Buying or selling a business is a significant commercial decision. Whether you are acquiring a business as part of your growth strategy, purchasing your first company or preparing to sell a business you have built over many years, the structure and terms of the transaction can have long-term implications.
At Gepp Solicitors, our Corporate & Commercial solicitors advise business owners, shareholders and companies on business sales and acquisitions. We provide clear, commercially focused legal advice throughout the transaction, helping you understand the risks, negotiate appropriate protections and move towards completion.
Buying a business requires careful consideration of what you are acquiring and the legal and commercial risks involved.
Our business acquisition solicitors can advise on the most appropriate structure for the transaction, including whether the purchase is structured as a share purchase or an asset purchase. We can work with you and your other professional advisers to understand your objectives and identify issues that could affect the acquisition.
Legal due diligence is an important part of the business purchase process. Depending on the transaction, this may include reviewing contracts, company information, property arrangements, employees, intellectual property and potential liabilities.
We will explain our findings clearly and advise on any contractual protections that may be required before you proceed.
Selling a business can require significant preparation. Taking legal advice at an early stage can help identify potential issues, prepare the business for sale and reduce the risk of unnecessary delays during the transaction.
Our business sale solicitors can advise on the structure of the sale, review and negotiate heads of terms and assist with confidentiality and exclusivity arrangements.
We can guide you through the due diligence process and negotiate the transaction documents on your behalf. This may include advising on warranties, indemnities, disclosure and other provisions designed to allocate risk between the buyer and seller.
Our aim is to help you understand the commercial implications of the terms being negotiated and protect your interests throughout the business sale.
The legal structure of a business sale or acquisition can significantly affect the transaction.
In a share sale, the buyer acquires the shares in a company. The company continues to own its assets and remains responsible for its existing liabilities, making appropriate due diligence and contractual protections particularly important.
In an asset sale, the buyer acquires specified assets of the business. These may include property, equipment, contracts, intellectual property and other business assets. The parties will need to agree precisely which assets and liabilities form part of the transaction.
Our Corporate & Commercial solicitors can advise on the legal implications of the proposed structure and work alongside your accountants and tax advisers where appropriate.
Every business sale and acquisition is different. Depending on the nature and complexity of the transaction, we can advise on:
Whether you are buying a business, selling a company or planning a strategic acquisition or disposal, our Corporate & Commercial solicitors can provide practical legal advice tailored to your commercial objectives.
We take the time to understand the business, the transaction and what you want to achieve. From the initial heads of terms and due diligence process through to negotiating the sale or purchase agreement and completing the transaction, we will guide you through each stage and explain the legal and commercial implications clearly.
We also work alongside accountants, tax advisers and other professional advisers where appropriate, helping to ensure the legal aspects of the transaction support your wider commercial objectives.
To discuss buying or selling a business, contact our Corporate & Commercial team on 01245 228141 or email commercialenq@gepp.co.uk
Contact Justin Emerson on:
Call: 01245 228101 or
email: emersonj@gepp.co.uk
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