Bob and Elizabeth Ballantyne have been accounting and tax clients of EQ (formerly Douglas Home & Co) for several years, with director-led support from Caroline Tice. Our team also provided specialist services, including due diligence and the sale of their business.
As Bob was nearing retirement, they began considering options for the business a few years ago and enlisted our team to help find the best outcome. Having previously thought of selling the business before Covid, discussions and planning had already begun with Caroline and the team. A valuation had been considered and documents were being gathered, allowing them to be prepped and ready if a potential buyer were to be interested.
Fast forward a few years, and once the market had settled after COVID-19, a buyer expressed their interest and knowing they were so prepared, Bob and Elizabeth went ahead with the potential sale. Bob commented, “As we had already started the conversation about selling with Caroline, I had the confidence of knowing we were in a strong position entering the negotiations. It was reassuring to know that the team had already started considering the complex due diligence work, making the whole process a lot easier”.
Our team supported Bob and Elizabeth through the entire process, including reviewing the deal on the table, assisting with the Heads of Terms through to negotiations, introducing recommended solicitors to advise on the legal requirements, and finally signing the SPA and completing the sale.
Bob explained, “The whole team were fantastic to work with. Caroline was overseeing the whole process, but our main point of contact was Robyn Cockburn, who worked with her team to gather everything together and review it in great detail. Following the recommendation from EQ for a solicitor, this made the legal aspects of the sale simpler too as the two firms had previously worked together and knew exactly what they required from each other. Everybody was very efficient, trustworthy, and easy to work with making the process incredibly straightforward”.
“Throughout our entire time working with EQ, the whole team has been excellent to work with. From our general accounting and tax work in the beginning through to the sale of the business, everyone has been professional and highly knowledgeable. We particularly appreciate the ease of access to speak to someone in person when required, we could simply pop into one of our local offices or organise a last minute meeting with no issue.”