Shorts gave very good advice. We would recommend friends and business owners to use Shorts, without a doubt. David Hopkinson - Exiting Owner, Hopkinson Waste Holdings Ltd.
Shorts gave very good advice. We would recommend friends and business owners to use Shorts, without a doubt.
In 2022, Andy Ryder and the Shorts Corporate Finance team helped David Hopkinson, local business leader and now-former owner of Hopkinson Waste, successfully complete the trade sale of his company to Highgate Capital.
Following the completion of the process, we caught up with David and his long-time financial consultant, Duncan Heath, to discuss the trade sale journey and the challenges it posed, as well as his overall thoughts about the sale process, and the guidance and advice Shorts provided.
“I was first introduced to Shorts through Andrew King, who had been an accountant and auditor for me for a long time. His practice was acquired by Shorts and that’s how he introduced me to them properly, and the relationship grew from there.
“Going through the actual sale, we knew that it was a job that needed a real specialist, and we knew Shorts had a Corporate Finance department. So, we approached Shorts for help.
“It was 2017 when we originally spoke about it.”
“It all went great, absolutely. The traffic light system Shorts had for potential buyers was very helpful. The process of identifying buyers was something we were pleased with. When it came down to the final four, I thought ‘this is good, we’ve made it’.
“I’ve got to admit, the eventual buyer was a surprise to me. There were times when it was difficult, but Shorts helped us around every corner.
“The timelines that Shorts set were tight, but they managed to keep all sides to those timelines. This is really important in the run up to completion. I know Shorts worked at it a lot and pushed very hard, and I appreciate that.”
“We had some previous failed bids which were frustrating. Nobody was to blame other than the bidders who obviously didn’t see what they were doing. But we all stuck together. Shorts had faith in what they were doing and helped push it along. We knew the business was valuable. We’ve always seen it. It’s just a case of getting somebody to see its potential.
“Shorts could quite easily have thought they weren’t going to make anything out of it, but they stuck with it, much in the same way as we’ve stuck with it. They were as invested in the opportunity and believed in it as much as we did.
“From then it all went smoothly. There’s been a lot of mutual trust, which is what it’s all about. It was very much a team event; everyone was 100% committed.
“I was definitely happy with the advice and support we were given. We were never thinking ‘what’s going on?’ Andy Ryder was doing loads of work in the background and his team was at the front of it. I could contact them at any time. It’s almost like becoming a family.”
“I think in the end, both sides came out of it very happy. The handover period is proving that as well. It’s running really smoothly. The new person who came in is picking it up, he’s doing great. I’m sure they’ll make big things of the company.
“It’s very heartening to know that the success you founded back in 1986 continues and looks set to continue into the future as a result of the transaction that has just taken place. It would have been awful to see everything broken up, where everything goes under the hammer.”
“Very Good Advice.
“We would recommend friends and business owners to use Shorts, without a doubt.”
Hopkinson Waste Management operates in Central and North Derbyshire, South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, operating a fleet of vehicles for a wide range of waste management jobs, both commercial and domestic. Their areas of work include skip hire services, commercial tipping, recycling, waste processing and the supply of recycled or quarried materials.
Formed in 1986, the company has grown to become one of the largest privately owned waste management firms in the region. You can learn more about the company by visiting their website below.
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