Family Business Exit: Sale, Succession & Managing the Proceeds

A 62-year-old business owner. Two imperfect offers on the table. And a family conversation he hasn't had yet. In this HNW Advisor case study, Chris Etherington (Partner, RSM) and Tom Vernon (Head of Private Clients, Sarasin & Partners) unpack how they'd advise a founder weighing a private equity roll-up against a trade sale — and what happens to the wealth once the deal is done. Topics covered: Why business owners are accelerating succession planning amid recent tax changes The four routes out: third-party sale, MBO, family sale, or Employee Ownership Trust Business Property Relief and the case for funding a trust before a sale, not after Trade sale vs. PE earn-out: certainty now or deferred proceeds and CGT rate risk Cash flow planning before gifting — working out what the founder actually needs Managing a lump sum: drawdown vs. annuity-style income, ISA and pension allowances The seven-year IHT clock and the psychology of diversifying out of one concentrated asset The road not taken: a debt-funded handover to the next generation, and why it needs an external deadline to actually happen Chris Etherington is a Private Client Partner at RSM, specialising in personal and business tax advice for entrepreneurs, business owners, and their families. Tom Vernon is Head of Private Clients at Sarasin & Partners, advising individuals, families, and charities on preserving and growing their wealth. Richard Holt and Holt Precision Engineering are a composite scenario, used for illustrative purposes only. Part of the HNW Advisor Podcast case study series from PCD Group.