GBCORP · BUY-SELL BUSINESS · UNITED KINGDOM

Buy or Sell a Business in the UK

GBCORP sells and buys UK companies in transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-managed firms in London and the South East to manufacturers, distributors and service businesses in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds and Scotland. We run each deal from valuation to completion, with our local partner network of solicitors, accountants and tax advisers.

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Deals up to USD 20 million · Fees on request · We speak your language

Why the UK

The UK is one of the world’s deepest markets for buying and selling private companies: English law, well-understood deal documents, a large base of owner-managed businesses, and active buyers from the UK, the US, Europe, the Gulf and Asia.

Many owners who built their companies over the past thirty years are now planning their exit, and buyers value UK businesses for their contracts, brands and access to customers worldwide.

Thinking of buying? Our guide on how to buy a business in the UK walks through the process.

Selling your UK company

For owners who want the right buyer, a defensible price and a well-planned exit.

Valuation you can defend

Normalised earnings and a market-tested price that holds through the buyer’s due diligence.

Exit and tax planning

We work with your accountant on timing and structure, including whether Business Asset Disposal Relief applies.

UK and international buyers

Trade buyers, private equity and international groups, screened before they see your name.

Confidential process

An anonymous profile first; full figures only under a signed NDA.

Buying a business in the UK

For entrepreneurs, investors and international companies looking for an established UK business.

Deal sourcing

Owner-managed companies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, including off-market opportunities.

Due diligence

Financial, tax, legal, commercial and employment checks, coordinated with UK solicitors and accountants.

Warranties and indemnities

Share purchase agreements with the warranties, indemnities and, where useful, insurance that UK deals rely on.

National security review

We check early whether the deal falls under the National Security and Investment Act and needs government approval.

How a UK deal runs with GBCORP

Six stages, one point of contact. Most sales complete in six to nine months.

01 · Valuation and preparation

We review the accounts, normalise earnings and prepare the sale documents.

02 · Confidential approach

An anonymous teaser, then an information memorandum to screened buyers under NDA.

03 · Offers and heads of terms

We compare offers on price, structure and certainty, then agree heads of terms.

04 · Due diligence

The buyer’s advisers review finance, tax, contracts, staff and property through a data room.

05 · Exchange and completion

The share purchase agreement and disclosure letter are signed, and completion often follows on the same day.

06 · Filings and handover

Stamp duty is paid, the company’s registers and Companies House records are updated, and staff and customers are introduced.

UK rules that shape the deal

The points that decide structure, timing and cost in a UK transaction.

Stamp duty on shares. The buyer pays stamp duty of 0.5% on the price of shares in a UK company, rounded up to the nearest £5, when the price is over £1,000.
Company records. The register of members and the register of people with significant control are updated, and Companies House is told of any change in people with significant control.
TUPE. In an asset deal, employees transfer to the buyer automatically on their existing terms, with duties to inform and consult before the transfer.
National Security and Investment Act. Acquisitions in 17 sensitive sectors, such as defence, energy and artificial intelligence, need government approval before completion; others can be called in for review.
Business Asset Disposal Relief. Qualifying owners selling their business may pay a reduced rate of Capital Gains Tax, up to a lifetime limit; your tax adviser confirms whether it applies.
Warranties and disclosure. Sellers give warranties about the business, qualified by a disclosure letter, and the buyer’s remedies are set out in the agreement.

Local partners, one point of contact

GBCORP runs each UK deal end to end with our local partner network: solicitors, chartered accountants and tax advisers. We work with owners and buyers in London, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow and across the UK.

We speak your language, and we work with owners and buyers from across the world. We handle transactions up to USD 20 million; fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request.

Questions about buying and selling in the UK

The questions we hear first, answered plainly.

How long does it take to sell a business in the UK?

Most sales of owner-managed companies take six to nine months from valuation to completion. Finding the right buyer and due diligence take most of that time.

Is stamp duty payable when you buy a UK company?

Yes. When you buy shares in a UK company, stamp duty of 0.5% of the price is usually payable by the buyer if the price is over £1,000. In an asset deal, stamp duty land tax, or its Scottish and Welsh equivalents, can apply to any property instead.

Can a foreigner buy a business in the UK?

Yes. The UK is open to foreign buyers. Acquisitions in 17 sensitive sectors need approval under the National Security and Investment Act, and anyone who plans to run the business from the UK needs the right immigration route.

Share sale or asset sale: which is better?

Sellers usually prefer a share sale, which can qualify for Business Asset Disposal Relief and transfers the whole company in one step. Buyers often prefer an asset sale, which lets them choose what they take. We model both with your advisers before you negotiate.

What size of business does GBCORP handle in the UK, and what does it cost?

We advise on transactions up to USD 20 million, from owner-managed companies to established regional firms. Fees are agreed per mandate and quoted on request after a confidential first conversation.