Preparing a Business for Sale and Achieving an Eight-Figure Exit

Paul and Kim Bibby spent more than 25 years building Plantexpand into a successful engineering and services business employing around 50 people.

Key Outcomes

• Revenue and profitability increased 25%
• Senior management team empowered
• Hidden intangible asset identified and valued
• Business sold to private equity for eight-figure sum

Who This Is Relevant For

Relevant for founders who:

• Are exploring international expansion
• Are considering joint ventures or partnerships
• Need help structuring complex commercial relationships

Challenge

The Challenge

As retirement approached, the founders wanted to sell the business but had no experience of mergers and acquisitions. The business relied heavily on Paul’s involvement in daily operations and major client relationships.

Approach

The Turning Point

On the recommendation of their wealth manager, Paul and Kim engaged Alan Wick to help them maximise the value of the business and prepare it for sale.

What Changed

Alan’s RealityCheck® deep dive revealed several opportunities to increase the company’s value.

Key actions included:
• Strengthening the management team
• Reducing founder dependency
• Improving operational efficiency
• Identifying and valuing intangible assets (proprietary software)
• Creating an Equity Storyboard to present the business to buyers

The Results

Revenue and profitability increased by 25%, the company became less dependent on its founders, and the business was successfully sold to a private equity buyer in an eight-figure deal.

Result

Book a call with Alan »

Client Perspective

“Alan helped us understand both the financial and strategic value of our business, and how to position it for a lifechanging exit. He helped us to sell our business for more than we ever imagined. Thanks to Alan, we understood the value of our business and its added value to our clients, as well as the financial value. I'm so grateful to him for what he's done for us.”

Paul Bibby, Founder & Managing Director

Alan's Perspective

For most founders, selling their business is a once-in-a-lifetime event, and the preparation often determines the outcome more than the negotiations themselves.

Many owners underestimate the value already present in their business. A fresh, objective perspective can uncover intangible assets, capabilities or positioning that buyers value highly once they are clearly articulated.

Just as importantly, a business must be able to operate successfully without the founder. Buyers are not purchasing a job for the owner; they are investing in a business that can continue to grow once the founder steps away.

Preparing the business from a buyer’s perspective is often what unlocks the greatest increase in value.