CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by:
Winner: Michael Barcia Meridian Corporate Finance
After the main course, it was back to the awards, and the performance of individuals once again.
Four very experienced contenders were in the mix for the bragging rights as Solent 2015 ‘Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year‘, currently held by one of the nominees – last year‘s winner Michael Barcia of Meridian Corporate Finance.
Barcia‘s 2015 challengers were:
• Stewart Lambert of James Cowper Kreston (also nominated last year)
• Simon Davies of Spectrum Corporate Finance • Philippa Robinson of WK Corporate Finance
Barcia acted as lead adviser on six deals in the qualifying period: two sales, two MBOs, one acquisition and a fundraiser. The sale of Ocean Safety to 3Si and the subsequent acquisition by 3Si of Typhoon International were among the highlights.
Davies led on the sale of Poole-based J&Bs to John Nicholls and the buy-side role on the buyout of Christchurch-based Kondor, backed by HIG Capital. Other deals included the cross-border secondary buyout of Alton-based Esdevium Games in a €143m sale of the parent to Eurazeo Capital in Paris, and the disposal of Lamport Bassitt to Pitmans.
Lambert‘s team has shown commitment to the Solent region, focusing on key South Coast deals and utilising other local professionals at every opportunity throughout the qualifying period. Deals included the development capital fundraise for Southampton-based Altitude Partners in Chameleon Worldwide Travel, and the acquisition of Lindstone Travel by Salisbury-based Specialist Tours.
Robinson led on some notable deals in 2014, including the £2.3
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million sale of Procius to Mitie Group, achieving great valuation for the shareholders. Strong testimonials from clients and fellow advisers backed up this deal considered a perfect fit for Mitie‘s growing total security management business.
Roger Bailey (right), partner and head of corporate at sponsor Moore Blatch, announced the winner as “one of the most experienced advisers in the region, and someone who always flies the flag for Solent advisers“ – Michael Barcia (centre) had won again.
Barcia was justly proud but also quick to fly some of those flags when interviewed afterwards. He thanked “..
. the great team
around me – not just Meridian, but also with regard to all the advisers we have worked with this year.
“That‘s the key thing, we try to involve everybody on our patch and be proud of the patch that we have got. We couldn‘t complete the deals that we do without the other professional teams.“
Barcia admitted he had tried not to change his winning workstyle – “just much more of the same“ – despite his year being very busy and unfortunately involving family sadness.
Hard work and consistency, particularly in deals completion where Meridian has a 90% success rate, was his winning formula. “We don‘t take on many deals, but we don‘t lose many. It‘s about making sure we take the right ones on and getting them over the line.“
Already, 2015 has begun busy, he noted. “The deals market has picked up. Everybody is charged. Talking to the banks they are busy and lending again, solicitors don‘t have any time spare, we have definitely got a lot on, and I know our competitors have too.
“It will be an interesting year with more deals and a mixed variety. And, I‘m thinking about the hat-trick.“
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JULY/AUGUST 2015
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