For many business owners, years are dedicated to building a successful business, yet comparatively little time is spent planning for what comes next.
Selling or transitioning a business is often one of the most significant financial events in an entrepreneur’s life. However, achieving a successful outcome requires far more than finding a buyer.
Whether you’re actively considering a sale, succession, management buyout or simply exploring your options over the next five to ten years, the decisions you make today can have a meaningful impact on the value you realise, the tax you pay, and your future wealth and legacy.
Your Journey to Business Exit
Date: Tuesday 13 October 2026
Time: 8:00am – 11:45am
Location: Fellows Suite, Murray Edwards College, Cambridge
Complimentary to attend
This is not a theoretical seminar. It is a chance to hear directly from experts and business owners who have been through the process and understand the realities, opportunities and pitfalls of planning an exit.
If you have any questions, please email us at events@pem.co.uk.
Agenda
8:00am – 8:30am | Registration and light breakfast
8:30am – 9:30am | Tax and wealth considerations
9:30am – 9:45am | The uncomfortable truth: why most businesses never sell in today’s M&A landscape
9:45am – 10:15am | Fireside chat with Ian Webb on the sale of Teekay Couplings
10:15am – 10:45am | Panel discussion and Q&A
10:45am – 11:45am | Networking, refreshments and a chance to speak with our specialists and speakers
What you’ll learn
- Why some businesses struggle to achieve a successful exit and the steps owners can take to improve their readiness.
- Key business tax considerations before a transaction, including structuring, reliefs and opportunities to maximise post-tax value.
- Personal wealth planning considerations, from managing sale proceeds and retirement planning to protecting and transferring wealth to future generations.
- Actions that can enhance the value, attractiveness and marketability of your business.
- First-hand insights from a business owner who has successfully navigated the realities of selling a company.
Speakers
Jan Fachot – Partner, Business Tax, PEM
Andrew Brown – Chartered Wealth Planner, Barclays Wealth
Simon Kidney
Providing an honest perspective on the realities of today’s mergers and acquisitions market and the challenges business owners should be prepared for.
Ian Webb
Former owner of Teekay Couplings, sharing his personal experience of preparing for, completing and adapting to life after a business sale.
Why attend?
A business exit is not simply a transaction. It’s a milestone that can influence your financial future for decades to come.
The most successful exits are often the result of careful planning that aligns commercial goals, tax efficiency and personal wealth objectives. By considering these factors early, business owners can be better positioned to maximise value, preserve wealth and achieve the outcomes that matter most to them and their families.
Whether a sale is on the horizon or still several years away, this event will provide valuable insights to help you plan with greater confidence.
There is no better way to understand what selling a business is really like than hearing first-hand experiences, lessons learned and reflections from someone who has been through the process themselves.
