Preparation is the key to success with most things in life and is particularly important when you are trying to attract a buyer for your business. This is because any potential acquirer will almost certainly want to carry out pre-purchase checks to ensure that your organisation is legally and financially sound, and it is not saddled with unacceptable debt or unquantifiable liabilities.

Acquiring part of a business through the purchase of shares is one way to secure an investment. You may be contemplating a partial investment or an outright purchase of a business, either way the same considerations apply. Careful analysis of the target business is critical as there are a combination of commercial and personal factors which one needs to be aware of when investing via shares. It’s also essential to ensure the correct documentation is completed. Our advice is to research, review and risk assess. If you are in need of legal advice for a Shareholders Agreement book a free…

Whilst there are many pros that social media can create for a business it is not without its cons. As the internet continues to grow at a rate that the law has failed to keep up with, organisations have had to adapt to deal with a wide range of online problems. There is no ‘social media law’ you can call on to address these issues. Instead, a mix of long-established legal principles and new laws are used in a bid to address the ever-changing issues presented by social media. Problems include unfavourable reviews, account hacking, data protection breaches, fake accounts…

Across the UK, fintech has been growing at an exponential rate throughout the last decade. As of 2022, the UK owns more than 10% of global market share. In 2020, there were more than 2,500 fintech companies operating in the UK and that figure has continued to grow since then. While investment in the global fintech landscape is now slowing, in the first half of 2022 the UK saw a 24% increase year-on-year in fintech investments, defying the global trend. London is responsible for much of this growth. The capital has one of the largest concentration of fintech companies in…

Did you know that employees received an estimated £480m in income tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) in the tax year ending 2021 from Employee Share Schemes - with EMI schemes forming the largest contributor to tax relief? EMI share schemes (Enterprise Management Incentives)  have clearly become a popular way of motivating, retaining and attracting employees in the UK, as they offer significant tax benefits for both the business and its employees. By allowing companies to grant options (the right to shares in the company) to qualifying employees in a tax efficient way, EMI option schemes are flexible and can…

Becoming or working towards being a greener business is nothing new, but the pressures are mounting to take environmental issues more seriously as an important corporate responsibility, and to show real action and commitment beyond just marketing puff. Using sustainable packaging, or planting a tree, or giving back to a good cause is no longer enough. Savvy consumers, increased public awareness, and competitive market forces mean a business must dig further into its supply chain to reduce risk, and demonstrate its position with actions and words, including their contractual commitments. Who wants your business to become greener? The pressure to…

Today, the smartphone in your pocket is capable of more than the most advanced supercomputer available 25 years ago. In the past couple of decades, we have seen technology push boundaries further than we could ever have imagined, but more recently, this trend has exploded - innovative tech is growing at an exponential rate. What the next 50 years hold is anyone’s guess, but what we do know is that, right now, there is no shortage of funding sources for businesses developing innovative tech solutions, or even an entrepreneur with a great idea. Here, we look at some of the…

In light of the spiralling cost of traditional forms of energy and an increasing urgency to hit clean energy targets, renewable energy solutions are becoming more attractive, which is why, more companies are investing in sustainability, cleantech and the drive to net zero. The period 2000 to early 2002 alone saw £80.95bn invested from 2,400 investors into the sector in the UK – equivalent to 18% of all European investment in the sector. Energy production had the highest level of investment at more than £20bn, followed by energy asset cleantech at £17bn.   In this article we look at some of…

Companies across the UK are facing changes to GDPR regulations but assurances have been given that new arrangements for UK companies will remain compatible with EU digital protection rules. Michele Donelan MP, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has reaffirmed the government intention to redraft rules on data protection following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union. The Secretary of State believes the current data protection laws bind businesses with “ unnecessary red tape” and says this particularly causes issues for smaller companies. This is very likely to mean changes in how data breaches are reported, as…

Commissioning a bespoke piece of software to meet your business needs is often an essential element to business growth and operational improvements. However, the project needs to be delivered with a plan that ensures the final delivery matches your vision and that if problems arise, there is a clear route to remedy. The way to achieve this is via a professionally drafted contract which is agreed before the software development begins.   The document does not have to be overly long or complicated but should cover   scope and functionality  cost and time frame  intellectual property ownership  key protections to safeguard your…