24 corporate finance
To choose the right adviser, make sure you’re asking the right
questions According to research conducted by unquote“ data, the UK and Ireland’s first-quarter M&A activity levels are at their lowest in five years. It recorded just 82 deals in the first three months of 2013, down 37% compared to 131 during the same period last year. With deal completions at a low, business owners need to be more careful than ever about making the right choice when it comes to working with an adviser, says Meridian Corporate Finance
Ideally, an advisory firm needs a team with a mix of skill sets and individual backgrounds – not only in accountancy but in banking, venture capital, due diligence and law, as well as relevant industry experience and board level positions. Only with this blend of experience can a team offer advice and really understand a company’s revenue model, market position, IP and technology, competitive landscape, supplier relationships and channels to market. Simply put, it’s not all about understanding the financial performance of a business.
In Meridian’s view, before appointing an adviser (and of course depending on what you are strategically looking to achieve), it is imperative that you ask the key questions, all be they unwelcome.
Here are the top five questions corporate finance advisers don’t want you to ask them:
• How many deals has the adviser personally completed in the past 12-18 months?
• Out of the client instructions that they take on, what percentage completes?
• How many international transactions have they completed?
• What relevant sector experience do they have?
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• What professional and client references can they provide?
Over the past three years Meridian has differentiated itself from its competition by achieving a completion rate of over 90% for all mandates, compared to an industry average of around 40%.
Now in its 11th year and as the largest independent corporate finance offering in the south, Meridian has built an extensive network of local experts and advisers and has many contacts across a range of industries. As a firm, Meridian has particular expertise in technology, legal and insurance services and transport and logistics, having worked nationally and internationally in these sectors.
The senior team of Mike Barcia, Darren Thompson and Joe Jeffers have a combined 50 years’ experience working with companies of all sizes in a wide variety of markets. Meridian has completed 13 deals in the past 12 months, four of which were cross- border transactions involving the US, Far East and mainland Europe.
Are you asking the right questions?
Details:
www.meridiancf.com
Dentists need help to fill a gap in their
business Tailored financial advice is essential if dentists are to navigate a tough economy and increased competition and still run an efficient practice, writes Andrew Kershaw, a specialist accountant to the dental industry
Dental principals are in a unique position of acting as professional healthcare practitioners as well as entrepreneurial business owners in their own right.
With this dual role comes the pressure of complying with both General Dental Council standards, business legislation and, in many cases, the terms of an NHS contract.
The continuing economic slump, increased competition in the marketplace and impending changes to the NHS contract have further complicated the business of running a dental practice. As a result finances have become a key issue in the industry.
With many dentists rightly concentrating on patient care there is little time to focus on their business. As a result, many are in need of specialist advice. Not only to help them overcome the unique set of challenges they face but also to ensure that their practices continue to maximise profits and operate efficiently within the constraints of all the legislation.
Finances have become a key issue in the dental industry
While many practice owners have an overview of their results, many do not have a detailed knowledge of the underlying performance and how they can improve their profits.
Not only that, many have not considered alternative business structures available to them that could have a material effect on their tax position and aid in their succession planning. There are a number of options available
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JUNE 2013
that may better fit their personal and business objectives.
As well as routinely reviewing a practice’s business structure and ensuring that tax liabilities are minimised, HWB works with many practices to benchmark key information. The key drivers in the practice are established and accounting models are used to demonstrate how changes can impact on the practice’s underlying profitability.
From this work an action plan is agreed. Short-term targets as well as longer-term strategic plans are set and regularly monitored to ensure that practices are able to reach their full potential.
Details: Andrew Kershaw 023-8046-1200
www.hwb-accountants.com
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