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Your Journey to Business Exit.

Hi there,

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. 

That's why PEM and Barclays are delighted to invite you to an exclusive breakfast event: 

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.  

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

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. 

Register now 

If you feel you would benefit from attending this event, we encourage you to reserve your place now. Places are limited and we expect strong interest from business owners across the region. 

 

Read the full detailed agenda below.

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Agenda.

8:00 - 8:30 | Registration and light breakfast

8:30 - 9:30 | Tax and wealth considerations

This session will focus on two critical areas that require early and careful attention: understanding the tax implications of a sale and ensuring your personal wealth is structured to support your long-term goals. With insights from Jan Fachot, Partner in Business Tax at PEM, and Andrew Brown, Chartered Wealth Planner at Barclays, you’ll gain practical guidance on how to optimise your financial position both before and after a transaction. From making informed decisions and avoiding common pitfalls, to planning with confidence for the next stage of your life, this session will help you take control of your exit strategy.

Topics in this session include:

  • Key financial and tax considerations when preparing for and executing a business sale

  • Understanding Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) and its impact on your tax position

  • Structuring family ownership, including the use of family investment companies and trusts

  • Managing shares efficiently from both Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and Inheritance Tax (IHT) perspectives

  • Exploring different exit routes

  • Why early-stage planning is essential and how to be ready when an attractive offer arises

  • Identifying key advisors and stakeholders to involve in your exit planning

  • Balancing income generation with tax and asset diversification strategies

  • Navigating the emotional and practical transition following a business sale

  • Defining “what good looks like” and aligning your exit with your long-term vision

9:30 - 9:45 | The uncomfortable truth: why most businesses never sell and today's M&A landscape

This thought-provoking session is designed for business owners who are considering a sale, beginning with an uncomfortable reality: most businesses never sell. Around 70% of owners never receive an offer, and even among those that do go to market, only around one in five transactions completes successfully. Simon Kidney will explore this context against the backdrop of today’s M&A landscape, including the increase in Business Asset Disposal Relief to 18% from April. He will then examine what truly distinguishes a successful exit from a disappointing one, arguing that the deciding factors are often less about the numbers and more about the owner’s preparation, mindset and objectives. The session concludes with insights from Simon’s live Cranfield research, offering fresh perspectives on what drives better outcomes for business owners planning their exit.

9:45am – 10:15am | Fireside chat with Ian Webb on the sale of Teekay Couplings.

In this candid fireside conversation, hosted by Simon Kidney, Ian Webb will reflect on the sale of Teekay Couplings and the personal journey behind one of the most significant decisions a business owner can make.

Moving beyond the headline figures, the discussion will uncover the human side of the transaction, exploring what prompted the decision to sell and whether it was driven by opportunity, necessity, or a combination of both. Simon will delve into the often-overlooked period between deciding to sell and completing the deal, where many of the greatest challenges arise.

Together, they will discuss expectations around value, the role advisers played throughout the process, the emotional realities of letting go and lessons he would share with other owners looking back with hindsight. Offering honest insights and practical takeaways, this session provides a rare look at the realities of life before, during and after a business sale.

10:15am – 10:45am | Panel and Q&A session

A chance to ask our specialist advisers and guests on all the burning questions you may have around selling your business.

10:45am – 11:45am | Networking and refreshments

At the end of this seminar, you will have a chance to speak with our specialists and speakers with discretion along with network with other like-minded entrepreneurs.

Speakers.

Jan-Fachot

Jan Fachot.

PEM | Partner, Business Tax

Jan joined PEM in 2012 and is a Partner in our Business Tax team, providing tax advisory and compliance services to companies. The team deals with a diverse range of clients from small start-ups to global organisations across various industry sectors.

Jan was based in the Thames Valley for over 10 years working in a couple of the Big 4 as well as at a top 10 firm. He provided advice to a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from start-ups, private equity backed businesses to global organisations across various industry sectors.

He provides tax advice on various M&A and cross-border transactions; R&D tax credits and the Patent Box regime; tax efficient equity investments as well general tax issues affecting owner-managed businesses.

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Andrew Brown

Andrew Brown.

Barclays | Chartered Wealth Planner

Andrew is a senior leader with an extensive knowledge of the UK Wealth and Investment Management marketplace. He is consistently influencing, challenging and advising clients from a wide variety of sectors and backgrounds and covers East Anglia and Central London.

Andrew advises on all aspects of financial planning and wealth structuring with particular emphasis on retirement planning, Inheritance tax planning, Offshore planning, VCT's / EIS, together with Business Property Relief investments.

 

 

 

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Simon Kidney.jpg

Simon Kidney.

Simon Kidney is a senior executive, entrepreneur and adviser with more than 25 years' experience across banking, manufacturing, commercial finance and entrepreneurial ventures. Having worked on every side of a business sale, he brings first-hand insight as a banker, business owner and adviser. He led a commercial team at Lloyds Banking Group managing a £120m lending portfolio before completing a management buyout of a timber engineering business, growing it from £10m to more than £40m turnover and over 250 employees.
 
Today, Simon advises entrepreneurs, investors and institutions on capital raising, acquisitions and disposals. He is also a board director of Scotts of Thrapston, a board member of Cambridge University Rugby Union Football Club, and a board adviser to Cambridge Rugby Club.
 
Alongside his commercial career, Simon is completing a Doctorate of Business Administration at Cranfield University, researching the factors that influence entrepreneurial exit outcomes and why some business exits succeed while others stall.

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Ian Webb-1

Ian Webb.

Former owner and Managing Director of Teekay Couplings

Ian Webb is an entrepreneur, inventor and business leader with decades of experience building an innovative engineering business. As former owner and Managing Director of Milton Keynes-based Teekay Couplings, he led the company's growth into a globally recognised manufacturer of mechanical pipe coupling solutions, supplying customers across the marine, offshore, energy, water and industrial sectors. Under his leadership, Teekay developed a strong reputation for engineering excellence, innovation and international export success, with products used in more than 85 countries worldwide.
 
Following the successful sale of Teekay Couplings to an international group, Ian brings first-hand insight into business growth, innovation, international expansion and entrepreneurial exit planning. His experience combines the perspective of an owner-manager who has spent many years building a specialist engineering business with that of a business seller who has successfully navigated a strategic acquisition.
 
Ian is also a devout Leyton Orient fan, an avid runner, and a jazz enthusiast.


Frequently asked questions.

Is there free parking?

Yes, there is limited free parking at the venue. 70 parking spaces are available at the car park accessed via Storeys’ Way.

Spaces are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Will refreshments be available during the event?

Yes, there will be breakfast rolls, pastries during registration, and cakes after the event during the final networking session. Please ensure you share your dietary requirements with us in the form so we can can cater to your requirements.

Will there be any opportunities to speak with your advisers and speakers?

Yes, there will be plenty of opportunity to speak with our advisers and speakers at the end of the event.

Disclaimer: By registering to this event, you consent to PEM and Barclays collecting and sharing your contact details for the purposes of event coordination, communication, and follow-up. Your information will be handled in accordance with both companies’ privacy policies and will not be used for any other purpose without your explicit consent.