An independent care home has been sold for more than £2 million by Shropshire-based business consultants.
Ashcroft Hollow Nursing Home in Cannock, owned by Ron and Jacqui Roberts, who have now retired to live in Newport, has been sold to southern-based Bluecroft Estates Ltd.
Mark Harris and his team from The Business Company, based near Shrewsbury, has worked with Mr and Mrs Roberts for two years to complete the deal which secured the couple more than £2.4million.
The couple opened the doors of the 45-bedroom residential home in Huntington in 1996. They previously ran Leacroft Residential Home until 2002 after first starting in the care industry in 1987.
Today Mr and Mrs Roberts thanked their 45-strong team of staff for their “dedication, loyalty and support” and The Business Company for securing the deal and removing the potential stress from the sale process.
Mr Harris, managing director of The Business Company, said: “This is just the start of the business selling arm of The Business Company profile.
“The successful sale of Ashcroft Hollow for the sum of money the sellers wanted and deserved for such a successful business is a perfect example of the importance of choosing the right professional advisors. The team working together in the sale of any business is vital in securing the deal with the right person at the right price.
“During a business sale accountants and solicitors speak directly to the acquirer but I can speak to all parties as I do not work in a compliant environment.
“This enables the process to progress faster and smoother and most importantly the seller knows they are working with someone who is proficient in sale.”
Mrs Roberts, who said the sale had ensured job security for all of her loyal staff who allowed them to build such a successful business, said: “Mark’s expertise meant the business opportunity was kept confidential but circulated to the right people.
“The new owners were identified and they instantly recognised it as a flagship home to add to their existing portfolio of five homes thanks to the work Mark had undertaken.
“Thanks to The Business Company it was all happening behind the scenes and then it became a done deal. Mark’s knowledge and contacts enabled us to work with the right people. His collaboration and his support at difficult times which everybody selling a business would experience proved invaluable.
“After all of these years running the home it has been very difficult to let go but now we will start our new life in Newport closer to our family.”
The Business Company team worked with Charlotte Thornton Smith from Harrison Clarke Solicitors and David Thomas from Spencer Gardener Dickins Accountants to secure the deal.
Advising others considering selling a business, Mr Harris added: “Every client involved in a business buy or sell need to consider the level and quality of the team they are dealing with. The role I perform is crucial to the price they sell their business for and the success of the deal.
“Anybody who is selling a business needs to prepare that company for a full review first. I often go into businesses to hold a free no-obligation discussion for me to tell them they are no-where near ready to sell at that point – in the long run that crucial advice potentially saves them tens of thousands of pounds.”