Protecting the business and treating family fairly.

The problem

A founder owned a 60% controlling share in a growing manufacturing company alongside a co-director. Two of their three adult children worked in the firm, while the third had pursued a separate medical career. The founder’s existing will left everything equally to all three children.

What was identified

• Problem: Leaving company shares equally would create deadlocks between working and non-working siblings, while leaving the co-director vulnerable if the founder died.
• What We Identified: The company articles of association contained no cross-option agreement; Business Relief (BR) qualification was at risk due to surplus non-trading cash.
• What Was Considered: Shareholder cross-option agreements backed by business protection in trust, Business Property Relief audit, and equalisation trusts using life cover.
• What Changed: The co-director gained option rights to buy out shares; working children received voting equity; the non-active child received equivalent value through trust protection.

What was considered

We collaborated with company commercial solicitors and tax specialists to ensure the personal estate planning matched the commercial articles and shareholder agreements.

What changed

The business is protected against disruption, the co-founder has stability, and all three children are treated equitably without forcing the sale of company shares.