The Specialist Blind Co transferred to Employee Ownership Trust

By Tom Kilkelly

18 September 2023

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Business advisory firm Quantuma has announced the completion of the transfer of Surrey-based The Specialist Blind Co into an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT).

The transaction was delivered by Quantuma’s Corporate Finance team, led by Managing Director Adrian Howells and Manager Richard Hill. The team was supported by colleagues from Quantuma’s sister company, K3 Tax Advisory, Managing Director Holly Bedford and Associate Director Dominic Lay.

SBC was incorporated in 2000 by Peter and Helen Matthews. The Company specialises in made-to-measure blinds, specifically remote-control blinds, and home automation integration.

Adrian Howells, Managing Director at Quantuma, said: "We are really pleased to have delivered this transaction for Peter and Helen and helped them to navigate the transition to an employee-owned model.

''Employee ownership is becoming more popular than ever, being used increasingly often to empower employees, whilst securing a tax-efficient exit for shareholders, and creating a sustainable base for future growth.

''Working with Peter has been an absolute pleasure. He has built an impressive business and clearly cares a lot about his team and his customers. We look forward to seeing SBC’s team share the Company’s success under employee ownership."

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Peter Matthews will continue as Managing Director of SBC, supported by longstanding employees Cheryl Ede and Sarah Edwards. This will provide continuity to both customers and employees.

Peter said: “The transition to employee ownership is an exciting step in SBC’s development and I would like to convey my profound appreciation to our remarkable team and loyal customers who have supported us throughout the years.

''I look forward to working alongside the team as we continue to evolve and innovate to provide exceptional products to our valued customers.

''My thanks to the Quantuma and K3 Tax Advisory team, who provided exceptional deal support, generated added value in this transaction and proved to be a solid sounding board when considering options in what can evidently be a complex transaction.”

By Tom Kilkelly

Tom Kilkelly started working as a freelance journalist for The Business Magazine following his graduation from UCL in 2022.

During his studies Tom became very interested in the works of Irish authors including Samuel Beckett and Flann O'Brien (Brian O'Nolan).

His current role as a freelance business reporter is his first exposure to the world of business journalism. Working at TBM has given Tom the chance to really get to grips with the goings-on in the business hive that is the South East.