corporate finance 25 Hampshire accountancy


firms to collaborate Hampshire chartered accountancy firms Wilkins Kennedy LLP and CW Fellowes are to work locally together on corporate finance projects in the south


Inertia isn’t an option for SMEs


There’s no place for complacency in today’s market, according to Tracey Bevis, senior new business manager at Pulse Cashflow Finance. She believes that now is the time for SMEs across the Thames Valley to be brave and take control of their own destinies


SMEs should demand more from their funding partners. Breaking free of seemingly safe relationships such as these may feel like a dangerous thing to do, but the consequence of not taking action is inertia .


From left: Adam Wilson, CW Fellowes; Philippa Robinson and Andy Coghlan, WKCF; and Ian Talbot, Wilkins Kennedy


Collaborating through their membership of global accounting organisation IAPA, corporate finance director Philippa Robinson and corporate finance executive Sam Meacher will work on corporate finance deals under the WK Corporate Finance (WKCF) banner, the corporate finance arm of top 20 UK chartered accountancy firm Wilkins Kennedy.


The duo will be based in the Wilkins Kennedy Winchester offices on Tower Street and will work closely with Chandlers Ford and Fareham-based CW Fellowes and the nationally acclaimed WKCF specialist team based at London Bridge.


Continuing as chairperson of IAPA’s European corporate finance offering, Robinson has over 20 years of experience in the corporate finance arena, as well as first-hand experience in small business ownership of Wimborne-based precision moulding firm Inoplas Technology.


She works with SMEs, entrepreneurs and owner- managed businesses on mergers and acquisitions, disposals, management buyins and buyouts and due diligence across a wide range of market sectors, including manufacturing,


healthcare and information technology.


Director at WKCF, she says: “Despite the current economic conditions there is still a very strong market for business growth through corporate finance transactions and we are continuing to see a great deal of merger and sales activity across Hampshire and the south.“


Adam Wilson, managing director at CW Fellowes, says: “This is a natural collaboration via our relationship at IAPA and we are delighted to work alongside national players WK Corporate Finance on future corporate finance projects.“


Ian Talbot, managing partner at the Wilkins Kennedy Winchester office, says: “We are delighted to warmly welcome corporate finance specialists Philippa and Sam to the Wilkins Kennedy Winchester office, increasing our service offering to firms and clients across the region.“


Details: www.wkcorporatefinance.com www.cwfellowes.com www.iapa.net


Being bold and looking at alternative finance options could be the way to move forward, restructuring the business and building for future growth.


Often, all that’s required is a finance facility that provides the necessary level of funding, based on the assets of the business. At Pulse, our yardstick is the quality of the sales ledger from which invoice finance can be raised. This may be different from one funder to another, based on their views of concentration levels, sector exposure, or simply their appetite for funding, based on problematic historical performance.


But as a specialist in funding businesses during turnaround or recovery periods, companies like Pulse aim to maximise the level of funding on the sales ledger – provided they can satisfy themselves that the directors have a strong focus on the future direction of the business. They then work closely with financial specialists to make sure that there is proper planning in place to enable the business to move forward and deliver appropriate funding.


In this way, the destiny of today’s SMEs is in the hands of their directors and not the banks. Take a recent new customer to the Pulse portfolio: despite its well-established position and reputation, and because it fits out major retail outlets, it is classified as operating in the construction


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – THAMES VALLEY – JUNE 2013


sector – a sector currently feared by bank policymakers. In this case, funding had been further curtailed because a recent successful tender meant a higher than normal concentration of operations with one customer. This situation inflicted unworkable cash constrictions on the business.


Pulse reviewed the situation, acknowledged where the risks really lay and, within three days, was able to structure funding in such a way that the company is now able to finance the increased business profitably, without hindrance to cashflow.


So, if your business is in a finance relationship that isn’t working, don’t stick your head in the sand and hope it’ll be alright in the end.


Instead,


demand more of your business and your finance provider. And remember: alternative solutions – and finance – are out there.


Details: Tracey Bevis 0845-5397003 Tracey@pulsecashflow.com


www.businessmag.co.uk


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