“We did a
search of the internet and found a number of business brokers. We interviewed
several and chose Astra Business Corporation. Our situation was unusual as we
were selling the assets of our two breweries because of my father’s health. One
was a functioning brewery and another one was a turnkey business. We dealt
directly with Bob Hughes, President.
Through the
entire process, Bob was very professional and thorough. He kept everyone
focused and on track and made a complicated process go through without
friction. Bob’s advice was accurate and helpful throughout the entire process
(and helped save us money). He did everything he could to eliminate potential
problems and helped minimize my time spent on the sale, as I was still tied
down running my separate business. He stayed in contact with all involved and
minimized or eliminated issues early on before they become insurmountable
obstacles – helping to ensure a certain closing.
When the process was in the stage where the lawyers got involved, the deal was going sideways. Bob laid out a plan of action for us and we accepted it and instructed our lawyers to follow his action plan. It worked and we closed the sale. I should also include, we received more than the asking price.
It was a learning
experience for me and I thank Bob for his perseverance and professional ethics.
Dan Piccolo”
“Hi Bob
“We want to
express our thanks for your assistance in closing the transaction. You are very
resourceful, skillful in getting the transaction completed and coordinating
both parties. We had a very complicated transaction. You were available from A
to Z. You also acted as a mediator. After completing a successful transaction,
thank you for your referral for business coach as well. You have been wonderful
to work with.
With Regards,
Deep”
“I am
writing you to thank you for all of the hard work you did to sell our
Bunsmaster Bakery. Not only did “your system” prove successful as you
indicated it would, but also within the time frame outlined in our original
meeting. The integrity and honesty you displayed at all stages of the sale
built a trust relationship that I was not sure was possible between the seller
and a business broker.
It is with great enthusiasm that I will be
recommending your services to all the contacts I know in the business world. I
am very confidential that they will have the same positive experience as I have
had.
I believe that
the wealth of information and experience you possess gives you the edge on many
of your colleagues in the same business.
Thanks again Bob.
Sincerely
Brian Payer”
“This letter
is to thank you for your assistance in the sale of our company. I appreciate
the way you worked on our behalf.
You advised us
the price set on the business was “fair market value” and we accepted the offer
close to the asking price.
Your persistence,
creativity and financing made it come together.
Yours truly,
Ron, Expert
Mechanical”
“I would like to thank you for all you did for us on the sale of the Silver Chalice.
After having the business listed with a real estate agent for over a year at a lower price, I feel you earned your $100,000.00 commission
In review, the key to the sale was having an independent appraisal to show what the true market value was. And we appreciate how you were able to assist the buyer in financing the sale.
Thank you again for the professional manner in which you conducted yourself. I feel I was well represented.
Yours sincerely, Gary W. See, Hope, B.C.”
“Re: Sale of Ocean Pacific Trading
I would like to personally thank you for all your help in the sale of the above company.
As we wanted to sell the business within six months, we agreed to follow your system. I am pleased to say the offer was accepted within six months.
The response you had was very impressive and I think you for qualifying the potential buyers before you introduced them to me personally.
I felt you acted in a professional manner and that the confidentiality of the company was always intact.
Please accept my personal thanks again. If called upon, I would recommend your services. Please use this letter as a testimonial.
Sincerely,
Craig Hogarth, President”
“To whom it may concern,
I used the services of Astra and Bob Hughes, president to sell my travel agency.
Bob provided me with an outline of the selling process, which I referred to during the various stages of our negotiations.
Bob was the mediator through whom the initial contacts were made. When we had a perspective buyer, he usually set up a three-way telephone conference call first to see if it was worth pursuing.
Bob would then set up a meeting between me and the interested buyer, at which time he let the parties get to know each other, but would jump in, if I was not sure how to answer a question.
After that, all questions and answers and further negotiations re price etc. Were done via him (Bob) usually by email. I found this process less confrontational and I was therefore better able not to get too emotional about it all.
It too almost a year before we finally found a suitable party and could agree on the price. Bob kept advertising and contacting the various prospects and did not give up. He also handled the paperwork up to the point the lawyers had to get involved.
Without the services of Bob Hughes, I might have sold the business, but not at this price. His fee was definitely worth it.
Uke Breuker, Euro World Travel”
“I would like to take a minute of my time to thank you personally and Astra for all their time and expertise in the transaction of selling my business these past few months. I honestly would have to say that without your personal involvement and your expert knowledge in these types of transactions… I would not have completed the sale of my business, Hellcat Industrial Services.
At times myself
and the buyer were at a stalemate and frustrated with the process. Your
mediation and words of advice for not just myself but for everyone involved
from accountants to lawyers made a paramount difference in coming to a close on
so many issues. Your direction to keep the important things at the frontlines
of the negotiations kept things moving and costs down.
I could state
many things that you did to complete the project but I would like to say from a
personal point of view, that your patience and hard work to complete this deal
means more to me than I can put into words.
I can now look
forward to a new chapter of my life and joining my dear Jasmine in Europe to
start our live together after so many years.
I would like to
close by stating that for anyone interested in using your services, I would
highly recommend Astra to do so. Should I ever require such services again in
the future, Stefan and Astra would be my first and only choice.
Deepest regards
and sincerely,
Sean Seguin –
Owner – Hellcat Industrial Services Inc.”
