With national debt now at an eye watering £2.1 trillion, tax rises are back on the agenda. Winston Churchill wrote that: "The art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as to obtain the largest possible amount of feathers with the smallest possible amount of hissing." One would not have been surprised to see Rishi […]

For many entrepreneurs the sale of a private business is the culmination of a lifetime’s work. Often it will be a one-off opportunity to generate a life-changing sum of money.  A reward for the initial risk taking and years of hard work. Given the size of the financial stakes, it is perhaps surprising that many […]

The recent announcement of a proposed £760m merger between Carlsberg UK and Marston Breweries is a sign of encouragement for those concerned about the health of the M&A market in the wake of Covid-19. By coincidence Quercus have also just completed a deal in the drinks sector; helping premium wine merchant Flint Wines acquire a […]

Much is made about the need to have a strategy if a privately-owned business is to achieve its potential. But it’s an argument that misses something which is quite fundamental. For an effective strategy to be drawn up and implemented, there needs to be clear thinking by the owner-manager who has become increasingly focused on the day-to-day operations. […]