Due Diligence and Reporting for Acquisitions, Investments or Funder Requirements

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Licences and other permissions can be an essential part of an asset, making it imperative to ensure they are fit for purpose prior to any acquisition or investment.

Funders routinely insist on this verification to prevent scenarios where a business or property is purchased only to discover that the permission that would allow them to trade are either absent or not fit for the intended purpose.

We have encountered this situation several times, such as hotel purchasers discovering post-completion that the premises licence had lapsed due to the dissolution of the licence holder months earlier, or pub buyers who fell foul of a purchase agreement clause allowing the seller to surrender the premises licence if not transferred within two weeks after completion.

To avoid such scenarios, the licensing team at Harrison Drury are well-positioned to help. Our extensive experience includes collaborating with colleagues in the wider leisure team to review and report on licensing matters. Whether assisting the corporate team in share purchases related to a single hotel, supporting the commercial property team during due diligence for the purchase of a large estate of pubs, or conducting a review of premises licences for lenders using them as security, our team is well-prepared.

Additionally, we are happy to collaborate with other law firms who do not have licensing expertise in-house, to undertake that specific part of the due diligence process relating to transactions they deal with.

To speak to our licensing specialists please call us on 01772 258321 or make an enquiry below to see how we can assist you and your business.