In this article, Jon Davage outlines some pointers for those seeking acquisition opportunities via an insolvency process.
The folding of a company may be catastrophic for the stakeholders of the relevant company, but insolvencies provide buyers with the ability to acquire assets and valuable customer contracts at reduced prices. However, acquisitions of this type are not without their perils and often have hidden costs. Here are some issues to consider before you embark on this type of deal.
Stephen joined our Manchester based corporate team as a partner in April 2018.
He has over 20 years of experience and his focus is mainly on company formations, mergers and takeovers, disposals and MBO/MBIs, as well as general commercial contracts and advice.
His clients are both regional and national and range from sole traders to large companies.
Outside of work, Bolton based Stephen enjoys going to the gym, supporting (for a very long time) Manchester City, gardening and spending time with his granddaughter.
Holly studied Law at York Law School within the University of York, graduating in 2016. She then went on to study at the University of Law in Manchester where she completed the LPC with a Masters in Law, Business and Management in July 2017.
Before joining Bermans Holly was a member of the management team at the Disney Store in both Liverpool and York. She also has had some experience with the Walt Disney Company’s legal team and worked as a civil clerk at 7 Harrington Street Chambers.
Outside of work Holly loves the outdoors and enjoys doing anything creative or with a competitive element.
Holly is currently working in Bermans Property and Corporate departments.
Whilst being nothing new to the market place, the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) introduced over 20 years ago has been the launch pad for many ideas and developments that have gone on to bring great return and growth for small high risk companies that would have otherwise struggled to raise debt or equity finance.
‘FinTech’ or financial technology is a phrase increasingly used in the media, the finance sector and the business world in general. In the broadest sense, financial technology is any technology that is used and applied in the financial services sector which improves the delivery of financial services. But what does that mean and why should you care that it is one of the fastest growing areas for venture capitalists or that the sector generated almost £7billion revenue in 2016?
Anton Stirrett joined our Liverpool based Corporate team in January 2017 as a Partner. He joined us from Knights Professional Services and specialises in all forms of corporate transactions including business acquisitions, MBO’s, MBI’s and corporate re-organisations.
Anton prides himself on working with clients to form close working relationships to understand their requirements and to ensure that work is completed within tight timescales and within agreed budgets.
Anton specialises in advising SME’s and owner managed businesses but also has expertise in the healthcare sector, in particular pharmacies and dental transactions.
Outside of work, Anton likes to spend time playing golf and football and running.
Neil joined Bermans in January 2016 and has since qualified into the Corporate team. Assisting on a range of corporate transactions including acquisitions and disposals, private equity investments, EIS and SEIS fund raising and MBOs, Neil enjoys working across a real variety of sectors servicing clients of every structure and size.
Neil has developed a particular specialism in the ophthalmic sector having handled upwards of 20 acquisitions or disposals in this sector in his time with Bermans.
Neil studied Business Economics at the University of Liverpool before completing the Graduate Diploma of Law and Legal Practice Course at the University of Law, Manchester. Before joining Bermans, Neil worked in the Legal and Business Affairs department in-house at Manchester United FC despite being an avid Liverpool fan.
Catherine joined Bermans in August 2016 as a Solicitor in the Corporate team. She trained with Rowe Cohen and qualified as a Solicitor in 2005, initially specialising in commercial law.
Catherine advises a variety of clients ranging from sole traders and start-ups to medium-sized enterprises. She is experienced in drafting documents for and negotiating a broad spectrum of corporate transactions assisting clients in reorganisation of businesses and company structures, business/company sales and acquisitions, shareholders and cross option agreements, company law and partnership matters.
Robin joined Bermans in December 2015 and is a Senior Associate in the firm’s Corporate department. Having trained with Druces in London where he qualified in 2011 Robin then moved onto Turner Parkinson in Manchester.
Ranked by Experian Corpfin as the first in the North West for deals worked on in 2013, and then first in the UK in 2014.
Robin advises clients ranging from start-ups to large companies on a range of corporate matters including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, reorganisations, joint ventures and corporate governance issues.
Jon heads up the Corporate team having joined Bermans as a Corporate Partner in January 2012. Jon had previously worked at SME focused law firms in Manchester since qualification.
He is a specialist in transactional and corporate finance work as well as providing general strategic advice.
Clients include a variety of companies, many of whom are owner-managed SMEs but also larger corporates.
He has worked with clients across a range of sectors but has particular expertise in the financial services, digital/media and healthcare (particularly ophthalmic) sectors.
Jon’s knowledge and experience allows him to provide clients with clear direction through what can be quite complex processes.
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