TESTIMONIALS

The 3 shareholders of our specialist electronics distribution company decided to sell up and retire after founding the company 17 years earlier. The company was valued at about £1.5m. We met Bill Eastwood at a seminar on exit strategy arranged by our bank at a local solicitors premises. We had subsequent meetings to discuss the options available to us so we could establish the best way forward. Within about 4 weeks of discussion with Eastwood Anglo details of a potentially suitable purchaser were sent to us for review. We had spent a long time building up the business, and a loyal team, so did not want to sell to any company which would destroy the company we had worked so hard to build. It was important that we find the right company.

We entered into discussions with the identified company and they seemed a good fit so we proceeded with them and concluded the sale. Eastwood Anglo were with us guiding and advising every step of the way in the whole complex procedure, which can at times be very fraught especially when the lawyers get involved. Bill Eastwood was always available for discussion of the latest twist and turn in negotiations. EastwoodAnglo worked closely with both us and our lawyers every step of the way and ensured that we did not make any slip-ups in the contractual terms and were good at explaining the legal ramifications of various proposals. Throughout the process we felt sure we had a good professional team on our side. Even after the sale was concluded they maintained contact and showed interest in various developments in the new company.

We could not recommend the company more highly to anyone trying to sell their business, it’s not a path to be trodden without expert help and guidance and Eastwood Anglo have the financial, corporate and legal knowledge to help ease the process.

In 2007, the management team at Avocet Hardware (one of the UK’s leading manufacturers and distributors of door & window hardware and the UK’s leading supplier of general fixings and ironmongery in to the major DIY market) acquired both the UK distribution business and the Far East manufacturing businesses from the US parent company for a net cash and debt free acquisition price of £18m.

The management buy out would not have been possible without the considerable expertise provided by Bill Eastwood (and his team) – who’s involvement from the very start played a pivotal part throughout the process leading to a successful acquisition.  Bill was instrumental for putting together a deal structure that involved a blend of both private equity and bank funding whilst maintaining a strong equity position for the management team.  As the acquisition progressed, it was Bill who personally navigated the relatively inexperience management team through the often complex legal process through to completion.

I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending the Eastwood Anglo team to anyone considering a corporate finance transaction.