Press Releases

Comments from Julian Bond, partner and head of the corporate team at Glaisyers, Manchester for North West Insider’s ‘Local Advisers Review’

2007 has seen a continued upturn in the amount of corporate deals handled by Glaisyers, building on a successful 2006.

The deals ranged from acquisitions to MBOs through to disposals, principally within the owner managed business (OMB) sector.

Julian Bond, partner and head of the corporate team at Glaisyers, commented: “We are very pleased to have been so active in the OMB market place this year. The number and quality of deals we’ve handled is a positive testimony to our belief in, and commitment to, OMBs and their advisors.

“Many corporate law firms have seemingly abandoned the OMB market in search of bigger ticket clients and transactions, but our strategy is clear. We provide a quality service, at an affordable price, in a personal manner to OMBs in the North West.

“Clients do not need to go to get an all-round, first rate service. Many of the partners in Glaisyers and similar firms have moved from ‘branded’ firms, usually due to quality of life issues and / or business ethos. Clients can therefore find the skills and expertise within medium-sized firms, which are equal in quality to anything on offer from larger competitors.

“Glaisyers does not have a niche department for every corporate speciality - it doesn’t need to. The overwhelming majority of clients require solid, mainstream advice. If there is something that is outside our skill set (and honesty is always the best policy), we have a reliable network of tried and tested contacts, with whom we work, to ensure a seamless package is delivered to the client.

“Many clients don’t appreciate that large firms have a lack of co-ordination and commonality of objectives between different departments, when dealing with the same transaction. Smaller firms, such as Glaisyers, provide a dedicated and focussed approach to getting the deal done. We are not afraid to get our hands dirty and work closely with our clients to ensure their best interests are served.

“Smaller, more local firms offer a viable, sensible alternative to the monolith - both in approach and price, which has got to be good for clients!”

A sample of the deals in which Glaisyers has acted so far this year, include:

• Sale of Bobian Ltd to the Keller Group
• Sale of Atkinson Chemicals Ltd
• Winstanley Shopping Centre disposal
• Sale of IQ Consultancy to Acando AB
• Acquisition of Octopus Health Ltd
• Acquisition of P/S Ashley by Ensor Treatment Services
• Acquisition of Fastar by CMS Tools
• Acquisition of Cannock Gates by F Peart & Co.
• Disposal of NER Ltd to Com-Tec Securities

Julian concluded: “We have an aggressive growth plan for the remainder of 2007 with more acquisitions already well on the way to completion. We will have broken the targets we set to make further inroads into the OMB market by the end of the year.”