Diamond Dispersions

The Diamond transaction perfectly illustrates our approach to Corporate Finance, with Shorts providing seamlessly integrated support throughout. Numerous service lines were engaged to ensure the best overall result for our client, with a particular focus on tax and investment advice in addition to our Corporate Finance services.

Diamond started as an accounts and tax client, but Corporate Finance were introduced at a very early stage in anticipation of a potential sale at some future date.  Shorts initially assisted in grooming the business for sale, including implementing management accounting to provide robust financial information.

A deal strategy was developed to ensure the most likely purchasers were engaged in a competitive and controlled process at the optimum time to maximise proceeds. Shorts subsequently acted as advisers, leading all negotiations and project managing the transaction through to legal completion. A successful sale was achieved to Lubrizol Corporation.

In their own words;

How did you find working with us?

“The whole issue of selling your company is such an emotional and difficult undertaking.  Andy Ryder held our hand through the whole process and kept us on track and focused whilst dealing very effectively with the whole issue of due diligence.  They kept us in the picture and even managed to inject a sense of humour into what was a very difficult and testing time.”

What value did you think we added?

“Andy took responsibility for all the financial information supplied to our buyers.  They ensured that throughout the process we presented a consistent and coherent set of figures and forecasts and made sure that we understood what was being communicated at each stage.  This detailed and careful approach increased our (Diamond’s) credibility with our buyers and gave them confidence in the case that we were presenting to them and the value of the company.”

How we helped you in the process?

“Your approach was informal but efficient.  We could trust absolutely the figures you came up with.  You negotiated in a collaborative way with our buyers, rather than an antagonistic way and the whole process was kept friendly whilst being comprehensive and effective.”

Which parts of our advice and support did you find most useful?

“That due diligence would be a difficult and laborious process!  They told us to hold our nerve, keep a sense of humour and try to take a level-headed approach.   To sell a business is such an emotional thing to do, and someone questioning everything about your company is not always easy to handle!”

Would you recommend us?

“Absolutely, without a doubt”