DEALMAKER OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by:
Winner: Darren Thompson Meridian Corporate Finance
With dessert consumed, normal Deals Awards activity resumed, except that the dealmaking practitioners present decided the final three awards.
The winners were revealed by individual votes cast and recorded by keypad terminals on each table. To avoid undue influence by the guest-list demographic, table-top voting was weighted by the judging panel‘s prior evaluation of the nominees.
The five nominees for this first ‘elected‘ award included a dealmaking duo from the same firm:
• Simon Davies and Ian Milne of Spectrum Corporate Finance and the trio of:
• Darren Thompson of Meridian Corporate Finance (shortlisted 2014)
• Philippa Robinson of WK Corporate Finance • Stewart Lambert of James Cowper Kreston (2014 title-winner)
Davies has led many of Spectrum‘s, and the south‘s, significant transactions in recent years. During 2014 he acted for J&Bs of Poole on the sale to John Nicholls of Banbury; the management buyout of Kondor, advising HIG Capital on the buy-side; the cross-border sale of Arqiva Broadcast Holdings‘ digital cinema division to a French buyer; Lamport Bassitt‘s acquisition by Pitmans; and Premium Crops sale to a US buyer.
As an experienced corporate financier, with over 25 years‘ experience of acquisitions and leveraged finance, Spectrum‘s Ian Milne makes deals work by finding innovative and tailored funding solutions – such as Bargate Homes‘ £25 million development capital fundraise by Prowting Investments, with revolving debt facilities by RBS. He was also involved in the Lamport Bassitt, Kondor and Premium Crops deals last year.
Thompson completed six deals as Meridian lead adviser in the
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qualifying period – the deals involving banks, venture capital firms and listed acquirers. The MBO of HCR Group funded by Santander; JV for PAS; sale of Continuous Insight; investment in TravelMatch; and funding in Blis Media were among the transactions.
WK‘s Robinson, with many previous years experience in the corporate finance industry with Meridian and CW Fellowes, was adviser to Basingstoke-based Procius in its sale to Mitie, a ‘great fit‘ between a small business and a major UK plc, which ‘achieved real value for Procius shareholders.
Lambert‘s team at James Cowper Kreston completed 24 deals, and he personally led nine transactions – seven were locally based or involved local lawyers. Transactions included work for Specialist Tours, Chameleon Worldwide Travel, and the disposal of Lambert Brothers. He also completed the disposal of Langham Lifts, fundraising for MicroEnsure and buy-side advisory on the GCP-backed Flydocs.
Pitmans partner Sean Kelly (right) stood ready to present the Dealmaker of the Year trophy. Music fanfared as the winner‘s name flashed up on large stage-screens – Darren Thompson.
Afterwards, Meridian‘s Thompson (centre), a previous winner of this title, highlighted his criteria for a ‘Dealmaker of the Year‘.
“Deal valuation and structure are key, but deliverability is everything. Don‘t take unreasonable positions, but create the happy medium, a win:win situation for both parties, to get the deal across the line.“
He also mentioned creating not waiting for deals, hard work, enjoying dealmaking, plus having a certain amount of luck.
Meridian‘s dealmaking focus and independence was also beneficial. “I work with a wide variety of professionals around Southampton and beyond, and am able to choose the best in the market for each deal requirement, which ensures every chance of success.“
Thompson added: “This is the best award to achieve because it‘s voted for by your peers and professional community.“
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – JULY/AUGUST 2015
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