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Our specialist Corporate Law team have advised in relation to a wide variety of mergers & acquisitions in the UK and abroad. We offer pragmatic, commercially-focused advice to business owners, financial organisations, investment firms and all other types of corporate client, helping them realise their goals and maximise their investment.
We work closely with all our Corporate and Commercial law experts to provide a fully-inclusive service that covers all your needs. As well as the practical legal aspects of merging or acquiring businesses, we can assist with all associated matters, from regulatory considerations to employment law advice.
For expert business legal advice, please speak to our corporate lawyers in Chichester, Fareham, Havant or Petworth or use our simple enquiry form to ask a question and get a quick response.
Our expert corporate law solicitors’ mergers & acquisitions advice includes:
It is beneficial to have the advice of a solicitor who specialises in M&A advice as such transactions tend to be complex and involve various interweaving areas of law. The terms of mergers & acquisitions are primarily negotiated by lawyers with the commercial interests and goals of their client firmly in the forefront of their mind.
Taking expert legal advice ensures full legal compliance so minimises risk as well as the potential for disputes arising. Your lawyer also checks the details of every aspect of the transaction to ensure that, legally, you are getting a good deal.
Any buyer looking to acquire another business must ensure that every single detail of the transaction is carefully checked and considered so that they are fully aware of the extent of their liabilities and any potential risks – this is referred to as due diligence.
Part of your lawyer’s role is to assist with the due diligence stage and to investigate matters such as:
The City Code on Takeovers and Mergers is in place to regulate the takeovers and merger process in the UK. The Code has six General Principles which govern the standards of commercial behaviour.
In brief, the purpose of the Code is to ensure that shareholders are treated fairly, for example, that they are provided with enough time and information to make informed decisions on takeover bids and that the company board must act in the best interests of the company as a whole and to not prevent shareholders from having their say.
The Code mainly applies to listed companies, not private companies registered in the UK. If the Code applies to your merger or acquisition, as part of our service, we will ensure that the Code is fully complied with.
A merger is where two businesses are combined. Usually, the merger will involve two independent companies (which are separate legal entities) transferring their workers, assets and liabilities to a newly formed company. The original companies are then dissolved and cease to exist.
There are many different kinds of mergers which may benefit you depending on your commercial goals, such as:
An acquisition is where one company buys the assets or shares of another business. Often the acquired company will be completely absorbed into the acquiring company. Alternatively, it may remain a standalone subsidiary.
A management buy-out (MBO) is where the management team buy some or all of the business they manage. The advantage of this is that it allows management to take greater control of the business, streamline its operations and improve profitability.
For more information, visit our Management Buy-Outs page.
A management buy-in (MBI) differs from an MBO in that it is an external management team that acquires the company. The new team then replace the existing team. This may be beneficial where company is underperforming or undervalued, or where the new team have specialist expertise and greater knowledge or contacts.
A merger is when two businesses combine, usually to create a new permanent business which is structured as a separate legal entity.
A joint venture is when two businesses join forces for a specific, time-limited project. The businesses involved may create a new company for the purposes of the joint venture, but will usually carry on operating as their own individual businesses.
For more information, visit our Joint Ventures page.
Our M&A lawyers can offer a wealth of experience garnered over many years of practical, hands-on experience. Having worked with businesses of all sizes and structures, we are well placed to provide the high quality, commercially-focused advice you need to make your merger or acquisition a success.
We provide a highly personalised service, carefully tailoring our advice to suit our clients’ individual business needs. We are proud to be the go-to law firm for businesses in and around Hampshire and Sussex, with many of our clients returning to us time and time again as their business grows.
Our expert team includes Partner Lance Terry, an experienced lawyer with a strong background dealing with corporate transactions, including mergers & acquisitions.
Our Corporate team also includes Scott Richardson, a skilled lawyer who specialises in all corporate and commercial law matters.
For expert business legal advice, please speak to our corporate lawyers in Chichester, Fareham, Havant or Petworth or use our simple enquiry form to ask a question and get a quick response.
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