Merging companies-help!

I wonder if someone may have some knowledge of this.

I own a limited company by my self and a second with my brother.

Both have some property but my brother wants out in 2-4 years.

I am trying to work out the best way to raise funds to buy him out and create one company without huge stamp duty. Accountant has proved slightly unsure but thinking of the lines of one of them becoming a holding company and buying the shares in the other.  I can then raise funds on the combined assets which can be transferred between the 2.

I know its a strange one but don't have the funds to pay huge stamp duty if one just bought the assets.

Any thoughts would be greatly received