Mergers, Acquisitions and Disposals

Every business is different. And every business owner has different reasons for selling or buying a business. Buying or selling a business can be complex, so you want lawyers who understand and can effectively deal with the process, and who understand the commercial reality behind the numbers.

How can Thorntons help?

Our experienced team advises on all kinds and sizes of merger and acquisition activity. Our work has ranged from large cross-border deals to small management buy-outs, and from the buying and selling of owner or family-managed private companies to complex international transactions and public company work. We also commonly give strategic advice to business managers on preparing for exit. Above all, we look to understand your motivations and aspirations behind a transaction and adapt the process to achieve these, not the other way around.

We are ideally placed to advise you on all aspects of an acquisition or disposal, whether you are buying or selling a company, its business or its assets. We can assist clients through the whole process, from putting non-disclosure agreements in place, negotiating the terms, assisting the due diligence and dealing with all legal requirements related to the transaction. We can also effectively manage and coordinate a sale or purchase process for you, whilst liaising closely with you, your accountants and financiers.

We have also been involved in a significant number of transactions types where specific issues arise or considerations apply, such as management buy-outs and management buy-ins, sales to employees, sales to private equity and distressed company transactions. And, as we have English-qualified lawyers in all of our business law units, we routinely deal in cross-border acquisitions and disposals.

Our specialist team’s expertise combined with our pragmatic approach and commercial acumen allows us to deliver the highest standard of service to our clients and ensure deals are completed on time and within budget.