrie Eleison reminds me of the current challenges ahead. What is going to happen to business…

Private equity

Business Growth: Busting the Private Equity Myth – Webinar

Private Equity: A Gold Mine Waiting to be Exploited? Economic growth was slow before the pandemic, but the resultant lockdown and social distancing will undoubtedly create more drag. It was hard to grow quality companies before COVID-19, now it will be even harder. Yet there is a real solution in the estimated £2.3 trillion of…

Why Employee Ownership is Centre Stage – Webinar

Is being Employee-Owned the Future? The economy is slowly opening after the lockdown. Hopefully, the ice will gently thaw, albeit warm weather may be some way off. We have already written about how an economic slowdown should encourage evaluation, and the latest news on this came from the John Lewis Partnership. This goliath of the…

employee-owned

Effective Employee-Owned Business Model Post-COVID-19 – Article

Is Employee-Owned the Future? The economy is slowly opening after the lockdown. Hopefully, the ice will gently thaw, albeit warm weather may be some way off. We have already written about how an economic slowdown should encourage evaluation, and the latest news on this came from the John Lewis Partnership. This goliath of the high…

Business Sales During and After Covid-19

Critical Business Sales During and After Covid-19 – Article

Business Sales During and After Covid-19: What To Expect and Our Predictions  There is no doubt we are at the beginning of this journey and we don’t know how long it’s going to last, or how far into the future there will be a knock-on effect on society and the economy. What I can tell…

EBITDAC: Business Valuations in the Covid Age – Webinar

EBITDAC Valuation Methods During the Covid-19 Age and What It Means for M&A Discusses latest trends and risks, together with possible methods and approaches. Looks at how professional buyers are tackling the challenge and driving shareholder value. Many of you may have seen the coffee mug circulating on social media; EBITDAC, earnings before interest depreciation,…

business productivity

Effectively Turbo-Charge Business Productivity Post-COVID-19 – Article

Business Productivity Ahead of The Covid-19 Pandemic  Last week our partners at the Institute of Directors IOD, published a Directors’ Priorities List which shows the support available to UK businesses under Lockdown. Whilst being quite helpful, it somewhat misses the point. If it is aimed at the CEO, the list really should start and end…

remote work

8 Emerging Issues Facing Remote Work During Covid-19 – Article

Remote Work and its Evolutionary Transition   IT now sits firmly at the heart of businesses, making up a remote working ‘Business Hub’ of remote work- however flimsy or sophisticated it is. Coronavirus has enforced nearly every organisation to embrace virtualisation, however, research suggests that many businesses have layer cake operational and divisional models where…

Increase Productivity, Reduce Costs – Remote Work, IT & Automation – Webinar

Remote Work and Its Impact On Business  In this broadcast, Kevin Uphill explores the opportunities for efficiency in business operations, remote work, leading to increased profit, enhanced shareholder value and improved business value. He looks at working from home and conjoining systems, increasing collaboration and reducing the management layer cake. IT now sits firmly at…

Entrepreneur's relief

Entrepreneur’s Relief Lifetime Allowance Cut from £10m to £1m – Article

Entrepreneur’s Relief: What Does the Price Cut Actually Mean for Entrepreneur’s?   It looks as if the chancellor, Rishi Sunak, rather predictably, didn’t read my article “Could entrepreneurs’ relief be a benefit to the economy rather than a drain on the treasury?”. Announced this afternoon in the budget statement, Entrepreneur’s Relief (ER) – the relief…

Friday the 13th. Lucky for some. – Article

Do we create our own luck? Whatever your point of view on Brexit, at least the election result will draw a line under the issue. The Prime Minister will be determined to implement it fast and allow the country to move on. History may yet prove that it is to our advantage to have left…

Business culture

7 Reasons Business Culture is Important in Mergers and Acquisitions – Article

Business culture and it’s importance in the M&A world There is a saying, “before you presume to manage others, know yourself”. The same may be applied to business culture. When you know your people, their values, beliefs and how these combine with decision-making, and therefore how things get done in an organisation, you may understand…

business failure

Business Failure: 3 Reasons Companies Fail to Sell – Article

Business failure: Here are three reasons why companies fail to sell and what you can do to prevent them Although rarely spoken about, the fact is that successfully selling a business requires considerable expertise and experience. Businesses are both unique and complex and there is a myriad of reasons why they may not sell. More…

Transactional risk

How We Protect Against Transactional Risk in M&A – Article

Transactional Risk In Business Sales Business sales are complex, and no two are the same – we all know this. Because of this, many sales fail and leave a very disappointed seller and buyer. Even when an advisor is familiar with the type of challenges that occur most regularly, there will always be issues which…

Business valuation

Business Valuation: What is My Company Really Worth? – Article

What is my business really worth? Lets find out… We’ve all heard the question ‘How long is a piece of string?’. Ignoring the answer that it’s twice as long as half its length, what does string length have to do with the value of your business? Well, the length of this said piece of string…

management buyout

The Rise of Management Buyouts – Article

In recent years, the number of MBO deals has seen a steady rise. Last year, the number of deals rose 20%, from 76 deals in 2016 to 91 in 2017. In the same period, the total value of MBO deals grew from £2.6 billion to £2.7 billion – a 4% increase.

emerging mid-market

Emerging Mid-Market in 2018: M&A to the Fore Amid Growing Pains – Article

In our annual survey in association with the Institute of Directors, we surveyed the views and opinion of IoD members and users of IoD.com. The results, on the one hand, highlight the difficulties facing CEOs and owners at a low- and emerging mid-market level. However – amid emerging threats and challenges – we are also seeing resilience and a determination to carve out new paths to growth.

Buying a Business: When Strategy Becomes Critical

Buying a Business: When Strategy Becomes Critical – Article

Buying or acquiring a business is a major milestone in any entrepreneur or business owner’s career. And it’s the one that invariably throws up the most challenges and concerns. With so many potential complexities to navigate, even ‘serial’ entrepreneurs and seasoned M&A veterans struggle to make the process of buying or selling work for them.

Business_Legislation

New Tech Takeover Rules Won’t Stop Investors Coming

At Avondale, we, as much as anyone, understand the value of M&A in driving business growth and wider economic expansion. For small- and medium-sized companies in particular, acquisitions provide a vital avenue for growth and a key outlet when considering an exit or succession planning.

Selling Your Business is Never an Emotionless Process

Selling Your Business is Never an Emotionless Process

M&A is technical, so when it comes to selling a business, the focus has tended to fall purely on the “how”. Yet the most effective business conversations start with the “whys” or the “what ifs” – the personal motivations that drive a sale carry their own value and are not to be downplayed.