Strategic assessment
Case Studies
Realising strategic assets
One of the ways that owner-occupiers could achieve more efficient use of space is to lease their property rather than own it. Sale-and-leaseback transactions take property off the balance sheet and release cash to invest or reduce debt.
This strategy was extremely beneficial for Corus Catnic in Caerphilly
helping them to continue trading during a difficult period and enabling
them to procure a flagship headquarters building for the South Wales-based
business.
The company was previously located on two sites in an older factory premises and a property that was old and had extended over the years to become a complex of corridors and office spaces. In addition, the company had an adjoining parcel of waste land that was unsuitable for their own use.
The company was able to realise capital by way of a sale-and-leaseback and through the sale of non-performing assets for residential use. Corus Catnic now occupy a single site with modern, purpose-built offices.
Roger Thomas, Corus Catnic, "Property was becoming a major issue for us and we sought advice from Robert Chapman to consolidate our business and assist us in disposing of the waste land. The advice we received was highly professional and completely independent.
The project has been very successful both from a financial standpoint as well as our improved positioning within the business community."
Enabling future growth
John Collins & Partners, a well-respected law firm in Swansea , was
established in a modern premises on Swansea Enterprise Park . As the business
expanded they moved into more commercial areas, but remained positioned
as a general legal practice. In order to establish their commercial division,
there was a need to change the perception of the company and, as part
of that change to seek larger, more modern commercial premises. This would
be an expensive project with capital costs beyond their resources and
would need to be spread over a number of years.
Robert Chapman & Company provided advice in planning this extensive project and secured a Business Improvement Grant and up to 50% funding assistance.
"The grant provided the key to our business development - without it we would not have been able to progress." explains Steve Penny of John Collins & Partners. "Robert was able to combine his technical knowledge as a chartered surveyor with in-depth understanding of grant assistance to help us move this project forward much faster and more successfully than we ever imagined."