Dexterity Partners have over 60 years of continuous experience of selling owner managed and SME businesses.
We have a proven track record and a distinctive start to finish service to sell your business whereby we manage every stage of the process to create a streamlines and smooth process for owners.
Here is a selection of recently completed business sales, contact us for more information.
Interactive Technical Solution Ltd (ITS) specialises in providing technical publications, Integrated Logistic Support, Training and other services to the UK MOD, the defence sector and prime engineering contractors. It has been established for over 20 years by co-founders Ian Birchall and Stephen Preston.
The business was integrated into Cohort PLC through its subsidiary Marlborough Communications (Communications and Intelligence division) who acquired 100% of Interactive Technical Solutions Ltd for a cash consideration. Marlborough Communications supplies cutting-edge intelligence collection, communications and robotic technology to the Armed Forces and Police.
Our “Fit to Sell” and “Fit for the Future” preparation enabled Stephen and Ian the founders to realise their shareholder value immediately and avoid having to accept any long term earn out or deferred payment. It also assisted in being able to very clearly demonstrate the various strengths of the business to the prospective buyers in an authentic and demonstrable way. Such as the process driven nature of the business instilled by the two founders, the positive future outlook of the business, the historical retention of clients and their relationships and collaboration with them as well as the long term nature of much of their work.
John Petty Services Ltd – known as JPS a print management company working with a portfolio of fashion, homes and lifestyle businesses across the UK with a heritage of over 150 years as a family company under the leadership of Bridget and John Petty was sold to PMG Print Management Group Ltd.
This transaction enabled the Petty family to realise the value of this business and facilitate the retirement of John Petty. Bridget said “consideration of our succession opportunities was critical. Therefore working with Dexterity Partners enabled a discrete process to be undertaken to find a partner who had similar values to our own was of the utmost importance.” This enabled the multiple objectives of value maximisation, continuation of our core values, client continuity and maintaining our talented team to take this business from strength- to-strength.” Mike Roberts, the owner of PMG said, “I am excited about working closely with Bridget Petty, who will remain as managing director, in growing our brands together.”
In addition Dexterity’s “Fit to Sell” preparation was critical to ensure commercial, legal and financial issues identified by the Buyers due diligence team could be immediately and positively resolved which had no impact on the initial value assessment. Similarly the “Fit for the Future” analysis identified the need to consider key future issues and build a sales bridge to support future earn out calculations which was always expected to play a part in any deal. The addressing of these issues prior to commencing the buyer search ensured a smooth transition process which avoided disruption of the business as is often seen as buyer information requests swamp day to day normal business actions.
Whilst no sales process is ever stress free the management of all stages from business preparation, buyer identification, marketing , Heads of Terms , due diligence and Sale and Purchase Agreement all undertaken our in house team rather than via multiple advisors (brokers, consultants, corporate finance and lawyers) allowed Dexterity to be the only required point of contact who managed the whole process from start to finish. In addition to this minimising the disruption to the directors it resulted in a cost effective value for money solution.
Dr. Simon Brayshaw explained that the “Fit to Sell” and “Fit for the Future” analyses are designed to preemptively identify potential concerns that prospective buyers might have, helping to address deal breakers or weed out unrealistic buyers. This proactive approach is a crucial factor behind Dexterity Partners’ perfect track record. For owner-managers, selling a business is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so thorough preparation is vital for a successful sale. This preparation is underpinned by Dr. Brayshaw’s practical doctorate research at Warwick Business School on “creating short-term profit and long-term value in Owner Managed Businesses,” combined with his personal experience of successfully buying, operating, and selling over 30 businesses across three decades.
Dexterity Partners are pleased to have been lead adviser to the largest individual shareholder on the sale of their equity stake in Winder Power.
The investment and management buyout at the historic Yorkshire manufacturer of power and distribution transformers was named as Insider’s Deal of the Month.
The company, which has been established for more than 100 years and employs 100 people at its 80,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Pudsey, Leeds, supplies electrical handling equipment for the power industry, with customers including Thames Water, Euro Tunnel, ASDA and Drax.
Winder Power has benefitted from a significant increase in demand for its power generation and handling equipment and services with the switch to increased renewable energy generation across the UK over the last decade.
New Look Windows Limited a long established domestic and commercial installer of Windows, Doors and external building products has completed the partial sale of this family business.
Walter Lopacki the founder will remain as Chairperson with an equity involvement to support the new team make the next steps in the development of the business across the North of England. This will allow Craig Williams, Andy Parker and Trevor Shires as new shareholders develop its existing customer base. Walter Lopacki in his new role as Chairperson said, “it allows the business to take the next growth steps whilst maintaining customer and supplier relationships, so provide stability for employees and a clear future for all New Look Windows stakeholders.”
Walter noted “Dexterity Partners, led by co-founders; Dr Simon Brayshaw and Jonathan Priestley provided their unique start to finish advisory service for Owner Managers. This includes the unique “Fit to Sell” and Fit for the Future” initial preparation, financial analysis and legal services. This allows a cost-effective value for money solution with one adviser been able to project manage all stages. Dr Simon Brayshaw commented the “Fit to Sell and “Fit for the Future“ analysis identifies any issues and resolved at an early stage.
An owner manager selling their business often only has one chance, so investment in preparation is essential to a successful sale. This is made possible by Dr Simon Brayshaw’s practical doctorate research at Warwick Business School; “creating short-term profit and long-term value in Owner Managed Businesses” and own experience over 30 years of buying building and selling his own businesses.
Max Abraham Roofing Contracts established in 1961 is looking forward to the next 60 years serving the roofing market after completing the sale of this family business to an undisclosed private Investor. This will allow new owners working with the Abraham family, who remain in the business, to develop its existing customer base and expand its product range as new investment in sales and marketing is added to its long-established reputation for roofing products including an unrivalled in stock, hard to find reclaimed roofing tiles.
The joint managing director, Jez Abraham commented that the new investment, starting with a new website, would allow the family business to take the next step to growth with further investment in sales and marketing and product development to complement its unrivalled product knowledge. This will provide future opportunities for the existing team at CRP and attract customer from competitors unable to provide both product and hands on fitting experience.
Jez acknowledged the value of investing in Dexterity Partners utilising their unique Fit to Sell and Fit for the Future preparation. Jez noted “Dexterity Partners, led by co- founders; Dr Simon Brayshaw and Jonathan Priestley provided their unique start to finish advisory service for Owner Managers. This includes the unique “Fit to Sell” and Fit for the Future” initial preparation which addressed issues we only realised towards the end of the process and fortunately Dexterity Partners had already found solutions for these potential problems. This ensured a cost-effective value for money investment often too costly for smaller companies using multiple advisors including, sales brokers, accountants and lawyers all on a time basis not a fixed fee. Jez also added the preparation of the business for sale was critical to the later negotiations as it enabled them not to be surprised by buyer issues which otherwise would have resulted in the reduction in the original offer price. This enabled them to leave Dexterity Partners to manage the end-to-end sales process enabling them to continue to run the business.
Dr Simon Brayshaw commented that “The Fit to Sell and “Fit for the Future“ analysis identifies any issues a buyer may raise prior to marketing of the business. This has resulted in a 100% success rate at identifying buyers, due diligence and Sale and Purchase Agreement stages. An owner manager selling their business often only has one chance to sell, so investment in preparation is essential to a successful sale. This is made possible by Dr Simon Brayshaw’s practical doctorate research at Warwick Business School; “creating short-term profit and long-term value in Owner Managed Businesses”. This is coupled with his own personal experience of buying and selling over 50 businesses over 30 years.
We are delighted to announce that, on 4 January 2023, Headlam Group plc (“Headlam” or the “Group”) completed the acquisition of Melrose Interiors Ltd (‘Melrose’) and its parent company Birch Close Trading Ltd.
Melrose based in Bradford and trading for over 50 years is a specialist manufacturer, importer and distributor of rugs and associated flooring products. Melrose is the largest independent supplier to the UK online rug industry, and also has operations in third-party logistics, upcycling and recycling, and a sampling / pattern book department.
Melrose is led by Andy Murphy, who has been Managing Director since 2010, and his team of 45 people. Melrose brings a number of new larger customers to the Group, including major high street and online retailers, and specialises in both B2B and B2C fulfilment. By Melrose becoming part of Headlam, we can support each other to grow our business with this customer base.
Melrose also owns the award winning [RE]lay brand of recycled rugs. This brand not only offers fantastic value and design, but importantly stops waste product going to landfill. Launching and promoting more sustainable products is highly important to Headlam, and [RE]lay is a market leading environmentally friendly range.
Melrose website: melroseinteriors.co.uk
Relay website: relayrugs.co.uk
“I’m delighted to be joining forces with K3. We pride ourselves on
delivering a high-quality service and we can add greater value to our clients through the provision of K3’s broad range of advisory services. Businesses are facing unprecedented levels of financial hardship and we are now in an even stronger position to help businesses navigate the current economic storm.”
Dexterity Partners played a critical role in managing the complete sales process, from negotiation to legal completion. This enabled me to remain focussed on the business whilst having an experienced sounding board who understood all the issues. Dexterity Partners unique approach with a single point contact controlling the whole process, improved the final agreed value and terms of the deal.”
Michael Chamberlain, founder and director at Chamberlain & Co
Contact our team at Dexterity Partners today for assistance with selling your business, let us help you sell your business.