Company valuation is one of the most active and established areas of our practice. We work on these assignments throughout the year, across a wide range of sectors and circumstances, which means we bring genuine depth to every instruction. It is a field where experience, judgement, and a thorough understanding of how private businesses actually behave matter far more than any formula.
When clients come to us
Our clients come to us for valuations in a variety of circumstances. Many are business owners considering a sale — either imminently, or in the years ahead — who want a clear, independent view of what their business is worth and, crucially, what would make it worth more. A well-timed valuation is not simply a number; it is a planning tool.
Others are buyers or investors who require an independent assessment before committing capital. In these situations, we frequently combine our valuation work with a due diligence report on the target company, giving clients a consolidated and coherent picture of both value and risk.
We also act regularly in contentious and legal contexts — including shareholder disputes, divorce proceedings where business interests form part of a financial settlement, and capital gains tax matters where HMRC requires a defensible, documented valuation. In each of these situations, the quality of the underlying reasoning and the ability to withstand challenge is paramount.
Our approach
Unlisted company valuations require a different discipline to listed company analysis. With no market price to anchor the exercise, the work draws on a range of recognised methodologies — earnings multiples, discounted cash flow, net asset value, and comparable transaction analysis — applied with judgement to the specific characteristics of the business in question.
Some of the most challenging assignments involve companies with no direct comparators: businesses operating in niche markets, early-stage ventures, or holding structures with complex underlying assets. These are precisely the situations where breadth of experience matters most, and where we are well placed to deliver a reliable and well-reasoned conclusion.
To discuss a valuation instruction, please contact us. We are happy to outline how we would approach your particular circumstances before any formal engagement.