A share purchase involves buying some or all of the shares in a company, meaning you acquire ownership of the business together with its assets, contracts and liabilities. An asset purchase allows you to select specific assets and liabilities you want to take on. The right structure will depend on factors such as tax, liabilities, third party consents, commercial objectives and the seller’s preferences. We advise on both structures and work alongside your accountant or tax advisor to help you make the right choice.

A structured review of the target’s contracts, employees, intellectual property, property, regulatory compliance, litigation history and corporate records. We produce a clear report focused on the issues that affect your decision to buy and the price you are prepared to pay.

Most SME acquisitions complete within three to six months of heads of terms. Timing depends on due diligence findings, third party consents, finance arrangements and the seller’s response times.

You should instruct a solicitor before heads of terms are signed. Heads of terms set the commercial framework for the deal and many points are difficult to renegotiate later. Getting legal input early protects your position throughout.

Where the scope is clear we offer fixed fees. For more complex acquisitions we agree an estimate range with capped hourly rates and provide regular updates.

A standard set of warranties about the business, its accounts, contracts, employees, intellectual property, property, tax position and compliance. We negotiate the scope and limitations to give you proper recourse if something turns out to be wrong.