As businesses continue to work their way through extremely difficult trading conditions, we've invested in our Thames Valley team to support businesses and professional advisers alike.

Back in 2013 our long-established team in Marlow joined the Quantuma brand, to continue offering businesses in the local area a high-quality restructuring and insolvency service.

Seven years on and our Thames Valley team has grown to more than 40 professionals with vast experience in providing a broad range of advisory services to help businesses tackle operational and financial challenges. And to ensure we can continue to meet the needs of our clients we've expanded into new premises in the centre of Maidenhead.

  • We offer a complete advisory service to businesses and other professional advisers from our base in Maidenhead.
     
  • Our team of more than 40 professionals cover restructuring advisory, insolvency, corporate finance and forensic accounting.
     
  • We've been working with our professional network and businesses to help them understand the legislative changes and how the new rules can help support businesses facing financial problems.

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Map of Maidenhead office

We've moved to Maidenhead: a new home for our team

Our team is now based from Maidenhead, taking an entire floor at Arcadia House, a recently refurbished Grade A building in central Maidenhead. The space has been fitted out to suit flexible working practices as we continue to develop our operating routines, as well as being COVID-19 secure for staff and visitors alike.

Our new address is:
15 Forlease Road,
Maidenhead,
Berkshire,
SL6 1RX

Chris Newell

Chris Newell, managing director, restructuring and insolvency

 

"We're extremely pleased to expand our Thames Valley operations as we look to provide local businesses with the support they need during the challenging period."

Frank Wessely

Frank Wessely, managing director, restructuring and insolvency

"The new open plan office makes it ideal for new flexible and safe working conditions, while its location, close to the town centre and major transport links, is ideal for direct connections to the city, central London and the West Country. Not only will this move set us in better stead for clients but will also provide greater access to the talent market in the region to support future growth."

Lady exercising in trainers

Marlow to Maidenhead: join our charity walk event

The team will be making the 9-mile journey from the centre of Marlow to Maidenhead to raise money for a local charity, making our way along the River Thames with clients and contacts sometime in May. If you are interested in taking part in this event, please use the link below and provide us with some contact information. We will in due course share further details around the event. We will of course be monitoring the situation with the pandemic and will if any changes to the timing of the event we will of course notify you well in advance.


Register your interest

Case Studies: examples of our advisory expertise

Through our many years' experience working on restructuring, advisory and insolvency cases, we have gained a thorough understanding of the local economy and how professionals and businesses are working through the many economic and financial changes. Here are some examples of the work we do with our clients:

Superchips Limited - Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)

The successful CVL of Superchips Limited, with a dividend to preferential and unsecured creditors.

The challenge
 
Superchips was a market-leading car-tuning business which had been trading since 1977. Due to the pandemic, the company struggled to remain profitable, turnover dramatically decreased and the company was forced to cease trading, with liabilities of around £298k.
 
The solution
 
As many of the employees had worked for the company for a long time, staff claims were significant and in addition, further liabilities were owed to general suppliers and to HMRC. It was acknowledged early in the advice process that the company was a market leader in supplying aftermarket chipping and remapping solutions for vehicles, and that its assets were potentially of significant value.
 
Our experts immediately identified all the available assets, which included stock, debtors, plant and equipment, as well as a rolling road which had been installed in the trading premises. They swiftly instructed agents who provided valuations of the assets, which allowed our experts to have a more accurate understanding of the company’s financial position.
 
To achieve the best outcome for all, specifically for the creditors, the strategy was discussed and agreed between the directors, the company’s accountant and Quantuma. During the discussions, we were able to reassure the directors, and paid close attention to their worries and concerns. We advised on their statutory obligations to make the decision process as stress-free for them as possible. It was agreed that the best option would be to place the company into a CVL.
 
The outcome
 
Through a collaborative approach and with the hard work and assistance of the agents and directors, it was possible to market the business and assets of the company prior to the CVL. This resulted in over 30 expressions of interest in purchasing the assets. The business and assets were quickly sold to a third party for significantly more than the break-up valuation provided by agents. This means that preferential creditors will be paid in full and all unsecured creditors will receive a dividend from the liquidation in the near future. Good communication from the outset and a solid understanding of the needs of all parties involved was pivotal in securing this positive outcome.

M & S Direct Access Limited - Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)

The successful CVL of scaffolding company, M & S Direct Access Limited, with a sale of the majority of the business and a dividend to preferential and unsecured creditors.

The challenge
 
We were introduced to the client, a scaffolding company, by the company’s newly appointed accountant.
The accountant had identified errors in the previous accountant’s work, which resulted in additional costs and liabilities for the company. In addition, HMRC had threatened to petition to wind the company up and despite measures to reduce overheads, the director was unable to continue to trade. Liabilities of £240k were identified, with a significant proportion due to HMRC.
 
The solution
 
With the assistance of the accountant and agents it became apparent that the recovery of the assets (primarily the scaffolding stock which was located across numerous sites) would be expensive. The director believed that the business had potential and expressed an interest in acquiring certain assets from the liquidation.
Following the formal CVL and marketing attempts, agents recommended the acceptance of the director’s offer to purchase certain assets.
 
The outcome
 
Shortly after our appointment, a sale of certain assets was made to a connected party in accordance with insolvency rule requirements. This strategy enabled the ongoing work in progress to be recovered. It also meant there was no need to incur the expense of removing the stock (scaffolding) to store and sell it to a third party, which would have significantly reduced any realisable value. The sale was also structured such that it allowed the new purchasing company to defer the consideration over 12 monthly payments, assisting the new business with cash flow and enabling continuity with customers. Preferential creditors received 100p in the pound and unsecured creditors received a dividend of 73p in the pound.

BSA Realisations Ltd - Conversion of an administration to a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)

The conversion of an administration to a CVL, to facilitate a return to unsecured creditors.

The challenge
 
This matter was referred to us by a solicitor, following an ongoing shareholder dispute.
 
The company traded as a pharmaceutical market-research business. It had experienced several delays in receiving payment from customers, as well as reductions in payments due, and had subsequently encountered cash-flow issues. With liabilities of around £153k and no viable future funding options, the directors sought help.
 
The solution
 
When meeting with the directors, we explored all restructuring and insolvency options. It was concluded that administration was the most viable option, providing the best outcome through the sale of the business.
 
A pre-pack sale was achieved on the same day as the company entered administration. Following approval of the joint administrators’ proposals and the conclusion of the administrators’ duties, the case was converted to a CVL.
 
The outcome
 
The transfer of all the employees to the purchasing company under TUPE meant that all jobs were preserved, and no employee liabilities incurred. The absence of a break in supply of services enabled enhanced realisations, including a much higher realisation for goodwill. Following the conclusion of the ongoing CVL, a dividend of close to 100p in the pound is anticipated.

Doing deals in the region

Our corporate finance team advises businesses across all sectors in the Thames Valley Region, helping them to make major decisions about the future of their business. Led by managing director Ian Barton, the team advise businesses on:

  • Mergers and acquisitions and disposals
     
  • Business analysis
     
  • Debt advisory
     
  • Asset finance
     
  • Cash flow lending

 

Advising Whistl on acquisition of Clientbase

We advised Whistl on its acquisition of Clientbase Fulfilment ('Clientbase') as part of its further expansion of fulfilment and contact centre services.

Read more about the deal here

 

Our expertise

Our team are specialists in supporting and advising clients who are looking to buy, sell or raise capital. Working with businesses that range in size from £1 million to £50 million and beyond, the team have the experience, desire and a demonstrable track record of delivering a market-leading service.

Find out more

Meet our team...virtually at least

Out team of experienced advisors are always keen to expand their network across the Thames Valley region. If you would like to arrange a virtual coffee to discuss how we could work together please click the link below and we will be in touch.

Arrange a virtual catch up