All you ever wanted to know about Business Succession... but were afraid to ask

Selling a business is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to realise the value of a lifetime's work.

We will start the masterclass by considering some of the steps we can take to really improve the potential value of a business – and look at some of the commonly recommended window-dressing that, frankly, makes little difference. We’ll then move to an interview with Nick Harding, who will share his experience as both an acquirer and seller of around £500,000,000 worth of businesses.

The Speakers:

Richard Ross has 20 years’ experience advising clients on exit strategies, typically at retirement. He has an MBA from UEA and his dissertation looked at the SME ownership transfer market with particular emphasis on retaining value and momentum post-sale.

Nick Harding led an MBO team in a £26m deal in 1996. Through a series of acquisitions he built a business that was eventually sold for £180m (9 times EBITDA) in 2007, delivering a 400% return to shareholders. He then established a new business, funded by taking control of an AIM cash shell and built this by a series of acquisitions before selling in 2012 for £80m. Along the way he has used pretty much every funding option available, from fairly straightforward bank borrowing, through Venture Capitalists to floating on public markets.

Date: 15 May 2019

Time(s): 08:15 for 08:30

12:15 for 12:30

Where: The Enterprise Centre, University of East Anglia, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7TJ

The Masterclass will last around two and a half hours with questions and be of interest to business owners looking to sell or acquire another firm and their advisers.

Refreshments will be available. There is no charge for the Masterclass but you may like to consider a donation of £20 to Ormiston Families' MPower project that supports parents who have had a child taken into care.

Register here

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What people have to say about previous events....

Two great presentations - although I'd experienced the business sale process before was good to hear the pitfalls from James again. Richard is always easy to listen to and his delivery is great. James explained each element in a interesting way - could easily have lost people if the delivery had been tedious! Love the idea of the presentations - this one was less interesting to me than the previous one - cake made up for it!

Michael Bayley | Barric Limited

Radostina was marvelous, intelligent and had a lovely presence. Excellent speaker. Both talks were informative and intelligent. There were plenty of takeaways and the peer-to-peer conversation was engaging as well. Also, the cake halfway was a nice touch. I'll do anything for cake.

Rob Morley | Fountain Partnership

Beginning to plan seriously for retirement and being a relative newbie in Norwich, it was refreshing to be introduced to a firm that places great emphasis on technical analysis and thoughtful planning. Too often, in my experience, IFAs are more concerned with style over substance but Chadwicks, through their Masterclass sessions offer real insight into investment management and retirement planning. Whether as a professional adviser or, like myself, someone looking for genuine insight into the changing times of today, I would recommend the sessions wholeheartedly.

Andrew Thorpe | Former Finance and Operations Director | Jarrold Norwich

I have been a regular attendee at Chadwick’s business seminars for several years and without fail I have found the sessions to be useful and practical on the one hand whilst thought provoking and inspiring on the other. Many advisers can put on topical seminars, few can make you feel that you want to go on to study the subject yourself!

Dawn Parkes | Managing Partner | Hatch Brenner

Chadwick’s Masterclasses are one of the highlights in my calendar. Clearly, a great deal of thought and preparation goes into them, which results in useful and up-to-date information that helps me plan my personal money matters, develop my business and think more clearly about what to do next in this ever-changing world. I strongly recommend them to anyone looking to improve the management of their finances.

Lindsey Mack | Director

I cannot recommend Chadwick’s Masterclasses too highly nor say enough good things about them. Chadwick’s Masterclasses provide fresh insights and offer practical steps to build, maintain and retain value in businesses. Richard delivers clear and well-thought-out advice while challenging preconceptions. The workshops are thoroughly researched and never turn into sales presentations. I learn something every time I attend.

Paul Palik | Partner | Corporate Team | Birketts LLP

I enjoyed all the sessions and took away a golden nugget or two from each of them.

Tracey Aldous | Mint BB

Good choice of presentations, all of interest, good venue ... So many people don't think of the impact of retirement soon enough on both our finances and our wellbeing. All businesses would benefit from having these presentations for those in their late 50's and early 60's to get individuals thinking about what they need to do and what they want to do, to ease themselves into retirement.

Julie Lawrence | Unity Occupational Health & Wellbeing