The case of Óscar García Serrano is a clear example of business success. His story reflects the journey of many entrepreneurs who start by building a family business with a fully operational focus and, through growth, eventually sell a highly profitable company.
More than 25 years ago, in 2000, Óscar and his wife Ana launched their business project, Automatic, a company specialised in the creation, repair and maintenance of automatic gearboxes.
Over time, the company grew steadily, expanding both its operations and its structure, until it became a business with more than 65 employees. During this process, they also incorporated different business lines related to their core activity, as well as acquiring real estate assets that became part of the company.
Like many growing companies, as the business expanded, the need arose to adapt its structure to its new reality and outlook. To address this, at LEIALTA we carried out a full restructuring process. We created a holding company, Oxígeno 7, with real economic activity, and separated the operating business, Automatic, from a newly created asset-holding company.
Over time, this business reorganisation allowed the founding partners, Óscar and Ana, to sell Automatic as a company fully prepared for succession.
For LEIALTA, this case represents a complete support process throughout the entire business lifecycle, with a successful outcome.
As part of our commitment to providing valuable insights for business decision-making, we invited Óscar García to the programme A Media Sesión on Radio Intereconomía. The aim is to help any entrepreneur in a similar situation to Automatic when it first approached LEIALTA understand the advantages of carrying out a business restructuring process.
Below is a short excerpt with the key moments from the interview:
The moment to reorganise: restructuring and long-term vision
As in many companies, Automatic’s growth was primarily driven by a strong business model and efficient day-to-day operations.
However, over time, this growth requires adapting the structure to an increasingly complex reality. Different activities, excess assets or liquidity should not coexist within the same entity, as this can complicate management and increase exposure to risk.
In the words of Óscar García: “There came a point when the growth was so significant that we did not realise it, but thanks to LEIALTA, we saw that we needed to organise it.”
Preparing the company to grow and to decide
A well-structured company not only gains control but also improves its decision-making capacity.
In this case, the project had a clear vision from the beginning: to sell the company. “LEIALTA helped us organise our assets so that the sale would be clean.” As Óscar García explained in his interview on Radio Intereconomía, the reorganisation carried out by LEIALTA made it possible to anticipate that moment and prepare the company for a key process.
The sale as the culmination of the business project
The sale of the operating company marked the culmination of a process built over many years.
Thanks to a well-structured and organised setup, the transaction was carried out with agility and legal certainty. Typically, an M&A transaction can take anywhere from several months to several years.
In the case of Automatic, as Óscar noted in the interview, “it took one year. It was not one of the longest processes, based on what I know from other companies.”
In complex transactions like this, comprehensive support is essential. This applies not only from a technical standpoint but also in terms of professional and personal trust. “LEIALTA made everything easy for us. We felt very secure and comfortable.”
Key takeaways for business owners: thinking beyond day-to-day operations
Óscar García’s case reflects a common reality. Many companies grow without taking the time to organise their structure until complexity forces them to do so. This can put everything built over the years at risk, hinder decision-making and make future succession more difficult.
Anticipation allows not only for risk reduction but also for facilitating key decisions, such as the sale of the business.
Stories like Automatic and Oxígeno 7 demonstrate that timely organisation enables safer growth, clearer decision-making and a successful completion of the business lifecycle.
At LEIALTA, we support companies in restructuring and wealth planning processes that help protect what has been built and prepare for the future. We invite you to learn more about our restructuring services.
If you would like to watch the full interview, you can do so at the following link.
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