Herrington Carmichael's M&A team advised the shareholders of a UK and international land and utility surveying company on its successful sale to a large private equity backed industry acquirer.
The Client
A long-established UK and international land and utility surveying company, recognised for its technical expertise and broad client base.
The Challenge
The shareholders sought to sell the entire issued share capital of the company to a private equity-backed industry acquirer. The transaction involved complex earn-out provisions linked to future EBITDA performance, requiring specialist accounting input to ensure the financial definitions reflected true value. Additional complexities included real estate restructuring and post-completion service arrangements for a continuing shareholder.
Our Approach
The Herrington Carmichael M&A team provided end-to-end support, including:
- Negotiating detailed earn-out provisions, with input from independent accountants to define EBITDA metrics
- Advising on the surrender and regrant of a commercial lease for property owned by the sellers
- Drafting service agreements for a shareholder remaining with the business post-sale
- Coordinating across Corporate, Real Estate, and Employment teams to ensure a seamless transaction
The Outcome
The transaction was completed successfully, delivering a strong exit for the shareholders. The client praised the team for its sector knowledge, commercial approach, and smooth coordination across legal disciplines.
What Our Team Said
Joel Gocool, Senior Solicitor, commented:
"We were pleased to guide our clients through a significant milestone in their exit journey after running the business for 20+ years."
The Team
Led by Joel Gocool, Corporate Senior Solicitor, with support from Dylan Cutifani, Dispute Resolution Trainee Solicitor, Will Chapman, Corporate Trainee Solicitor, Alistair McArthur, Head of Employment and Jo Boxhall, Employment Solicitor, Rachel Duncan, Real Estate Partner and Katy Waygood, Real Estate Chartered Legal Executive.