黑洞社区

A deal to sell Mace, the 拢531m turnover consultant and construction group, was scrapped after a price couldn鈥檛 be agreed before the Capital Gains Tax deadline in April, it has emerged.

According to industry sources, the plug was pulled on the deal close to the cut-off date of 6 April due to the impact of the credit crunch on Mace鈥檚 valuation, but it is understood the company is still on the market at the right price.

Mace chief executive

The identity of the failed bidder is not known at this stage but sources say the company, which is building the 拢350m Shard of Glass project in London, had looked at options including a trade sale and the involvement of private equity. The price tag is believed to have been in the region of 拢100m.

One source said: 鈥淚t is a very attractive business that has lots of operations around the world and would be a great deal for someone at the right price.鈥�

The abolition of taper relief on CGT means partnerships and individuals now pay a flat rate of 18% on gains when they sell up, compared with a maximum of 10% before the deadline.

There was a flurry of corporate activity in the run-up to 6 April, including the 拢100m sale of social housing contractor Bullock to Lloyds TSB Development Capital, and the 拢41m purchase of Richardson Projects by Rok.

According to documents filed at Companies House, Mace has 24 directors, including chief executive Stephen Pycroft and finance director David Vaughan, all of whom could have cashed in as part of any deal before 6 April.

In the year ended 31 December 2007, Mace boosted turnover by 43%, from 拢372m to 拢531m.

Pre-tax profit grew 46%, from 拢7.4m to 拢10.8m.

Mace declined to comment.