meridian_corporate_finance2

Signbox Ltd

Fri, 07 Nov 2025 09:52:33 GMT

Transaction: Acquisition

Sector: Architectural Signage

Completed: October 2025

Meridian Corporate Finance is delighted to have advised Stewart Signs Limited on its acquisition of a majority stake in Signbox Limited, a move that brings together two highly respected names in the UK signage and branding industry.

This latest transaction marks the continuation of a partnership spanning more than a decade between Meridian and Stewart Signs. Over the past ten years, we have been proud to support the Stewart Signs team at every key stage of their growth journey, from their management buy-out through to two strategic acquisitions, including this most recent investment in Signbox.

The acquisition of Signbox represents an exciting step forward for Stewart Signs, strengthening its position as a UK market leader in visual communications and architectural signage. Together, the two businesses combine decades of specialist expertise, shared values, and a commitment to quality and innovation in the signage industry.

Speaking about the partnership, Michael Barcia, who led the transaction alongside Prabin Sunar and George Forgan, commented, “It has been a privilege to work alongside Stewart Signs for so many years and to play a part in their continued success. Their focus on sustainable growth and innovation has been consistent since day one, and this acquisition is a natural progression in their journey.”

The Meridian team was supported by the corporate team at Trethowans, with the sellers advised by Phillips Law, and tax advice provided by Cathy Revis at Fiander ETL.

We extend our warmest congratulations to both the Stewart Signs and Signbox teams on reaching this exciting milestone. We look forward to continuing to support Stewart Signs as they build on their success and shape the future of the UK signage industry.

Project Cedar

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:19:47 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out
Sector: STEM

Completed: September 2025

Meridian was delighted to advise the shareholders and management team on the Management Buy-Out of Project Cedar.

Cedar is a long-established, Hampshire based business with a strong reputation in the STEM sector.

Meridian acted as lead advisor to the business, working alongside Jeremy Over at Moore Barlow, Laura Baker at HSBC, and Gemma Hedges at HWB to create a tailor-made structure and £5m funding solution to facilitate the buyout.

The transaction marks an exciting new chapter for the company, empowering its leadership team to drive future growth and innovation.

We are proud to have supported the team through this milestone and wish them every success in the next phase of their journey.

A fantastic evening at the South Coast Deals Awards!

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 10:00:02 GMT

What a fantastic evening at this year’s South Coast Deals Awards, hosted by The Business Magazine in partnership with Insider.

We were proud to once again sponsor the Law Firm of the Year category, which was awarded to the outstanding team at Moore Barlow. Their continued excellence on the South Coast, delivering a broad range of highly complex and significant transactions, made them truly deserving winners. Congratulations Moore Barlow on a remarkable year of achievements!

We were also delighted to be recognised, alongside our fellow advisers at Shoosmiths, as part of the team behind the Small Deal of the Year – the acquisition of Auditel by TMA Group. As TMA is a portfolio company of Meridian, we were deeply involved at every stage of the transaction, from structuring through to negotiations and completion. The judges commended the deal for demonstrating how M&A can drive improvements in ESG reporting and services, while overcoming significant complexities through an innovative consideration structure.

It was a privilege to work so closely with Auditel’s Directors, Chris Aston and Rob Allison, and to celebrate this achievement together on the night. This award is a real testament to the strength of local advisers in our region.

As always, the South Coast Deals Awards brought together the region’s leading professionals for an evening of celebration and networking, and this year was no exception. It is always a pleasure catching up with familiar faces and meeting new ones.

Congratulations to all the finalists, and a special well done to all of this year’s winners.

Meridian Shortlisted for CF Team of the Year

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 Jul 2025 10:55:58 GMT

Meridian Corporate Finance are proud to be sponsoring the Law Firm of the Year award at this year’s South Coast Deals Awards – one of the highlights of the year for the local dealmaking community.

Huge congratulations to all the finalists in this category; a brilliant line up of firms raising the bar across the South Coast: Blake Morgan LLP, Broadfield Law UK LLP, Clarke Willmott LLP, Moore Barlow LLP, Paris Smith LLP, Shakespeare Martineau LLP, Shoosmiths LLP, Trethowans LLP. We have worked with many of you and know just how well deserved the nominations are.

We are also thrilled to announce that Meridian has been shortlisted for Corporate Finance Team of the Year, and that of our deals have also made the shortlist:

• Acquisition of Auditel by TMA Group (Deal of the Year under £10m)

• Acquisition of Dyball Associates by TMA Group (Deal of the Year under £10m)

• Sale of Qolcom to Bechtle AG (Deal of the Year under £10m - £50m)

• Sale of Wessex Group to Andwis (Deal of the Year under £10m - £50m)

We are especially proud that our very own Philip Mettam has been shortlisted for Dealmaker of the Year and Prabin Sunar shortlisted for Emerging Dealmaker of the Year.

During the qualifying period, Meridian led 17 transactions, including trade sales, acquisitions, recapitalisations, a corporate demerger, share buybacks and a wide range of management buyouts. Working alongside so many fantastic local professionals across the South Coast, we are proud of what the team at Meridian continues to achieve.

A huge thank you to all our clients and professional colleagues, it’s a real honour to be recognised alongside so many firms that we respect and have the privilege to work alongside. This recognition underpins Meridian’s position as the leading independent corporate finance firm in the South Coast region, and we couldn’t do it without you.

As ever the Awards evening features a brilliant line-up. Congratulations to everyone who has been shortlisted. We are really looking forward to celebrating with you all in September!

Roll on awards night!

Project Oak

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 08:55:49 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Completed: April 2025

Meridian are delighted to have advised on the successful management buyout of Project Oak. The transaction, led by Philip Mettam , provided a secondary release of equity value for the founding shareholders, while empowering the management team with the opportunity to lead the business into its next phase of growth.

Meridian worked closely with Alison Trant and the team at HSBC , who delivered a £3.5m debt facility to support the deal. Legal advice and tax advice were expertly provided by Lisa Sigalet and the team at Shoosmiths , and Doug MacLeod and Nick Byfield at DSA Advisory Ltd respectively.

This transaction marks the culmination of long-term strategic advice provided by Meridian, ensuring the client’s objectives were met - both financially and in relation to their personal and family goals.

We look forward to supporting the management team as they drive Project Oak through their next stage of growth!

#Meridian #corporatefinance #ManagementBuyout #mbo #DealAnnouncement #GrowthStrategy #StrategicAdvisory #DebtFinance #BusinessSuccession #ClientSuccess #MeridianCF

Celebrating Andy Syvret

Fri, 14 Feb 2025 11:24:18 GMT

A Night of Generosity, Joy, and £80,000 Raised for Charity

On Thursday 13th February 2025 over 350 of us gathered to honour and celebrate Andrew Syvret , raising an incredible amount of funds for two amazing charities: Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association Southampton and Winchester Group, and Tree of Hope – Jemima’s Journey.

Meridian was proud to be part of the Solent Professionals Annual Charity Event (SPACE) committee, working alongside Pure Communications Group to help bring about such a fantastically successful event.

While the lead up to the event took a heart breaking turn following the passing of our great friend and colleague Andy Syvret, the evening was filled with joy, inspiration, and a huge amount of love and generosity was shared. It was a truly uplifting and moving occasion.

The deepest thanks to everyone who sponsored, donated, organised, raised awareness, attended and every other contribution in between. Because of our collective efforts we raised over £80,000 which is absolutely incredible and will go a long way in supporting these two vital causes.

Special thanks to Fiona Alwin , Alice Davies , Pure Communications Group , Simon Davies , FRP Advisory , Tony Dickin , Palatine , Stephen Porter , Neil Foulkes , Shoosmiths , Michael Barcia , Meridian Corporate Finance , Matthew Shaw , Santander UK , Joe Jeffers , Hambledon Vineyard , MND Southampton and Winchester Group, Tree of Hope – Jemima’s Journey, The Syvret Family, FANCI Jewellery, Southampton Football Club – the Mike Channon Suite.

And to our special guests, Richard Hole , Tracy Hole , Kate Daws , Simon Daws , Nigel Harper , Carole Harper, Christopher Aston , Claire Aston, Stephen Badger , Simon Bennett , Lisa Bennett, Gareth Livingstone , Emma Barcia , Felicity Landrock-Mettam , Matt Cheales

#CharityEvent #Fundraising #CommunitySupport #InMemoryOfAndy #MNDResearch #CharitySuccess #GiveBack #CorporateSocialResponsibility #MakingADifference #SouthamptonEvents #TreeOfHope #J e mimasJourney #Meridian #EventSuccess #SpaceEvent

Michael Barcia , Philip Mettam , Prabin Sunar , George Forgan , Darren Thompson , Toby Uren

2024 - A year of Growth, Achievements and a lot of Coffee!

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 10:13:54 GMT

Well, we’ve made it through another year—and what a year it’s been! From major M&A deals to welcoming new faces, 2024 has been packed with highlights. We’ve been busy, we’ve been bold, and yes, we’ve probably consumed more caffeine than is medically advisable. But hey, it’s all been worth it!

M&A Activity & Investments
2024 saw significant activity with the team acting as lead adviser on the sales of Wessex Group (Wessex Electricals, and Wessex Fire & Security) and Qolcom , as well as the MBOs of Just Kampers , Project Venus , and CSA Environmental . We also had a busy year on our PE fund with exits from 23.5 degrees complimented by a new portfolio acquisition in Bournemouth based MyFibre , reinvestments in Stewart Signs and Diametric, and bolt-on acquisitions of Dyball and Auditel (more on this below) both of which joined the TMA family!

Team Growth & Development
We welcomed Toby Uren to the team and were excited to have Kerry Coomer , Honor Hornsby , and Jake Bowdler join us as secondees from Shoosmiths and Trethowans - It’s a pleasure working with such talented and ambitious people!

Awards & Recognition
It was an honor to have been named Corporate Finance Team of the Year at the Solent Deal Awards once again. A special shout-out also goes to Prabin Sunar , who won Young Dealmaker of the Year for the second time - a well-deserved recognition of his dedication and hard work.

Team Building & Client Engagement
From thrilling rally events to memorable Goodwood experiences, boat trips, and client dinners, we’ve cherished every opportunity to strengthen our relationships and celebrate our collective success with so many clients and professionals in the Solent region.

Charity

We’re proud to uphold our commitment to supporting meaningful charitable causes. This year, we’ve continued our partnership with the Children’s Heart Foundation, MNDA , and Tree of Hope , raising both funds and awareness for their vital work. A highlight was the special auction lunch at Mirabelle’s, which brought people together for a wonderful cause. Looking ahead, we’re excited to once again be supporting and organising the Solent Professionals Annual Charity Event (SPACE) Valentine’s Ball in February 2025 alongside other dedicated professionals within our local community!

ESG and Sustainability

Our portfolio Company, TMA Data Management Ltd, acquired Hampshire based Auditel UK Ltd, which helps organisations make effective and informed decisions around energy procurement as well as having a national network of over 100 energy procurement and carbon consultants. It is one of the UK’s leading carbon footprint and carbon reduction specialists and Meridian are excited to be working with the team in making an enormous impact on companies that are on the journey to carbon neutral.

With such a strong foundation in 2024, we are eager to continue delivering value, driving growth, and creating lasting partnerships in the year ahead. Thank you to all the professionals we have worked with this year, and here's to even more milestones, learning, and success in 2025! ��

#2024Highlights #TeamSuccess #MergersAndAcquisitions #Investment #CorporateFinance #Awards #TeamBuilding #ClientEngagement #Growth #BusinessSuccess #nextstepthinking

Welcome Jake Bowdler

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 10:26:34 GMT

We are thrilled to welcome Jake to the Meridian team on a three-month placement from National Law Firm Shoosmiths.

As a talented trainee solicitor, Jake brings extensive experience in corporate transactions, having acted for private equity firms, founders, and institutions on disposals.

With several years of expertise as a paralegal and trainee solicitor, Jake has developed a deep understanding of managing transactions efficiently while aligning with clients' commercial objectives. His resilience and ability to navigate complex transactions have earned him glowing client feedback.

At Meridian, we are not only committed to supporting Jake's development but also eager to learn from his wealth of experience.

Jake joins us as part of Meridian's secondment programme, which began in 2008, and we are delighted to welcome him as our 31st secondee. His placement will run until March 2025, and we believe he will be a fantastic addition to the team.

Valuation squeeze...

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 13:11:26 GMT

What does the Budget mean for business owners?

After a lot of headlines and guesswork in the media we finally got answers on the Labour party's plan yesterday, and it certainly brought some sweeping changes!

It was clear from comments made in the lead up to the Budget that tax rates were going to increase, and many articles have already been published summarising the various changes. But from a transactional perspective there are three key areas that are likely to be hot topics in the coming months:

Increased Employers NIC contributions through a 1.2% increase and significant reduction of the secondary threshold (although this may be offset by changes to the Employers Allowance);
Increases to minimum wage and National Living Wage; and
Changes to CGT with immediate effect and BADR rate in April 25 and April 26.

Impact on shareholders

The negative impact for a lot of business owners will inevitably be an increase in cost from the first two points above. In turn this will reduce EBITDA – the key metric used in many valuations.

This will be particularly relevant for businesses with large workforces where average salary is low and/or near minimum wage, such as manufacturing and construction. Many of these sectors were already struggling for investment and funding after 4 years of wage inflation and uncertainty have reduced appetite from financial institutions.

Conversely, business with less direct employees, higher average salaries, and/or margins such as those in the TMT or franchising sectors are likely to be less proportionally impacted.

Alongside this we have seen an increase in the tax rates for owners of businesses on the value they have built in their shares. We have seen an immediate rise in the main CGT rate from 20% to 24%, and a 2 year roadmap for Business Asset Disposal Rate to increase from 10% to 18% by April 2026.

Coupled with the changes to Inheritance Tax and Business Property Relief, the benefits to continue building value and maintaining ownership for future generations might not look as appealing as they once did.

What are my options?

It’s not all doom and gloom! For a start the changes to CGT have been a lot softer than many in the media expected, and whilst tax rates have increased they still offer a meaningful reduction compared to receipts via dividends or PAYE.

In addition, the increases to BADR are being spread over multiple years, providing an opportunity to business owners who may have been considering their options, to make changes ahead of April 2025 and April 2026.

Following a tumultuous 4 years and uncertain outlook both politically and economically, we at least have some certainty on the political environment for the coming years. Many business owners will now be looking at what this means for them, both as Directors of businesses, and as individuals. Inevitably, many will be making fundamental decisions on whether to continue, or whether the stars are now aligned to crystalise their value and plan a route to exit via either a sale or MBO.

It goes without saying that getting the right advice is key to making such decisions, and this is an area that we at Meridian are proud to say we have a huge amount of experience in, and would value any opportunity to discuss.

In the meantime, what’s your view on the changes? Will they drive different behaviours moving forwards or do you view it as not being significant in your decision making?

Article written by: Philip Mettam - Director

Project Venus

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 14:42:12 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Construction Services

Completed: October 2024

Meridian advised the shareholders of a luxury home improvement company on their Management Buy-Out.

Based in Hampshire the transaction was led by George Forgan, Associate at Meridian, and was supported by local professionals including Moore Barlow (Lawyers) and Fiander Tovell (Tax Advisers and Accountants).

Qolcom Ltd

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:54:51 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector: TMT

Completed: October 2024

Meridian Corporate Finance advised the Shareholders of Qolcom Limited on their sale to German conglomerate Bechtle AG

Founded in 2005, Qolcom specialises in digital workplace solutions, intelligent network infrastructure, and security. With a team of 44 employees and revenues of 30 million euros in the last fiscal year, Qolcom is a well-respected name in the British IT services market.

This acquisition aligns with Qolcom's goal to accelerate its growth under the umbrella of a larger international group, while ensuring the continuity of its leadership team. Keith Reading, CEO and Founder of Qolcom will remain with the company as General Manager, providing stability during the transition.

The integration of Qolcom into Bechtle’s existing operations, particularly its southern locations in London and Chippenham, will significantly enhance the group's market share and service capabilities. Konstantin Ebert, COO of Bechtle AG, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “We have been very successful in expanding our footprint in the British market over the past three years, and our open and inclusive culture certainly has played no small part in that. Qolcom is a perfect match for us—both in terms of its people and its portfolio—and we are looking forward to writing the next chapter in our success story together.”

For Qolcom’s customers, this acquisition brings access to Bechtle Group's extensive national and international capabilities, unlocking a wealth of new opportunities. Bechtle’s presence in 14 European countries and its strong network of global partners will further strengthen Qolcom’s offerings, especially in the expanding Network-as-a-Service (NaaS) space.

As part of the acquisition strategy, James Napp, Managing Director of Bechtle UK, will oversee Qolcom’s integration. He noted, “The Qolcom team’s knowledge, expertise, and strong customer and vendor relationships will add significant strength to Bechtle UK’s position in the mid-market, enterprise, and public sector networking and security space. We are excited to start collaborating and view this as another big step towards becoming one of the top 10 IT solutions providers in the United Kingdom.”

Meridian is thrilled to have played a crucial role in advising Qolcom’s shareholders during this pivotal transaction. Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian, who led the transaction commented: “We were delighted to be appointed by the shareholders of Qolcom as lead advisors on the transaction, and following discussion with a number of potential partners it was clear that there was an excellent match between Qolcom team and Becthle. Bechtle and their advisors were efficient and pragmatic throughout the process, ensuring that the transaction was completed in a manner that delivered a great outcome for all parties. We wish all involved the best for the future.”

Keith Reading, CEO and Founder at Qolcom said of Meridian’s support: “In depth planning at the beginning of the deal with Meridian was a crucial aspect to the sales process that in turn allowed me to focus on running the business day to day which ultimately led to the smooth sale of Qolcom to a perfectly matched buyer in Bechtle.”

The transaction was supported by Yavan Brar, Managing Partner, and Chris Gemson, Legal Director at Herrington Carmichael.

MyFibre Ltd

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 15:08:49 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy Out

Sector: TMT

Completed: September 2024

Meridian Corporate Finance is delighted to have acted as adviser to MyFibre on its Management Buy-Out (MBO), supporting the company as it embarks on the next phase of its growth journey.

MyFibre is a leading specialist in dark fibre network solutions, renowned for its straightforward approach and commitment to long-term partnerships with business customers and partners. Today, the company provides large-scale private networks for campus and metro environments, alongside an ultra-dense network across the West and East End of London, serving a diverse customer base.

With full ownership of its networks, MyFibre ensures rapid customer connections without disruption, working seamlessly with partners. As a trusted provider in the sector, the company has achieved consistent year-on-year growth while continuing to drive innovation in the market.

The MBO positions MyFibre to accelerate its expansion plans, leveraging the experience of its management team to continue delivering market-leading network solutions and outstanding service for its customers.

The Meridian Corporate Finance team was pleased to guide MyFibre through the transaction, providing strategic advice, financial structuring, and support throughout the MBO process.

We congratulate Mike, Simon, and the entire MyFibre team on this significant milestone and look forward to supporting their continued success.

Breaking News in 30 Secondees

Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:26:18 GMT

We are delighted and proud to celebrate a milestone of 30 successful secondment placements over the past 16 years!

Since our very first secondee, Lisa Sigalet in 2008, Meridian has had a rolling programme of secondees from local law firms as well as members of key management from the Goodwood Estate.

Our secondment scheme was designed to give a fresh perspective on how transactions are formulated from the other side of the table. This unique approach fosters a new style of collaboration and trust between everyone involved, ensuring that lawyers, accountants, bankers, and clients work together seamlessly as one trusted, knowledgeable team to achieve successful outcomes.

A huge thank you to our clients and legal partners, Shoosmiths, Trethowans and Moore Barlow, for their continued trust and to each of our secondees who has shown great commitment, resilience, and excellence during their time with us and for trusting us with their career development.

Each secondee has added great value to Meridian and returned to their chosen discipline with a wealth of understanding about the world of business, strategy and seeing the bigger picture in terms of deal making. Without exception every secondee has gone on to achieve great things.

On that note, we also extend a warm welcome to Honor Hornsby who joins us from law firm Trethowans, who brings with her a strong academic background and a positive, diligent approach to problem-solving. Over the next six months, Honor will gain hands-on experience in corporate finance and investments, working on a wide range of projects.

We are very proud to offer this opportunity to the rising stars in the Solent region, to help develop local talent and shape the next generation of professionals. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of our awesome journey, and we look forward to continuing the programme!

Diametric Technical Ltd

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:37:45 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Completed: September 2024

Meridian advised the shareholders of Diametric on a secondary MBO, allowing the existing management team to have a greater role in the strategic direction of the business. The transaction was supported by NatWest and led by Meridian Director, Philip Mettam.

Wessex Group Ltd

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 11:26:58 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector: Services

Completed: August 2024

Meridian Corporate Finance are delighted to have advised the shareholders on the sale of Shaftesbury based, Wessex Group, to andwis Group, an HIG Capital backed technical building services business.

Wessex Group, based in Shaftesbury, serves customers across Southern England with M&E, Energy, Fire & Security and Planned Property Maintenance solutions. Founded in 1963 by Tony Morgan - Wessex has continually grown in size and geographic reach through the leadership of his two sons, Alistair and Simon Morgan.

andwis is a leading UK technical services provider. The company provides mission-critical technical services to the built environment through a network of highly-skilled experts.

The acquisition of Wessex is highly strategic for andwis, bolstering its presence in the South-West and transforming andwis into a leading centre of excellence within the region.

Michael Barcia, Director at Meridian commented: “We have known Ali and Simon for over a decade now, so it was a real privilege when they appointed us last year to help with the sale of Wessex.

The business itself was a no-brainer for us to take on for sale. With a fantastic management team that has the regionality to support local communities and businesses, yet the commerciality to attract large PE backed technical services providers, we knew from the get-go that Wessex was a business we had to be involved with in some way.

Ali, Simon and the Wessex team were a pleasure to work with throughout the process, and we wish them all the best with the next phase of personal and professional lives.”

Alistair and Simon of Wessex commented: “We have known Mike for many years and Meridian have acted for several people we know, and the feedback has always been very positive. It can be a daunting process at times, but Prabin and the Meridian team navigated us through it with professionalism and humour. We could not recommend them enough."

Michael Barcia, Prabin Sunar and George Forgan of Meridian led the transaction – along with the support of Laceys Solicitors, Fiander Tovell and Azets who provided legal, tax and accounting support respectively.

Just Kampers Ltd

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 10:33:44 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Wholesale Trader

Completed: August 2024

Meridian Corporate Finance is proud to have played a pivotal role in the successful management buyout (MBO) of Just Kampers Ltd.

Based in Hampshire and serving customers globally, Just Kampers is a leading supplier of parts, accessories, and services for classic and modern Volkswagen vehicles. Since its founding in 1989, under the leadership of Mark Reynolds, the company has experienced consistent growth and success.

In 2023, Mark decided to step back and pursue new ventures, including dedicating more time to his extensive Volkswagen collection. During this transition, he built a highly capable management team, fully confident in their ability to oversee the company's day-to-day operations.

Prabin Sunar, Director at Meridian Corporate Finance and lead advisor on the Just Kampers transaction, remarked, “It has been a pleasure and privilege getting to know the excellent Just Kampers business and its stakeholders over the last few years. We are delighted to have brought this deal to completion, and we wish the management team every success moving forward. We look forward to continuing our work with them in the next phase of their journey.”

Mark Reynolds, Founder of Just Kampers Ltd commented: "We were introduced to Meridian and they, along with Trethowans, surpassed our expectations.

They helped us initially negotiate an external sale and then listened to the shareholders hopes and desires and guided us through an MBO.

They all went the extra mile to get the deal done for JK's 35th birthday, that meant documents being signed over the weekend, this was service above and beyond our expectations.

We look forward to working with Mike, Prabin and George from Meridian and Lucy and Amrita from Trethowans over the coming years."

Legal Advice was provided by Lucy Gleisner (Partner) and Amrita Sangha (Associate) at Trethowans LLP.

TMA acquires Dyball Associates

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:09:55 GMT

Meridian’s portfolio company, TMA Data Management, has acquired Dyball Associates, forming a new powerhouse in the energy market.

For years, TMA and Dyball have collaborated to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end data management solutions to energy suppliers.

Now, as a united force, they are set to drive even greater power through data.

We look forward to seeing the incredible innovation and value this partnership will bring to the energy sector!

Welcome Toby Uren

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 15:35:58 GMT

A little overdue, but please join me in welcoming Toby Uren who is Meridian’s newest full time Team member.

Toby joined Meridian in July 2024 from business advisory firm Azets and is already showing a great eye for corporate finance, demonstrating his existing skillsets in accounting and finance.

Toby’s professional knowledge is already proving a great asset, and he is fast becoming an integral member of the team, providing support to the directors across various mandates.

With the AAT Level 4 Diploma in Professional Accounting already under his belt, he is now advancing his expertise by studying towards the ACA qualification, which is no mean feat at the age of 19!

Toby is showing great promise with both colleagues and clients alike and we are thrilled to have him on board and excited to see his career thrive.

Welcome to the team Toby!

Prabin wins Deal Maker of the Year 2024

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 14:56:47 GMT

Huge congratulations to Prabin Sunar on winning Young Deal Maker of the Year for the second year in a row at The Business Magazine’s Solent Deals Awards.

Prabin is an integral member of the Meridian Team and this award is a true testament to his capabilities of building relationships with clients and intermediaries alike.

In addition to his deal-making expertise, Prabin is a dedicated mentor who generously shares his knowledge, guiding and supporting his colleagues as they grow in their careers.

We couldn’t be more proud of his achievements and the positive impact he has on our team.

Commenting on his win, Prabin says, “Working as both a financial adviser and managing investments gives me extra added perspective on deals, particularly from a long-term strategy viewpoint. I also sit on the Boards of companies, which is another long-term role. You don’t see the immediate results of what you do but it is nice watching things come to fruition later on. It helps you to be patient and appreciate the journey your clients are on. I think I’m proudest of the relationships I have built with people in the firm who have mentored me and with dealmakers in the region.”

Corporate Finance Team of the Year 2024

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 10:34:39 GMT

The Meridian Team is absolutely over the moon to have been crowned Corporate Finance Team of the Year at the Business Magazine's Solent Deals Awards 2024.

This award truly reflects the hard work and collaboration of our entire team, and we couldn’t be prouder of this recognition.

It is a true testament to the collective efforts of our talented professionals and the strong relationships we’ve built with such valued partners. We are privileged to work alongside some of the best law firms, banking teams, accountancy practices in the Solent Region, whose expertise and support are integral to the level of service we are proud to provide to each of our clients.

We have been incredibly fortunate over the years to have been able to support a diverse range of businesses across the region, helping them navigate their individual paths to success. Whether it’s guiding a start up through its first acquisition or assisting established companies with complex transactions, our clients are always at the heart of what we do and our goal has always been to deliver exceptional results tailored to their needs.

Michael Barcia, Meridian Director commented: “Our local presence based in Southampton has always been important to us – it’s why we have never opened another office. We want to stay focused on the Solent region, with most of our deals coming from the area’s business owners and entrepreneurs. We are committed to bringing on our people and training them. Prabin Sunar, who won Young Dealmaker of the Year, is a great example of this. We also benefit from taking lawyers on six-month secondments, which helps us build our relationships with local law firms.”

A big thank you to all our clients, colleagues and everyone involved in making this achievement possible. Here’s to many more successful collaborations and continued growth.

CSA Environmental Ltd

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 09:36:25 GMT

Transaction: Restructure

Sector: Consultancy Services

Completed: March 2024

Meridian Corporate Finance and Moore Barlow collaborated and advised on the restructure of CSA Environmental (“CSA”) to facilitate management taking a greater role in the business.

Established in 1998 by founder Clive Self, and joined by Aidan Marsh in 2002, CSA is a leading provider of environmental consultancy services within the areas of landscape, ecology, heritage and urban design. CSA has established itself as a trusted expert, providing the highest quality professional advice, based upon a specialist understanding of planning and the environment.

With a team of over 70 skilled professionals spread across six strategic locations in Basingstoke, Brighton, Cambridge, Hertfordshire, Sheffield and Tewkesbury, CSA offers a diverse range of services tailored to meet the unique needs of clients across residential, commercial, renewables, leisure and other sectors.

Meridian worked with CSA to restructure the shareholder base, allowing key management a greater stake in the business and building a platform to drive growth and succession. Under the new management structure, the management team remains committed to delivering the unparalleled service and to creating positive outcomes for people, places and nature.

The transaction necessitated careful advice on tax matters from Cathy Revis at Fiander Tovell, balancing all stakeholders’ requirements to achieve their individual objectives.

Aidan Marsh and Clive Self, shareholders for CSA said of the transaction, “We are delighted to complete this restructuring, which has achieved everything we hoped for in terms of succession and leaving CSA in a great position to continue its growth and evolution. With a comparatively large senior management team involved, the expert, friendly and patient guidance from Meridian has been crucial in crafting this deal. Likewise, the support from Moore Barlow and Fiander Tovell has been excellent and we have nothing but praise for everyone who has assisted us.”

Philip Mettam, Director of Meridian who led the corporate side of the transaction commented, “CSA have built an exceptionally strong management team and wanted a structure that reflected the contribution they make to the company. We were challenged with creating a structure that addressed todays business, whilst also accommodating both succession and incentivization for key individuals alongside a medium term business plan. The transaction was a great example of corporate finance, legal and tax professionals working together to build a bespoke solution to meet the client’s needs. We wish the team all the best of luck in the next stage of their journey and look forward to hearing about their future successes!”

Kirsty Leary, Partner at Moore Barlow, who led the legal side of the transaction commented, “CSA is a fantastic business that has been operating and continuing to grow for more than 25 years. A relatively large management team can bring its own challenges with it, however, it was a pleasure to support Clive, Aidan and all of the management team on the restructuring which puts in place a clear succession plan, enabling the company to continue to drive future growth and development with a strong and dedicated team in place. We’re excited to see what CSA will achieve next!”

The deal was led by a team of local professional advisers: Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian Corporate Finance; Kirsty Leary, Partner at Moore Barlow; Cathy Revis, Head of Tax and Transaction Support at Fiander Tovell.

Welcome Kerry Coomer

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 13:00:52 GMT

Please join me in welcoming Kerry Coomer, who joins Meridian on a six-month secondment from national law firm Shoosmiths.

Kerry has an impressive academic background, which demonstrates her commitment and talent, having achieved First Class Honours in her Law degree, followed by the completion of her LPC with an MSc achieving a Distinction level classification.

Coupling her academic talents, with her enthusiasm and fervent interest in corporate law, we are excited to see her contributions and the significant impact she will make within our team.

Meridian is committed to investing in the future of young people. We are a recognised training seat for the Law Society and ICAEW, as well as offering a university placement program. The addition of Kerry to our team further strengthens our commitment to nurturing legal talent and encouraging growth opportunities.

Meridian’s secondment programme launched in 2008 and Kerry is our 29th secondee.

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #legaltalent #shoosmiths #youngprofessionals

Finalist - Small Deal of the Year

Sun, 10 Mar 2024 12:36:26 GMT

Meridian has had a strong year completing a number of transactions within the qualifying period, with Computer Network Consultants (CNC), being shortlisted for the Small Deal of the Year award.

Meridian advised the CNC shareholders on a strategic sale to FluidOne, a PE-backed IT provider, establishing a new division on the South coast of the UK. The transaction exceeded initial valuation expectations through a competitive process led by Meridian.

Graham Lind, Founder and Managing Director of CNC, said of the transaction, "Meridian helped CNC with the whole process, allowing us to select the right acquirer and driving a better return for the shareholders. They were supportive throughout the process and put in the extra effort when needed, so we would highly recommend them. The strong growth CNC had experienced over the previous years was recognised as an excellent fit by FluidOne and has given us the ambition to accelerate our growth and deliver quality services to even more local businesses. The FluidOne team saw a great opportunity to continue to build CNC as the trusted local IT provider whilst benefiting from expert overlay in connectivity, mobile, Unified Communications and Cyber from the wider FluidOne group.”

The transaction was led by Philip Mettam, Director and Prabin Sunar, Associate Director at Meridian. Legal support was provided by Jeremy Over, Partner at Moore Barlow. Accounting support was provided by Costas Avraam and Chris Piccos of Avraam Associates. Tax support was provided by Cathy Revis, Partner at Fiander Tovell.

This transaction demonstrates Meridian’s expertise in facilitating complex transactions involving a range of stakeholders and professionals, incorporating and leveraging the skills of local professionals for seamless execution. Meridian’s ability to consistently deliver outstanding results, combined with their collaborative and strategic approach, cements their reputation as the leading Corporate Finance team in the Solent region.

Meridian Sponsor Law Firm of the Year

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:44:01 GMT

Meridian is proudly sponsoring Law Firm of the Year at The Business Magazine’s Solent Deals Awards 2024.

The nominees are:

BDB Pitmans

Blake Morgan

Moore Barlow

Paris Smith

Shoosmiths

Trethowans

The award will be presented to the law firm that has had the most significant impact on completion of deals within the region, taking into consideration factors such as: deal volume and size, deal complexity, client satisfaction, timeliness, ethics and client retention.

Having had the privilege of working closely with many of these exceptional law firms over many years, we know there is some serious competition to be had!

Congratulations to all the nominees and best of luck on the night!

#lawfirmoftheyear #SDA24 #meridian #corporatefinance #bdbpitmans #blakemorgan #moorebarlow #parissmith #shoosmiths #trethowans

Farewell Antonia Roberts

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 11:16:24 GMT

A sad farewell to Antonia Roberts, who finished her secondment with Meridian Corporate Finance last Friday.

Antonia was Meridian’s 28th secondee since the launch of the programme back in 2008, and our first secondee from law firm Moore Barlow, and what a great addition to the Meridian Team she has been!

Antonia very quickly fell into our team dynamic and hit the ground running. Not only was she eager to learn from the corporate finance side of the table, she was also a great mentor and contributed massively, imparting her wisdom and experience, complementing our skill sets as a team.

Her tenacity and ‘can do’ attitude were infectious and she certainly made a long lasting impression on both the Meridian Team and our clients.

Antonia, you have been an incredible asset to Meridian, and you are already very much missed. We have no doubt that you will excel within your legal career and we are excited to follow your journey in the corporate team at Moore Barlow, as well as collaborating with you on the other side of the table!

Finalist - Young Deal Maker of the Year

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:21:18 GMT

Prabin Sunar is thrilled to be nominated as a finalist for the Young Deal Maker of the Year award at the Solent Deals Awards 2024.

One of the transactions that Prabin led in the qualifying period has also been nominated:

Small Deal of the Year <£10m – Sale of CNC to Fluid One

Prabin Sunar, Associate Director at Meridian Corporate Finance has 6+ years of lead corporate finance advisory experience. Having joined Meridian straight from university, Prabin has already developed a highly personalised, people-led approach to dealmaking as a result.

As well as an active CF adviser, Prabin also assists in managing the equity investments within Meridian Growth Capital. Through MGC, Prabin is an active board observer for TMA and is involved in the longer-term strategic decision making of business, helping him develop and provide longer term strategic planning and advice to clients.

As well as working on deals, Prabin is involved in several businesses at Board level. His unique experience in both Corporate Finance and Private Equity undoubtedly makes him a very well rounded and strategic young adviser in the region.

Prabin and Philip advised the CNC shareholders on a strategic sale to FluidOne, a PE-backed cloud provider, facilitating the establishment of a new division in the South coast of the UK. The transaction exceeded initial valuation expectations through a competitive process led by Meridian.

#SDA24 #Merdian #CorporateFinance #SolentDealsAwards #YoungDealMakeroftheYear #SmallDealoftheYear #cnc

Finalist - CF Adviser of the Year

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:18:50 GMT

Philip Mettam is thrilled to be nominated as a finalist for the Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year award at the Solent Deals Awards 2024.

Two of the transactions that Philip led in the qualifying period have also been nominated:

Small Deal of the Year <£10m – Sale of CNC to Fluid One

Mid-Range Deal of the Year £10m - £50m – Sale of RiskSTOP Group to Ardonagh Advisory

As a Director of Meridian Corporate Finance, Philip leads a team of young and dynamic corporate finance professionals providing lead advisory services in the Solent region. Having worked in the Solent region for 14 years Philip has an extensive track record and completed a significant number of high-profile local deals during the qualifying period. With a background in business, accounting, and industry, he has a unique skill set that enables him to provide meaningful and trusted advice.

Philip works tirelessly for his clients going above and beyond in all aspects of any transaction he is involved in. He is greatly respected by his peers and has established solid relationships within the professional community. With the support of his team coupled with a high calibre host of local professionals, Philip is the prominent all-round corporate finance advisor in the Solent region.

As well as leading highly complex corporate finance transactions, he is also a Partner of Meridian Growth Capital, holding several Directorships in a longer-term advisory role and managing Meridian’s successful investment portfolio which has delivered substantial returns.

It is a demonstration of Philip's reputation and skill-set that he has been retained as a Board adviser for a number of past clients, assisting them to achieve long term objectives and being a trusted adviser to Shareholders and management alike.

Philip and Prabin advised the CNC shareholders on a strategic sale to FluidOne, a PE-backed cloud provider, facilitating the establishment of a new division in the South coast of the UK. The transaction exceeded initial valuation expectations through a competitive process led by Meridian.

Philip successfully advised on the sale of RiskSTOP to Ardonagh Advisory, navigating challenges of diverse shareholder interests. Through strategic negotiations and a thorough market process, Meridian secured a highly compelling offer that exceeded shareholder expectations. The transaction, completed in just 77 days, and ensures continued growth opportunities for RiskSTOP under new ownership.

#SDA24 #Merdian #Corporatefinance #Solentdealsawards #CFAdviseroftheyear #smalldealoftheyear #midrangedealoftheyear #cnc #riskstop

Finalist - Corporate Finance Team of the Year

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 11:12:46 GMT

Meridian and the team are thrilled to be nominated as finalists for the following categories at the Solent Deals Awards 2024.

Corporate Finance Team of the Year – Meridian Corporate Finance

Private Equity Firm of the Year – Meridian Growth Capital

Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year – Philip Mettam

Young Deal Maker of the Year – Prabin Sunar

Small Deal of the Year <£10m – Sale of CNC to Fluid One

Mid-Range Deal of the Year £10m - £50m – Sale of RiskSTOP Group to Ardonagh Advisory

Meridian Corporate Finance has had a strong year completing a number for transactions with a combined equity value in excess of £54.8m. Two notable transactions have also been short listed for Small Deal of the Year and Mid-Range Deal of the year demonstrating Meridian’s expertise in not only facilitating complex transactions and navigating diverse deals involving a range of stakeholders and professionals, but how they incorporate and leverage the skills of local professionals for seamless execution. Meridian’s ability to consistently deliver outstanding results, combined with their collaborative and strategic approach, cements their reputation as the leading Corporate Finance team in the Solent region.

Meridian advised CNC shareholders on a strategic sale to FluidOne, a PE-backed cloud provider, facilitating the establishment of a new division in the South coast of the UK. The transaction exceeded initial valuation expectations through a competitive process led by Meridian.

Meridian successfully advised on the sale of RiskSTOP to Ardonagh Advisory, navigating challenges of diverse shareholder interests. Through strategic negotiations and a thorough market process, Meridian secured a highly compelling offer that exceeded shareholder expectations. The transaction, completed in just 77 days, and ensures continued growth opportunities for RiskSTOP under new ownership.

#SDA24 #Merdian #Corporatefinance #Solentdealsawards #CFTeamoftheyear #smalldealoftheyear #midrangedealoftheyear #cnc #riskstop

A flying start to 2024

Mon, 05 Feb 2024 18:43:21 GMT

One month in and Christmas feels a long time ago already!

2023 was a great year for the Meridian team as we saw significant growth in the Growth Capital side of the business with a new investment in the travel sector, and a follow on investment in TMA Data Management.

Alongside this we closed the year off with two landmark deals on the CF side in December – CNC’s sale to LivingBridge backed FluidOne, and the sale of RiskSTOP to Ardonagh Advisory.

2024 has gotten off to a flying start having received Heads of Terms on three clients in January, and two acquisitions in progress within the MGC portfolio!

On top of this we are speaking to multiple businesses looking to engage for sales processes in the current year.

Computer Network Consultants Ltd

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 16:17:24 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector: TMT

Completed: December 2023

Meridian was delighted to advise the shareholders on the sale of their company Computer Network Consultants Ltd (CNC), an IT managed service provider based in Brighton to FluidOne, a connected cloud solutions provider, who are backed by Private Equity firm Livingbridge.

Established 27 years ago by co-founders Graham Lind and Gary Jowett, CNC offers a comprehensive suite of outsourced IT support services (including server management, performance monitoring, cybersecurity, and general day to day IT support) to small and medium-sized businesses across Sussex and Hampshire in the medical, construction, engineering, environmental, manufacturing, hospitality, charity work, and professional services sectors.

FluidOne, a distinguished provider of Connected Cloud Solutions, boasts a workforce of over 470 individuals spread across eight locations. At the core of its services lies the national fibre network, Platform One, which forms the backbone supporting 2,300 customers.

The acquisition by FluidOne forms part of its strategy to invest in regional IT managed service providers (MSPs) and establish a network of branches for localised services to SME customers.

Russell Horton, CEO at FluidOne said, “I am pleased to announce the acquisition of CNC, that builds on our strategy to create a branch network for expertly delivered IT managed services to business customers.

When reviewing the business, I was impressed with the excellent service they deliver and the strength of relationships that the team build with their clients. They are a great fit to our strategy, and I look forward to working with Graham Lind, Gary Jowett and the team to grow the Brighton business.”

CNC will function as a distinct branch with its dedicated management team. Co-founder Graham Lind will continue to lead as the Managing Director of the Brighton Branch, supported by co-founder Gary Jowett in the role of Operations and Marketing Director.

The newly established Brighton branch will report to Steve Brown, serving as the Managing Director of the FluidOne Business IT CoE. This organisational structure aims to provide customers with the advantages of local account management and engineering while benefiting from best practices and an expanded service portfolio under centralised leadership. Russell Horton, CEO of FluidOne Group, will assume the role of Chairman for CNC.

Jeremy Over, added, “We’re proud to have been Computer Network Consultants Limited’s trusted adviser. We wish the business all the best as it enters this next phase of its life cycle, and we look forward to seeing its progress.”

The transaction was led by Philip Mettam, Director and Prabin Sunar, Associate Director at Meridian. Legal support was provided by Jeremy Over, Partner at Moore Barlow. Accounting support was provided by Cos Avraam and Chris Piccos of Avraam Associates. Tax support was provided by Cathy Revis, Partner at Fiander Tovell.

RiskSTOP Group Ltd

Fri, 01 Dec 2023 15:57:12 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector: Insurance Services

Completed: December 2023

Meridian was thrilled to advise the shareholders of RiskSTOP Group Limited on the sale of their company to Ardonagh Advisory.

RiskSTOP Group Limited (RiskSTOP) is an award winning, dedicated provider of insurance technology and services focused on risk management within the UK market, servicing underwriters, insurance companies, insurance brokers, and policyholders.

Based in Poundbury, Dorset, RiskSTOP has been providing innovative solutions to risk management for over 20 years and has become the market leader in the sector by offering a suite of products to support the entire insurance lifecycle.

Ardonagh Advisory operates within the broader Ardonagh Group and is recognized as the UK’s largest independent insurance distribution platform and a top 20 global broker.

This acquisition signifies RiskSTOP’s integration into a broader family of exemplary entrepreneurial and specialised brands, constituting a network spanning over 200 locations and a collective workforce of 10,000 individuals. Mirroring RiskSTOP’s inclusive ethos, Ardonagh embraces diversity, fostering a culture that empowers everyone to excel. Describing itself as "progressive, passionate, proud to drive the best client outcomes, and a place where our people matter," Ardonagh shares common values with RiskSTOP, particularly in the realms of integrity, innovation, people, society, and the environment. It is this shared purpose that attracted Ardonagh Advisory to RiskSTOP, motivating the latter to take this significant step.

The RiskSTOP business will continue to be led by Managing Director, Danny Lillington alongside the existing management team.

Phil Bayles, Chief Commercial Officer, Ardonagh Advisory said, “RiskSTOP is a highly regarded and pioneering risk management business that protects its clients from hazards and harm, including the growing issue of underinsurance. This is an accomplished and well established company, run by real experts in this field. We’re looking forward to supporting the team so that they can grow further and deliver even more valuable services to their clients across the market.”

Danny Lillington, RiskSTOP Group Managing Director added, “For more than two decades, RiskSTOP has worked with integrity to provide information that ensures people and organisations are safe and secure. We’re now looking to see how we can achieve even greater impact and take what we do to the next level. By joining Ardonagh Advisory we will be able to continue to support our clients with the same great level of service, while also working to innovate and develop our offer for the benefit of all.

Meridian, led by Philip Mettam and his team, provided an unparalleled level of service throughout our entire journey. Their exceptional expertise as negotiators guided us seamlessly through the end-to-end process. Their commitment to clear and straightforward communication made every step comprehensible and empowering.

Meridian went beyond being mere advisors; they were skilled navigators, demonstrating precision and robustness in balancing negotiations with our buyer. Their dedication to excellence transformed what could have been a complex transaction into a smooth and successful experience.

We express our gratitude for their exceptional service and unwavering support. A special acknowledgment to Antonia, whose assistance in the due diligence process ensured the swift and efficient finalization of the transaction, allowing us to continue running the business seamlessly. I highly recommend the Meridian Team to anyone looking to sell their business."

The deal was led by Philip Mettam, Director and Antonia Roberts, Associate at Meridian. Legal support was provided by Paula Eckton and Shaun Guppy at Steele Raymond. Accounting support was provided by Hannah Justice and Phil Todd at BSN Associates.

Meridian Go Sailing

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 08:44:55 GMT

Back in June, Meridian had the fantastic opportunity to bid for a sailing day at the Sail to Reward Regatta’s charity auction, and we finally set sail last Thursday!

It was a great adventure, even if the wind decided to take the day off!

We embarked on this seafaring journey with high hopes of taming the seas, but Mother Nature had other plans. With the calmest of waters and not a breath of wind in sight, we had to rely on good ol' diesel power to navigate our way from Port Solent to Cowes.

While we may not have had the chance to showcase our “expert” sailing skills, we made the most of the situation and the day was filled with laughter, camaraderie, a spot of sea sickness (!) and an alfresco lunch.

Thank you to everyone for such a great day, and a special shoutout to Lisa and Kam from Shoosmiths for joining us on this escapade.

Here's to more adventures, whether they involve fair winds or not, and to a team that knows how to make the most of every situation!

Farwell Kam Piekarski

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 15:57:49 GMT

As Kam Piekarski completes his six-month secondment with us at Meridian, we want to take a moment to express our gratitude for his outstanding contributions to our team.

During his time with us, Kam's dedication, expertise, and collaborative spirit have been instrumental. He has played a crucial role in our team, bringing fresh insights and a commitment to excellence that has truly made a difference.

Kam's return to Shoosmiths is undoubtedly a significant loss for us, but we are excited for him as he rejoins his colleagues in the corporate team. We have no doubt that he will continue to excel in his career and make a significant impact in the legal field.

Kam, your professionalism and hard work have not gone unnoticed, and you will always be a part of the Meridian family. We wish you the very best and look forward to collaborating with you from the other side of the table!

Welcome Antonia Roberts

Mon, 04 Sep 2023 15:45:16 GMT

We are thrilled to welcome Antonia Roberts to our team as our 28th secondee.

Antonia joins us from law firm Moore Barlow and will be spending the next six months with us here at Meridian.

Antonia brings a wealth of legal expertise to our organisation, and we couldn't be happier to have her on board. Her background in law, combined with her passion for corporate finance, makes her a fantastic addition to our team.

During her time with us, Antonia will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects, gaining invaluable experience in the world of corporate finance and we are confident that she will make significant contributions to our team.

At Meridian, we are committed to fostering talent and providing opportunities for growth and development. Antonia's secondee placement is a testament to this commitment, and we are excited to support her in this chapter of her career.

Project Gospel

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 14:36:01 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Courier Services

Completed: August 2023

Meridian Corporate Finance advised on the Management Buy-Out of Project Gospel, a London based specialist courier business, as their current shareholders endeavoured to hand down control to their up-and-coming management team.

Project Gospel is a London based shipping and courier company, specialising in the handling of antiques and artwork. In addition to this, Project Gospel offer a state-of-the-art storage facility with a fully comprehensive security and climate control system and full coverage for high value art and antique goods.

The deal was led by Prabin Sunar and Philip Mettam at Meridian Corporate Finance. Herrington Carmichael provided their legal expertise and Cathy Revis of Fiander Tovell provided tax support. Meridian, Herrington Carmichael and Fiander Tovell worked together to plan, structure and transact a management buy-out process, enabling the current shareholders to efficiently hand over the business and its future to its management team and recognise the value they had built over their years of service.

One of Project Gospel’s exiting shareholders commented: “I want to give Philip and Prabin a big thank you for all they have done for Project Gospel and myself over the last 9 months. The sensitive and professional way in which they dealt with all the complexities involved in this process has been exceptional. From my side I understood how tricky this was going to be from a humane perspective but completely underestimated how complex it would be regarding the professional side; so for that, thank you!”

Prabin Sunar, Associate Director at Meridian, commented: “It has been an absolute pleasure to assist Project Gospel and their shareholders in structuring and delivering this transaction. We really enjoyed the process with the shareholders and management of Project Gospel and wish the team the very best as they navigate what is inevitably a very exciting journey ahead.”

Welcome George Forgan

Tue, 01 Aug 2023 09:23:01 GMT

A warm welcome to George who joins us at the end of his third year of his Business Management Degree with the University of East Anglia. His passion for finance is truly impressive and we are thrilled to have him on board as we know his skills and expertise will be invaluable in driving our team’s successes.

Meridian believe in nurturing young talent and providing valuable opportunities for professional growth. We are thrilled to have George join our team, as he brings a strong academic foundation, a genuine interest in the world of finance, and a drive to excel.

As a leading corporate finance firm, we strive to create an environment that fosters learning, collaboration, and innovation. With George's arrival, we are confident that our team will benefit from his fresh perspectives and enthusiasm. We are committed to providing George with mentorship, guidance, and meaningful challenges to facilitate his professional development.

Farewell Ella Williams

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:25:03 GMT

Today, we bid farewell to Ella Williams, as she embarks on a new and exciting chapter in her career with Deloitte.

During Ella's time with Meridian, she has proven to be an invaluable asset to our team, consistently demonstrating an exceptional work ethic, dedication, and an insatiable hunger for knowledge.

Ella has been a true team player, bringing a positive energy to the office every day. She is always willing to lend a helping hand, share insights, and contribute to a highly collaborative working environment.

As Ella takes the next step in her career journey, we are confident that she will shine brightly at Deloitte. We have no doubt that she will make a significant impact on her new team and bring a fresh perspective to everything she undertakes. We are hugely grateful for Ella's contributions, and we are excited for her as she takes on her new role.

Ella, it has been a pleasure working alongside you and witnessing your growth. We are confident that you will achieve great things and make a profound impact wherever you go. As you embark on this exciting new chapter, Darren, Mike, Philip, Prabin, Kam, Oliver and I wish to say a massive thank you and wish you the very best of luck and every success. May your journey be filled with exciting opportunities, new experiences, and personal fulfilment. We hope the skills and knowledge you gained here will serve as a solid foundation for your future.

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #professionalgrowth #internship

Welcome Oliver Brice

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 14:48:33 GMT

A warm welcome to Oliver Brice, a talented and motivated second-year banking and finance student, who joins Meridian as their 2023/2024 intern.

Meridian believe in nurturing young talent and providing valuable opportunities for professional growth. We are thrilled to have Oliver join our team, as he brings a strong academic foundation, a genuine interest in the world of finance, and a drive to excel.

As a leading corporate finance firm, we strive to create an environment that fosters learning, collaboration, and innovation. With Oliver's arrival, we are confident that our team will benefit from his fresh perspectives and enthusiasm.

Throughout his placement year, Oliver will have the chance to work alongside experienced professionals on a wide range of corporate finance mandates. This hands-on experience will provide him with invaluable insights into the intricacies of our field, allowing him to apply his theoretical knowledge to real life scenarios. We are committed to providing Oliver with mentorship, guidance, and meaningful challenges to facilitate his professional development.

Meridian go sailing

Tue, 20 Jun 2023 15:03:21 GMT

A huge thank you to Cathy Revis , Andy Jay , Adam Buse and Emma Higham FCCA of Fiander Tovell for inviting us to take part in the Sail to Reward Regatta supporting Room to Reward - Registered Charity .

From the moment we arrived we knew we were in for an exceptional day. It was filled with great banter and a whole load of teamwork as we quite literally had to learn the ropes for an extremely hands on day of sailing.

The day was flawlessly planned, and the evening concluded with a fabulous gala dinner, with live music, auctions, raffle and an engaging and inspirational speech from renowned sailor Dee Caffari MBE.

Thanks again team Fiander Tovell, it was a fabulous day and certainly reminded us of the importance of teamwork, trust, and effective communication!

#meridian #sailingregatta #fiandertovell #teamwork #communication #charity

Project Pine

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 14:41:08 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Construction Services

Completed: March 2023

Meridian advised the shareholders of a leading developer of care homes, retirement accommodation and housing on their management buy-out.

Based in Hampshire, the transaction was led by Meridian and was supported by local professionals including Shoosmiths (Lawyers) and Fiander Tovell (Tax Advisers and Accountants).

Meridian Win Multiple Awards

Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:35:46 GMT

The Meridian team are thrilled to share with you the fantastic news that we won multiple awards at last night’s Solent Deals Awards 2023!

It was a great night of celebration for all the finalists and winners, and we want to extend our warmest congratulations to everyone who participated and say a huge thank you to The Business Magazine for making the night such a success.

The Solent Deals Awards recognises outstanding achievements in corporate finance across the Solent region, we are honoured to have been recognised in several categories and it was an absolute privilege to have been able to present the Bank of the Year Award to Andrew Syvret and the Santander UK team.

Philip Mettam won Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year; Prabin Sunar won Young Deal Maker of the Year; and Meridian Corporate Finance won Mid-Range Deal of the Year for the lead advisory role we played in the Management Buy-Out of CJR Propulsion Ltd .

Winning awards is not only a reflection of our team's hard work and dedication but also a testament to the trust and confidence that both our clients and professional colleagues place in us. We are grateful for their continued support, and we look forward to building on these successes.

It was a fantastic evening, filled with excitement and celebration and it was a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the industry.

We are extremely proud of our team's achievements, and we would like to express our gratitude to everyone who made this possible. Congratulations again to all the finalists and winners, and we look forward to seeing you all again at next year's Solent Deals Awards.

Welcome Kam Piekarski

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 09:23:08 GMT

Meridian is delighted to welcome Kam Piekarski who joins us on secondment from national law firm Shoosmiths.

Kam is an exceptional candidate, and we are delighted to have him on board for the next six months. With his passion for law and his impressive academic background, we are confident that he will make an excellent addition to our team.

During his time with us, Kam will have the opportunity to work on a wide range of projects and gain valuable experience from the corporate finance side of the table. We are excited to see him grow and develop his skills during his time here.

We are committed to providing Kam with a supportive and challenging learning environment that will allow him to flourish both personally and professionally. We believe that the knowledge and experience he brings from his time at Shoosmiths will be an asset to our team, and we look forward to learning from him as well.

Please join me in extending a warm welcome to Kam and making him feel at home in his new role. We are excited to have him on board and can't wait to see the contributions he will make during his time with us.

Meridian is committed to investing in the future of young people. We are a recognised training seat for the Law Society and ICAEW, as well as offering a university placement program.

Meridian launched its secondment programme in 2008 and Kam will be our 27 ^th secondee.

How to Mitigate M&A Risks

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 13:48:42 GMT

Philip joined Johnny Thomson of RiskACUMEN for their lastest podcast episode discussing his thoughts on the common M&A risks and how they can be mitigated.

The podcast covers how and why the M&A market is so active and shares some great insights on why its impotant to think long term when it comes to the future of your business.

Follow the link to hear the episode in full.

Mitigating mergers & acquisitions risks (riskacumen.co.uk)

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #mergers #acquisitions #m&a #riskmanagement

The End of an Era...

Fri, 17 Feb 2023 10:31:07 GMT

Today, we say farewell to one of our most valued team members. Hattie’s four and a half years with Meridian has been invaluable and she has played an integral role in the success of our team. We are incredibly grateful and proud for all that she has achieved during her time with us. Her dedication to her work, support to both clients and colleagues and her positive attitude has been a true asset to our team and we are going to miss her massively.

As she sets off to pursue a new career path within the innovation eco-system, we wish her all the best for her future and know that she will continue to excel in all that she does.

Thank you so much for everything Hattie and all the brilliant memories… It’s been a blast!

#Meridian #Corporate Finance #newcareer #nextstepthinking #team

Finalist - Young Deal Maker of the Year

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 12:11:58 GMT

Meridian is proud to announce that Prabin Sunar has been shortlisted for the Young Deal Maker of the Year Award at this year’s Solent Deals Awards.

At 27 years of age, Prabin has 5+ years of lead advisory experience – which has allowed him to develop a highly personalised, people-led approach to dealmaking. In the qualifying period, Prabin completed six transactions, two of which he led directly.

As well as an active CF adviser, Prabin also assists in managing the equity investments within Meridian Growth Capital, and holds positions at Board level as an observer for several businesses, enabling him to provide longer term strategic advice to clients.

The variety and complexity of deals executed during the period, combined with the longer-term strategic input he assists in providing through Meridian GC undoubtedly makes Prabin the most active and experienced young adviser in the region on both CF and PE based transactions.

We wish all the finalists the very best of luck in their respective categories.

#Meridian #SolentDeals23 #CorporateFinance #SolentRegion #LeadAdvisory #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity

Finalist - CF Adviser of the Year

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 12:04:31 GMT

Meridian is proud to announce that Philip Mettam has been shortlisted for the Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Award at this year’s Solent Deals Awards.

As a Director of Meridian Corporate Finance, Philip leads a team of young and dynamic corporate finance professionals providing lead advisory services in the Solent region. Having worked in the Solent region for 13 years Philip has an extensive track record and completed a significant number of high-profile local deals during the qualifying period. With a background in business, accounting, and industry, he has a unique skill set that enables him to provide meaningful and trusted advice.

We wish all finalists the very best of luck in their respective categories.

#Meridian #SolentDeals23 #CorporateFinance #SolentRegion #LeadAdvisory #SolentProfessionals

Finalist - PE Firm of the Year

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 12:01:26 GMT

Meridian Growth Capital is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Private Equity Firm of the Year Award at this year’s Solent Deals Awards.

Meridian GC is the most active Solent based Private Equity Firm and has had an incredible 2022. Focussing on backing dynamic and proven management teams, Meridian boasts a portfolio of 10 companies, many of which are based locally. Meridian GC has successfully invested into, participated at board level and exited to both larger PE firms and international buyers over the last 14 years.

Previous exits have included loveholidays, Dream Doors, Cega, and Processflows. Current investments include TMA, 23.5 Degrees, Diametric, Biofidelity, Lightcast Discovery, NewsWhip, and Stormagic.

During the qualifying period, Meridian GC realised investments from Blis following their exit to LDC and Maven Capital Partners, representing a 4x money multiple, and Zenergi following their exit to ECI Partners Ltd which represented a 5.3x money multiple. Meridian GC also invested into Gosport based manufacturing company Elecon during the period.

Meridian is delighted that Southampton based Zenergi has also been shortlisted for both Large Deal of the Year Award and Management Team of the Year Award.

We wish all finalists the very best of luck in their respective categories.

#Meridian #SolentDeals23 #CorporateFinance #SolentRegion #LeadAdvisory #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity

Finalist - CF Team of the Year

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 11:54:40 GMT

Meridian is delighted to have been shortlisted for the Corporate Finance Team of the Year award at this year’s Solent Deals Awards.

Having acted as lead advisers on a significant number of Solent based deals during the qualifying period, completing 11 transactions with a combined enterprise value of £101m and £17m of debt raised, Meridian’s independence allows the team to work with a huge range of incredibly talented Solent based professionals, who together generate significant deal flow across the region.

Meridian is proud to have worked alongside businesses that have been in existence for between 20 and 75 years, one of which is Southampton based CJR Propulsion, who are celebrating their 75 ^th anniversary and have been shortlisted for Mid-Range Deal of the Year for their management buy-out.

The Meridian team continue to fully focus on the Solent Region and remain firmly committed to promoting the region as a centre of excellence with the support of the Solent professional community.

#Meridian #SolentDeals23 #SolentRegion #CorporateFinance #LeadAdvisory #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity

Meridian Ski Trip

Mon, 06 Feb 2023 13:28:18 GMT

The Meridian Team had an amazing time during our company's first ski trip to Bansko!

It was a great opportunity to hit the slopes and bond with our local colleagues from NatWest, Shoosmiths, Trethowans and Herrington Carmichael.

The scenery was breathtaking and the ski runs were challenging, but everyone had a blast. From the après-ski activities to the cozy mountain lodges, Bansko provided the perfect backdrop for our team and professional colleagues to come together and enjoy some much-needed downtime.

We are grateful for the memories we made and the connections we strengthened during this trip.

Here's to next years adventures!

https://www.instagram.com/p/Co4e6gEL-Wn/?next=%2Fmeridiancorporatefinance%2F

Meridian Sponsor Bank of the Year Award

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 10:29:20 GMT

Meridian is proudly sponsoring Bank of the Year at The Business Magazine ’s Solent Deals Awards.

In previous years, the winners have shown incredible support for their portfolio companies together with a demonstrable appetite in sustainably funding the aspirations of high profile and fast growth businesses in the region. This award is all about being able to demonstrate that banks are still capable of nurturing and building sustainable relationships with both existing and new clients and having a reputation with their clients and the professional community for delivery at a credit level.

We wish finalists NatWest, Santander, HSBC and Shawbrook the very best of luck.

#Meridian #CorporateFinance #NatWest #Santander #HSBC #Shawbrook #Bankoftheyear #SolentDeals23

Welcome Ella Williams

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 14:40:00 GMT

Meridian is delighted to welcome their newest team member, Ella Williams, who joined us in early January on a six month internship.

Ella is a First Class BSc Economics graduate and brings to the team her experience as a consulting analyst from her previous placements with Deloitte and Harpers for Growth.

She is already demonstrating her capabilities with her fresh perspective, and we are excited to see how her contributions will add value to our projects. In turn we aim to provide Ella with additional opportunities for growth and development to strengthen her career through mentoring and giving her new responsibilities and challenges.

We wish Ella a hugely positive experience with us.

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #investinginthenextgeneration #internship

Borderland Fencing Ltd

Wed, 14 Dec 2022 09:11:03 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Construction & Retail

Completed: November 2022

Meridian advised the shareholder of Hampshire based Borderland Fencing on the sale of their company to the management team.

Established in 1993 by Mike Jarvis, Borderland Fencing is one of the South’s leading fencing suppliers specialising in both the commercial and residential areas.

Working with the majority of the leading house builders and developers, Borderland supply and fit all types of fencing from close board right through to security fences. On the residential side, Borderland offer two extensive well stocked fencing centres with show areas, offering a broad range of fencing, including materials and landscaping supplies.

Having founded and grown the business for nearly 30 years, Mike will remain in the business during the transition to the management team, who will continue to take the business forward.

The team was led by a team of professional advisers: Philip Mettam, Director and Prabin Sunar, Manager at Meridian Corporate Finance, Lucy Gleisner, Partner at Trethowans and Adam Buse, Client Director at Fiander Tovell.

Mike Jarvis, exiting shareholder of Borderland Fencing commented: Meridians advice and support proved invaluable getting our MBO across the line. From our first meeting they worked very hard to understand our business and provide the appropriate advice and worked closely alongside our existing accountants and new legal advisors. They project managed the deal through to completion providing the best possible outcome for myself, the management team and the business going forward."

Lucy Gleisner, Partner at Trethowans commented: “I met Mike Jarvis last year and it was therefore great to finally work with him. Borderland is a well-known local company and therefore it was a pleasure to support this regional MBO. I have every confidence that the management team’s enthusiasm and skill will ensure the company’s ongoing success.”

Adam Buse, Client Director at Fiander Tovell commented: “It was amazing to work on this exciting project with a great client and a team of dynamic and focused professional partners. It is a testament to all parties that the process felt so smooth. The best part being that the solution provided to the client is going to help them deliver their strategic aims and safeguard the future of the business.”

Philip Mettam commented: “We were introduced to the team at Borderland to provide a new perspective after an unsuccessful process run by another advisor. It was a pleasure working alongside the team to find a solution for them in conjunction with their existing advisors. The deal included a number of complexities including the restructure of the group and properties, which we worked with existing bankers NatWest to complete. We wish the team all the best with the continued growth of the business in the coming years and look forward to working with them again.”

CJR Propulsion Ltd

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 12:26:25 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Marine Engineering

Completed: November 2022

Meridian is pleased to have advised the shareholders on the Management Buy-Out of Hampshire based CJR Propulsion Ltd.

Established in 1948; CJR is an industry leader – utilising cutting-edge technology to produce precision engineered propeller and sterngear packages used by several commercial, leisure and superyacht brands. The business has gone from strength to strength buoyed by their investment in cutting-edge technology, and this transaction arms management with the necessary toolset to drive growth within the business.

The deal team was led by a team of professional advisers: Prabin Sunar, Manager, and Michael Barcia, Director at Meridian Corporate Finance; Lucy Gleisner, Partner at Trethowans and Cathy Revis, Head of Tax and Transaction Support at Fiander Tovell.

Mark Russell, Director of CJR commented “It was clear to me that the help of a corporate finance company to sell CJR was essential. We had been talking to Meridian for a while but selling the business outright was a big step to take. Meridian advised a MAMBO, essentially a management buy-out, and it seemed the perfect solution of a staged exit from the business. Meridian’s advice and support was excellent throughout the process, it was a total pleasure dealing with them and their legal and tax partners. To the point that when the deal was completed it was somewhat sad that we wouldn’t be dealing with each other again.

We would totally recommend Meridian to anyone thinking about selling their business. ”

Lucy Gleisner, Partner at Trethowans commented “We worked closely with Meridian and Fiander Tovell again to provide a consistent team approach to conclude another successful MBO. We were delighted to assist Mark and the management team in helping the company achieve its objectives for future growth by undertaking this MBO and congratulate all involved.”

Cathy Revis, Head of Tax and Transaction Support at Fiander Tovell commented “Mark and the CJR management team were a pleasure to work with and I wish them further success with the business. Working as part of the strong professional team with Meridian and Trethowans, we helped deliver this transaction smoothly and on time.”

Prabin Sunar, Manager at Meridian commented, “Having worked with the CJR team for several years, it was a great pleasure to deliver the MBO for them. CJR is an extremely well-known brand within the marine sector, and we wish the team the very best as they navigate the next stage of their growth.”

Project Seymour

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 15:14:26 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Media Design

Completed: November 2022

Meridian Corporate Finance advised on the Management Buy-Out of Project Seymour, two ‘sister’ advertising production companies, to support the transition of ownership to the management team.

Established in 2008, Project Seymour works with brands and agencies to design advertising campaigns with their team of creative designers, artworkers, retouchers, editors and animators.

The deal was led by Philip Mettam at Meridian; Lucy Gleisner at Trethowans; and Andrew Jackson at Fiander Tovell.

One of the founder shareholders of Project Seymour commented, “We were recommended to Meridian via Coutts. Philip and the team have been outstanding from the beginning of the process until the recent completion of our MBO.

We knew that we needed to have a plan for the future, but we weren’t sure whether a Sale or Management Buyout was the best option for us. We were literally going around in circles with many people contradicting each other on how we should proceed.

Meridian clearly explained the pros and cons. We were never pressurised and had numerous meetings until we clearly understood our options. The team were always available and explained our options very clearly and most importantly in layman’s terms.

The whole process has taken just over 6 months. We are delighted with the outcome, and no matter what hiccups we encountered along the way the team at Meridian took them in their stride and helped us navigate our way.

We can’t recommend Meridian highly enough, and it’s been a pleasure working with Philip, Hattie and Amrita of Meridian.

Meridian introduced us to Lucy of Trethowans. Lucy explained everything to us very clearly and succinctly. She has always been available to answer any questions from us or the management team. Her expertise, knowledge and attitude has made a potentially stressful legal situation an absolute dream.”

Lucy Gleisner, Partner at Trethowans commented: “The MBO has pulled together two ‘sister’ companies into one group structure and has provided important succession planning. We were delighted to work with the founders and management team to continue the two companies’ growth and wish them the best of luck for the future success.”

Philip Mettam commented: “Seymour is a market leading team of creatives supporting major agencies on a wide array of projects. The team set us the challenge of helping them to build a broader shareholder structure, whilst also giving enough flexibility and protection around future retirements in the team, and the need to recruit and incentivize new talent moving forwards.”

Farewell Amrita Sangha

Fri, 02 Dec 2022 15:59:55 GMT

Today, we bid farewell to a valued member of our team who has been on secondment with us for the past three months. Amrita has been an invaluable member of our team, and we are sad to see her go.

During her time with us, Amrita has made significant contributions to our organisation and has been an integral part of our success. She has brought her legal expertise, positive attitude, and work ethic to every task, and we are grateful for the impact she has had on our team and our clients.

Amrita will be returning to her law firm Trethowans to complete her legal training. We wish her all the best as she continues to pursue her legal career and know that she will be successful in all that she does.

On behalf of the entire team, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Amrita for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to our organisation. We will miss her, but we know that this is not goodbye, but rather, see you soon!

#Meridian #corporatefinance #secondment #secondee #investinginthefuture #nextgeneration #nextstepthinking

Meridian go rallying...

Tue, 18 Oct 2022 14:23:59 GMT

A huge thank you to the Fiander Tovell team for such an amazing day at London Rally School.

We got to drive a classic Ford Escort RS2000 and a super-fast Subaru Impreza, learning handbrake turns, power slides and Scandinavian Flicks, before putting these newly developed skills into practice and competing in a timed lap of the rugged, wet and extremely slippery rally stage. We all had such an amazing time and congratulations to Philip Mettam and Cathy Revis who came first in their respective groups!

After such an adrenaline fuelled day, it was lovely to ‘unwind’ with you all for dinner at Hotel Du Vin – great food, great wine and fabulous people!

#teambuilding #corporateevent #meridian #fiandertovell #rallyschool #powerslides

Project Christie

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 14:51:53 GMT

Transaction: Buy-In / Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Completed: September 2022

Meridian Corporate Finance advised on the Buy-In/Management Buy-Out of Project Christie, a Solent based manufacturer, as it embarks on the next stage of its growth and ownership journey.

Project Christie has 30+ years of expertise in manufacturing thin sheet metal products for use in a number of sectors including security, automotive and retail. The company has, during this time, established an enviable base of customers and this transaction sets a pathway for the existing shareholders to transition out of the business over the next few years, whilst enabling the management team to pursue growth through a focused sales and new product strategy.

The transaction sees the existing management team partner with an incoming Non-Exec. Director, who will be responsible for driving the renewed sales strategy. Meridian will also join the Board to provide ongoing strategic advice.

The deal was led by Prabin Sunar, supported by Michael Barcia and Philip Mettam at Meridian; David Bright and Isabelle Balch at Moore Barlow; and Cathy Revis at Fiander Tovell. Funding was provided by HSBC, supported by Trethowans and Poolemead Accountants who provided LDD and FDD respectively.

Project Christie's exiting Shareholder commented, "Due to retirement after 42 years of running my sheet metal fabrication company it was so important to make the right decision concerning the future of the business. Meridian came very highly recommended and they certainly proved their commendation. Meridian’s expertise and professionalism was never doubted and steered us through a MBO enabling me to comfortably exit the company whilst the existing management team were given the opportunity to further grow the business.

Great heartfelt praise and thanks to Meridian’s Prabin for his excellence, his support and experience along with Mike and Philip, from the start to a very satisfactory completion."

Incoming Non-Exec. Director commented, “We have formulated a new sales strategy that will allow Project Christie to navigate the next leg of its growth journey. The Company has made significant investments in technology and infrastructure, ensuring adequate capability and capacity are available to service existing demand from both its loyal existing customer base, and onboard new customers. I am looking forward to being a part of this exciting future growth strategy.”

Prabin Sunar, Manager at Meridian commented, “We are extremely pleased to have worked together with the vendors, management and local professionals to structure and deliver a transaction to meet vendor objectives, and arm management with the necessary toolset they require to embark on an exciting growth journey. We wish management the very best and are extremely excited to be working with them through this journey.”

Meridian take on Bournemouth's Half Marathon

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 11:59:01 GMT

On 9th October 2022, Philip, Kelly, Prabin and Hattie took on the Bournemouth Half Marathon, running 21.1kms in support of their chosen charity Born Too Soon.

We all totally smashed it and we are all so proud of ourselves. It was a fabulous day and the elements were on our side for a great race. It was both physically and mentally challenging, but so rewarding. We all went in with the mentality of 'finish line, not finish time' and we certainly achieved great results in line with our target times both personally and for Born too Soon raising over £2,000!

A massive thank you to everyone who has kindly supported us in this incredible event!

For the full story click the link and head over to our Instagram page https://www.instagram.com/p/CjihFBSDCBA/?next=%2Fmeridiancorporatefinance%2F

Meridian go ribbing...

Fri, 23 Sep 2022 14:57:27 GMT

What an absolute privilege to join the fabulous team at Diametric Technical Ltd as they celebrate 40 years in the industry!

Five RIBS took to the Solent in search of treasure between Yarmouth and Cowes. The day was filled with, exciting activities, great food and a wonderful sense of camaraderie among colleagues. It provided the perfect opportunity for everyone to bond, establish new relationships and create lasting memories. We personally had a fantastic time and we are sure everyone who attended would agree.

Thank you Diametric for such a well-organised event. It is a great reflection of the care and thoughtfulness you put into making your work environment a positive one. It was truly a fantastic experience and we appreciate all the effort that went into organising such a memorable event.

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #teambuilding #diametric #40years

Welcome Amrita Sangha

Thu, 08 Sep 2022 12:23:52 GMT

A very warm welcome to Amrita Sangha, who joins the Meridian team on secondment from leading regional law firm Trethowans.

As a trainee solicitor, Amrita has worked on deals within Trethowans’ corporate and commercial team with a focus on M&A, in particular management buy outs.

Whilst on secondment with Meridian she will apply her experience of the legal stage of transactions whilst building knowledge in the corporate finance stage, as well as learning how businesses are run.

Amrita comments, “I am looking forward to joining Meridian and applying the knowledge I’ve gained as a trainee solicitor over the past 18 months at Trethowans. I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to expand my knowledge on the business and financial aspects of a transaction to help further my legal career. Meridian has a remarkable reputation in the area, and I feel very lucky to be joining their team.”

Meridian have been running their secondment programme since 2009 and Amrita is their 26 ^th secondee.

Blis Ltd

Tue, 21 Jun 2022 14:48:56 GMT

Transaction: Realised Investment

Sector: TMT

Completed: June 2022

Meridian’s investee company, Blis, the audience-first platform that doesn’t rely on personal data, have announced that LDC, a leading private equity firm, has entered an agreement to make a significant investment in the company.

Blis is an integrated planning and buying platform that delivers scaled, relevant and high-performing audiences, helping the world’s largest brands and media agencies achieve their goals.

Established in 2004, with Meridian Growth Capital investing in 2009. Blis has spent 18 years shaping the role of location in the evolving programmatic landscape. With help from funders such as Meridian, it has invested heavily in its privacy-first technology for many years, expanding its solutions beyond location and launching its planning tool, Audience Explorer, in 2021. This future proofed approach enables Blis to deliver integrated planning and buying solutions via the Blis Platform to deliver highly accurate, targeted campaigns for some of the world’s biggest brands through personalised and scalable targeting without reliance on personal data.

Blis now operates in more than 40 countries across five continents, working with the world’s largest most customer driven companies across all verticals including Unilever, Samsung, McDonalds, HSBC, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot, as well as every major media agency.

The investment from LDC will back the exiting management team to further grow and expand the global business, enabling Blis to double its headcount in the next few years.

Greg Isbister, CEO of Blis commented, “This has been an incredible journey to date. Huge thank you to Meridian, who invested in our early stages. Darren has been an incredible business partner and has helped throughout our journey with great advice, that’s always pragmatic and considered, not to mention being available at any time and any place, no matter where he was in the world and always willing to help! The investment from LDC marks a hugely exciting moment for Blis and we are looking forward to accelerating our growth plans in partnership with them.”

Darren Thompson, Partner of Meridian Growth Capital commented, “Having made the original investment when there were just 15 people in the company and one office, I am delighted to have played a very small part behind the scenes in the success of Blis and under Greg’s fantastic leadership. The global expansion of the business and the services that Blis now provide are unparalleled in their market and it is great to see LDC making this investment to take the company to the next level.”

LDC’s John Green and David Andrews will join the board alongside Blis CEO Greg Isbister, CFO Parm Dharmi, and John Farrell, former president and CEO of specialised agencies and marketing services arm of Publicis Group, who joins Blis as Non-Executive Chair.

Erevena Ltd

Thu, 09 Jun 2022 12:53:47 GMT

Transaction: Restructure

Sector: Executive Search Firm

Completed: June 2022

Meridian advised the shareholders of Erevena Limited on the corporate restructure and raised a debt package from Santander.

With offices in London, San Francisco, Paris, Copenhagen, Stockholm and New York, Erevena is a global executive search firm that helps high-growth, innovative companies identify and recruit Board and C-suite executives and assists them in building their teams. They work with some of the fastest growing companies in the world, from early stage through growth and to exit; the VCs and Private Equity firms that back them; and with publicly traded companies undergoing transformation.

Meridian engaged with Erevena to discuss their long-term objectives and the options available to the existing shareholders to incentivise and retain key team members as part of the company’s growth ambitions. This culminated in widening the shareholder base using a newco structure, with senior and junior members of staff being given the opportunity to participate in equity.

The restructure was completed in October 2021. Philip Mettam and Hattie Hole at Meridian led the deal, with tax advice from DSA and legal advice from Osborne Clarke.

Following this, a term loan and revolving credit facility was issued by Santander in June 2022. Legal advice was given by Shoosmiths and Trethowans. James Cowper Kreston undertook the due diligence.

Dan Hyde, CEO, commented on the transaction, “The team at Meridian have provided us with exceptional long-term support. They invested the time to really understand our priorities and led us through the options available to our business. Once we identified the best way forward they did a brilliant job at guiding us through the process and finding us the right partner in Santander. We would like to thank them for their unwavering support and patience through this whole process. We would also like to thank Santander for their partnership in the next chapter of the company’s growth. And lastly, thanks to everyone else who gave us their time and attention through the process, including those who we didn’t get the opportunity to partner with on this occasion.”

Hattie Hole, Manager at Meridian commented, “The international nature of the business and the depth of the shareholding structure added complexities to the process, however with a team of excellent professionals, we were able to structure a deal which meets the stakeholders' aims. It was a pleasure working with the team, and we are excited to watch the company continue its ambitious growth strategy.”

Project Flint

Thu, 21 Apr 2022 11:53:07 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Construction and Retail

Completed: March 2022

Meridian Corporate Finance and Moore Barlow have collaborated to advise on a management buyout of a Solent based firm as it embarks on the next stage of its growth journey.

Headquartered in Hampshire, the company specialises in the supply and installation of products to the construction industry and has been in business for more than 20 years. The company boasts a well-established and long-standing client base supplying all aspects of the construction industry, from housing developments to commercial and leisure projects.

The management buyout will see the business put in place foundations for further growth, building capacity and setting a pathway for the existing shareholders to transition out of the business over the coming years. The existing management team will continue building the established brand as well as pursuing their growth strategy and product expansion plans.

The deal was led by a team of local professional advisers; Philip Mettam, director at Meridian Corporate Finance, Kirsty Bowyer, senior associate at Moore Barlow and Cathy Revis, head of tax and transaction support at Fiander Tovell.

Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian, who led the transaction, commented: “The pandemic has led many business owners and directors to look at their longer-term plans, both at a corporate and personal level. Meridian was engaged to help structure and deliver a solution that allowed the transition of control and day to day responsibility away from the exiting shareholders and into the hands of the management team. We worked closely with Moore Barlow and Fiander Tovell to create a truly holistic structure that not only dealt with the immediate movement of shares, but also put in place incentivisation packages for key individuals and set the company in good stead to grow and develop the next generation of talent. The business is now setup to allow the shareholders a gradual exit from their day-to-day responsibilities over time, minimising the disruption and impact that rapid changes in ownership can sometimes cause, and setting out a measured and supportive succession plan to the next generation.”

Kirsty Bowyer, senior associate in the corporate team at Moore Barlow was supported by solicitors Dean Outten and Isabelle Balch. Commenting on the deal, Kirsty said: “We’re seeing an increase in demand from business owners and shareholders who are looking to kick-start sustainable succession plans and facilitate the smooth handover of their company. A management buyout is a popular option as it allows the existing management team to secure equity in the company and minimises disruption for employees and customers as there is little change to day-to-day operations.”

Hattie Hole - Deal Maker of the Year 2022

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 14:21:03 GMT

Huge congratulations to our very own Hattie Hole, who won Young Deal Maker of the Year at The Business Magazine's Solent Deals Awards.

At 25 years old, Hattie has 3 years' corporate finance experience on the South coast, and has established valued relationships with regional solicitors, tax advisors, accountants and banks.

She has worked on numerous transactions, producing structures which support owner managed businesses in achieving their professional and personal aims.

As well as providing traditional transactional advice on M&A transactions, Hattie also sits at Board level in an observer capacity for three of Meridian's investee companies. This enables her to provide longer term strategic support to clients, focussed on achieving long term objectives linked to both organic and acquisitive growth.

Alongside deal making, in September 2021 Hattie completed her ICAEW Chartered Accountancy qualification with all first time passes. She has also set up networking events for other young professionals in the Solent region alongside her colleague Prabin, demonstrating their contribution to the Solent professional community.

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #youngdealmaker #solentdealsawards #youngprofessionals

Corporate Finance Team of the Year 2022

Fri, 25 Mar 2022 16:25:29 GMT

Meridian Corporate Finance is absolutely thrilled to have won Corporate Finance Team of the Year 2022 at last night's Solent Deals Awards, kindly sponsored by Biscoes Solicitors .

As a team we are so proud of our genuine team dynamic and working culture and it is a privilege to work alongside, collaborate and be supported by such a strong, diverse, professional network, who without, we would not be able to complete the number of transactions that we do.

Huge congratulations to our very own Hattie Hole, who won Young Deal Maker of the Year. A well-deserved accolade and a true testament of what an impact she has had on the Solent region, having completed an EV of over £115m in the qualifying year as well as being a trusted observer on several of our clients’ boards.

It was also great to see former clients Lucketts Travel win Mid-Range Deal of the Year (£10m-£50m). Well done to Ian Luckett , Tony Lawman and the Lucketts team. Having completed at the beginning of the pandemic and then navigate through such uncertain times, this really is a deserved award and testament to the leading brand you have developed over the last 94 years.

Lastly, Meridian was also honoured to sponsor the Bank of the Year Award and Philip Mettam presented this to the HSBC Corporate Team.

A massive thank you to the The Business Magazine , and their supporting teams for such a great evening, it was brilliant being back in a room with the professional community after a long two years, and congratulations on it being your biggest event to date for the Solent Region!

Well done to all the nominees, the finalists, and the winners in their respective categories.

What a great way to kick off our 20th year in business!

#meridian #corporatefinance #solentdeals #nextstepthinking #team #thankyou #20yearsinbusiness #solentregio n

Limburn Boiler & Heating Services Ltd

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 13:16:11 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Engineering

Completed: February 2022

Meridian advised the shareholders of Limburn Boiler and Heating Services Limited (“LBHS”) on a management buyout to the existing management team.

Founded in 1979 as a privately owned family business servicing large industrial boilers, LBHS has grown into a leading provider of specialist heating and boiler care servicing and work with major companies and government bodies such as the PSA, DOE and MOD.

Hattie Hole, Manager at Meridian who led the transaction commented, “Having previously bought the company from the founder shareholder 11 years ago, Richard was already aware of some of the structures available to allow the legacy of the company to continue. We worked with the team to determine that a management buyout was the best strategic option for the business, as well as the shareholders and management team, as it would allow Richard to transition ownership to the incumbent management team smoothly. It was great to advise both parties on structuring and completing this deal.”

Richard Daly, Shareholder of LBHS commented, "From our first consultation, Meridian have been accessible, helpful, and flexible to our needs of running a company but with the end goal in mind.

Having gone through a similar restructure eleven years ago, the process was familiar, for the three new directors this was all new but not overwhelming at all, this was down to the engaging approach from Philip and Hattie.

No question was dismissed as insignificant, we all felt valued which was comforting, we are looking forward to working with Meridian again and would wholeheartedly recommend their services."

Professional advisers who supported the transaction included: Kirsty Bowyer, Senior Associate at law firm Moore Barlow (Southampton) and Cathy Revis, Head of Tax and Transaction Support at accountancy firm Fiander Tovell (Southampton).

Meridian Sponsor Bank of the Year

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 17:17:06 GMT

Meridian is proudly sponsoring Bank of the Year at the Business Magazine's annual Solent Deals Awards.

The Awards night is the highlight of the South Coast's corporate finance calendar, bringing together high profile and respected professional firms across the Solent region to celebrate their successes during the qualifying period.

We very much look forward to celebrating with the professional community.

More details to follow...

#solentdeals #meridian #solentprofessionals #solentregion #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #bankoftheyear

@thebusinessmag @meridiancf

Hattie and Prabin are Promoted to Managers

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 13:08:47 GMT

Meridian is pleased to announce the promotion of Hattie Hole and Prabin Sunar to Managers. They will now take the role of training and mentoring incoming team members and secondees, as well as leading mandates.

Having joined Meridian in 2018, they have both successfully qualified as Chartered Accountants with all first time passes and have demonstrated their abilities to add value within the team. Prior to joining Meridian, Prabin and Hattie obtained their bachelor’s degrees at University of Southampton and University College Utrecht respectively.

Director P hilip Mettam commented, “Prabin and Hattie have continued to excel in their roles and this promotion is a reflection of their hard work over the years. It’s great to see them continue their professional development and have them as part of the team.”

#meridiancf #nextstepthinking #nextgeneration #manager #teamculture

Is the NSI Act on your Radar?

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 11:16:53 GMT

We’re used to discussing strategy with clients around this time of year but we’re finding the National Security and Investment (“NSI”) Act 2021 to be a notable omission from autumnal agendas. The NSI Act could impact timescales and deliverability of some transactions quite significantly. If you are considering a transaction, the NSI Act should be on your radar.

What is the NSI Act?

The UK Government has created a new piece of legislation, expanding its National Security regime to capture a wide range of transactions. Coming into force on 4 January 2022, the NSI Act will impact both the M&A market and businesses undertaking MBOs or reorganisations.

Key facts

Mandatory notification

Applies to qualifying acquisitions of entities operating in any of the 17 stipulated sectors (inc. communications, AI and data infrastructure).
The acquirer must notify the Investment Security Unit (ISU) and receive approval before completing.
The ISU will conduct an initial review within 30 working days, after which they will either:
clear the transaction; or
conduct a full national security assessment (taking a further 30 working days, subject to a 45 working day extension).
Failure to comply has civil & criminal consequences and the transaction can be made void.

Retrospective call-in

The UK Government can call-in deals completed between 12 November 2020 and 4 January 2022.
If the transaction would be caught by the new regime, advisors should consider notifying the ISU on an informal basis.

Whilst the UK Government estimates this legislation will impact around 2,000 transactions a year, we think that the figure could be much higher, given its wide scope.

How can Meridian help?

It’s thought that buy side lawyers will do the heavy lifting when it comes to conducting risk assessments and notifications. However, financial advisors will play a critical role in identifying potential “trigger events” early in deal timelines. Once identified, we can highlight concerns and ensure notifications are made promptly where necessary.

If you are considering a transaction and would like to discuss whether the NSI Act will impact your timescales, we would be delighted to speak to you. We’ve also seen lots of commentary from law firms such as Shoosmiths on the NSI Act and want to invite thoughts from other professionals on the potential impact. If you have any further questions, please contact Callum Larkin at Meridian callum.larkin@meridiancf.com

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #shoosmiths #nsi #nationalsecurity #solentregion #nationalsecurityandinvestment

Datatechniques Ltd

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 14:38:57 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector : TMT

Completed: July 2021

Meridian advised the shareholders of Data Techniques Limited, as part of Livingbridge's contemporaneous purchase of North and Data Techniques.

Formed in 1988 Data Techniques has developed and evolved its service portfolio to become a market leader in the provision of physical connectivity, infrastructure, and professional support services. Working across a wide range of vertical markets including telecommunications, defence, Justice, data centre, enterprise, banking, retail, and sports entertainment sectors, Data Techniques has become partner of choice to an enviable list of blue-chip organisations, many of whom list as long-standing clients.

From inception the company focused on the design and installation of fibre optic cabling. Fast forward 33 years and many thousands of installations later and this requirement is more essential than ever with data being termed as the fourth utility. Its therefore not surprising that they’ve leveraged this experience and this service remains a central part of their delivery capability.

Over the past three decades service provision has continued to evolve and now includes, Wi-Fi, civil engineering, technical migration, managed services, electrical, design and consultancy and reactive maintenance to fulfil the ever-changing needs of their clients.

Nick Crosby, Managing Director at Data Techniques commented, “Engaging Meridian as our advisors proved to be a great decision and was of paramount importance to the success of our business sale. From the outset, Philip, Darren, and Team gave clear, professional advice and quickly became an embedded part of our business to help us navigate our journey from start to finish. Their extensive knowledge and contact base were both very impressive and incredibly valuable throughout the negotiations. I have no hesitation in recommending Meridian to anyone looking to sell or restructure a business; rest assured you’re in very safe hands!”

Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian, who led the transaction commented, “The contemporaneous acquisition of both North Group and Data Techniques by Livingbridge added additional complexities to the normal sale process, but Livingbridge and their advisers ran a concise and forthright process within a tight timeframe to ensure that all the stakeholders’ requirements were accommodated. Data Techniques have delivered market leading growth across almost every metric during a period of unprecedented disruption and uncertainty, maintaining an exceptional level of customer service. The acquisition creates an enlarged group with exceptional depth of technical expertise, products and services and an excellent platform on which to build.”

With an ambitious growth strategy to consolidate their position as a market leader, the acquisition will enable North to strengthen their service lines, such as IoT and 5G within critical and complex environments across new geographies and markets, and to reinforce their presence in the South East. Similarly, joining North, a business at the forefront of the smart integrated technologies market, will enable Data Techniques to build on the success they have achieved to date, and to continue to deliver the high performing and innovative solutions and services their clients expect.

Professional advisers involved included tax specialists DSA and regional law firm Herrington Carmichael .

Welcome Callum Larkin

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 16:17:50 GMT

We wish a huge welcome to Callum Larkin who joins the Meridian team on a six month secondment from leading national law firm Shoosmiths.

Callum was a paralegal in the Conveyancing team at Shoosmiths before starting his training contract, completing seats with both the Corporate and Banking & Finance teams and brings with him knowledge and experience that will complement the Meridian team's skill sets.

Callum comments, “I’m looking forward to applying the knowledge I’ve gained as a trainee solicitor whilst building knowledge in the business and financial aspects of a transaction. Meridian have such a highly regarded reputation within the local corporate market – I’m grateful for the opportunity and to be joining the team during such a busy period!“

Meridian has been running it's secondment programme since 2009 and as a result of the pandemic was temporarily paused. But as things get back to 'normal' the team are excited to re-launch the programme and invest in the next generation of of corporate secondees.

Callum is Meridian's 24th secondee.

#meridian #corporatefinance #solentregion #solent #secondee #secondment #secondmentprogramme #shoosmiths #nextstepthinking #nextgeneration #futuregeneration

Has Covid-19 changed how businesses are sold?

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 08 Jun 2021 12:49:37 GMT

Covid-19 inevitably impacted the way business is conducted – but has it changed how businesses are sold?

Recent Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) Activity

When the UK lockdown was first announced, many business owners had to focus on staying afloat, and inevitably pause any ‘next step’ plans such as succession or exit. As a result, M&A transactions came to a halt in the first few months of lockdown – with deal volumes hitting their lowest levels since 2013 in Q2 of 2020*.

The impact of the pandemic wasn’t felt equally across sectors or regions of the UK. Trade sales have continued in sectors which were bolstered by the pandemic, such as TMT. However, some sectors were ill-equipped and found it difficult to overcome trading challenges, as well as operational challenges such as furlough and remote working. As consolidators in these industries faced the same issues, there was less demand for strategic acquisitions in these sectors.

While the uncertainty of the pandemic put a stop to many trade sales, private equity has returned to actively seeking opportunities which boast robust business models, high growth rates and entrepreneurial management teams. After the initial slowdown in the early stages of lockdown, private equity firms were able to deploy capital into deals which had been put on hold.

Valuation metrics

“The principles of valuing a business have remained unchanged throughout lockdown – with investors still focused on internal returns; often assessed by reference to a multiple of Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA). That said, businesses’ earnings were significantly impacted, both favourable and adversely, during the lockdown and understanding this impact and its sustainability is increasingly becoming a key piece of analysis – particularly during the due diligence phase of a transaction.” said Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian Corporate Finance.

As shareholders are incentivised to increase the value of the business, creative methods have been used to increase earnings. One of these is the use of ‘EBITDAC’ (Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation and Coronavirus) which includes adjustments to normalise the impact of Covid on a company’s financials, and therefore value. While there has been much debate around this, most analysts and investors have agreed that the metric will not take the place of EBITDA when valuing a business due to its subjective nature, but the assessment of ‘maintainable’ earnings is an area of more debate – and may filter through to the overall structure of the consideration.

What is driving sell-side activity?

As life returns to normal, business owners have begun re-evaluating their options in terms of succession planning. As ever, the decision to put their business up for sale is primarily driven by owners’ desire to de-risk from a wealth perspective, and de-stress from a personal perspective.

Covid has clearly exacerbated the risks and stress that goes hand in hand with owning and operating a business. Owners have had to adapt very quickly and learn to tackle many new issues – whether they are business critical, or more administrative (such as making furlough claims). Having successfully navigated their companies through lockdown, many business owners now believe that the time is right and are looking to exit to pursue other interests.

Others might be looking to exit in anticipation of unfavourable budgetary changes. The unprecedented levels of government spending during lockdown to provide economic aid has resulted in concern about the impact of any potential changes to capital gains tax and further changes to Business Asset Disposal Relief. Overall, this has incentivised some owners to crystallise a gain by way of transaction before the imminent Autumn budget.

Alternatives to a sale

Whilst a trade sale remains the traditional way forward to de-risk and extract cash, the business impact of coronavirus means that a sale might not be achievable, or not achievable ahead of any budgetary changes.

Outside of trade sales, there are a number of other transactions that allow entrepreneurs to balance their retained interest and risks in the business - all in varying degrees. If you are considering exit options, contact Meridian, who have a 19 track record of working with entrepreneurs to help achieve their objectives – whether that’s through a sale to trade or private equity, or any other structured buy-outs.

* Private Equity Wire, July 2020

Tavistock Communications Ltd

Fri, 30 Apr 2021 12:32:16 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Public Relations

Completed: April 2021

Meridian advised the shareholders of Tavistock Communications on the sale of their business to management.

Formed in 1991, Tavistock has grown to become a leading communications and investor relations agency, providing advice based on long experience and execution by a team of professionals to a range of UK and global companies and organisations.

Tavistock provides a trusted service to companies spanning the FTSE 100, 250, AIM and privately held companies as well as other organisations including charities, families and high-profile individuals. The company’s sector specialist teams are financial services, real estate, natural resources, energy & infrastructure, cleantech & renewables, public affairs and technology media and telecoms.

Meridian first met the shareholders in 2019 to discuss their long-term objectives and the options available to the existing shareholders to transition out of the business. After extensive discussion, a management buyout led by the CEO Jos Simson was determined to be the best option for all parties.

Managing Director, Jos Simson commented, “This transaction represents a milestone in Tavistock’s history, preparing the business for the next stage in its growth and ensuring that our clients and partners continue to get the service and advice that they have come to expect from our team of market leading professionals.

Philip and the team at Meridian executed our transaction during a period of unprecedented disruptions and challenges. Their guidance, advice and calm approach to problem solving was invaluable in agreeing a structure that worked for all parties. We would have no hesitation recommending them to any business considering their next steps for a change in ownership.”

An interview on EBITDAC

Tue, 06 Apr 2021 12:24:48 GMT

A really interesting interview between Philip Mettam, Director of Meridian and James Winzar, Director of Future Proof Advice, where they discuss corporate finance trends, including EBITDAC!

#meridian #corporatefinance #nextstepthinking #futureproofing #futureproofyourbusiness #wealthmanagement #financialplanning #interview #ebitdac #ebitda

Trimline Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 16:36:50 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Marine Services

Completed: March 2021

Meridian advised the shareholders of Southampton based Trimline Limited on the sale of their company to the management team.

Trimline is the longest established interior fitter within the luxury marine industry, having over 55 years of experience, earning them the respect of many trusted partners and loyal customers.

Founded in 1965 by Reginald Oliver, his two sons Gary and Mike joined the business in 1979 and 1980 respectively. After 10 years, Gary and Mike took over the business, taking it from strength to strength and establishing the Trimline brand as a market leader, delivering world class interiors to the cruise, ferry, military and specialist sectors.

Dedicated to perfection and delivering the highest standards in terms of reliability and quality, Trimline work seamlessly with their clients on the design, build and delivery of each of their projects, exceeding expectations at every step.

The Trimline team have a fresh-thinking approach and are committed to lowering their carbon-footprint. They are constantly in search of sustainable products and materials, ever evolving their processes and technology to ensure that experience gained at every step is crafted innovatively for future projects.

The transaction has enabled Gary and Mike to transition out of the business, leaving it in the capable hands of the new director shareholders Ross Welham and Nick Farrell.

Commenting on the transaction Mike Oliver said, “Having never sold a business before it was very reassuring having the Meridian team lead by Michael Barcia guiding us throughout the whole process. Completing on a MBO after various options along our lengthy journey Mike and his team were incredibly patient, innovative and encouraging when we hit the inevitable bumps in the road. My brother and I would not hesitate in recommending Meridian as partners in what is probably most people’s deal of a lifetime!”

Mike Barcia, director at Meridian who led the transaction commented “We have really enjoyed working with Gary, Mike and the wider team, and are extremely pleased with the overall outcome for all parties involved. After 55 years under the Oliver family’s ownership, Trimline’s ownership has now transferred into the extremely capable hands of the experienced management team and we are pleased that Trimline will continue to retain its rich history as a privately owned business. We wish Nick, Ross and the other management team the very best and look forward to seeing them navigate the future growth of the business.”

Professional advisers involved in the deal included, national law firm Shoosmiths , regional law firm Moore Barlow and local accountancy firm Fiander Tovell .

Project Boston

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 08:51:55 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Construction

Completed: March 2021

Meridian advised the shareholder of a Southampton based construction company (Project Boston) on the sale of their company to the management.

Established in 1991, Project Boston is one of the leading scaffolding contractors in the South of England, servicing projects within the commercial, industrial, marine and historical sectors.

Having founded and grown the business for the last 30 years, the shareholder will remain in the business during the transition to the Managing Director, who will continue take the business forward.

Philip Mettam, Director of Meridian who led the deal process commented, “The business has built a great reputation over the last 30 years and having discussed the various options over the last few years it was agreed that sale to the incumbent MD was the best option for all stakeholders. This transaction ensures that the business will continue to grow under the leadership and drive of the current MD for many years to come. It was a pleasure to advise both parties on structuring and completing this deal.”

Professionals advisers involved included; regional law firm Trethowans and regional accountancy firm Fiander Tovell .

Chamonix Estates Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 12:27:12 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector : Property Services

Completed: December 2020

Meridian advised the shareholders of Chamonix Estates on the sale of their residential management division to New Milton based FirstPort Group.

Established in 2006 and headquartered in Buntingford (Hertfordshire), Chamonix is a leading provider of property management, scheduled maintenance and legal services. Managing nearly 65,000 residential properties, with a new pipeline of developments that will add a further 19,000 to their portfolio, Chamonix is the 6th largest company in its sector.

Chamonix’s priority has always been to deliver great customer service. Their success over the last 14 years has come from their focus on providing a complete functional service for both their customers and developers, creating communities where people enjoy living, as well as investing in training and systems to develop their customer service focussed staff.

FirstPort, the leading residential property service in the UK has acquired the residential management division of Chamonix. Chamonix’s repair and maintenance services business will remain separate under the continued management of CEO, Adrian Povey. With over 40 years’ experience, the acquisition sees FirstPort now caring for 290,000 homes within the UK across 5,000 developments.

Adrian Povey, CEO of Chamonix Estates commented, "Working with Meridian has been a pleasure from the start and they have helped us work through a series of potentially difficult situations with both professionalism and a focus on the ultimate aim to ensure that a good outcome was achieved for both sides. They definitely made the whole process a lot smoother, introducing trusted advisers at the right time and keeping everything on track."

Ouda Saleh, CFO of FirstPort commented, “Meridian have made, what could have been a challenging transaction, a lot easier and have helped both parties get this over the line.”

Philip Mettam, Director of Meridian commented, “Having met Adrian in 2019, we had worked with him to look at a variety of options for the business and determined that the best route was a sale to FirstPort Group given their market leading presence in the space. Undertaking a disposal process in 2020 provided a range of novel challenges, but despite these hurdles, the pragmatic approach by all the professionals and principals involved paid off with a great result for both parties. Chamonix Estates represents another excellent addition to the FirstPort Group and we wish all involved the best for the future.”

Professional advisers involved included; Shoosmiths , Fiander Tovell and Deloittes .

Farewell to Daniel Kirtley

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 16:03:00 GMT

Since joining Meridian and the Solent professional community nearly five years ago, Dan has developed a reputation for problem solving and delivery among clients and professionals alike.

With a keen eye for outcomes, he was able to draw on his transactional experience in debt and banking to balance the interests of funders, shareholders, acquirers and other stakeholders to great effects on a large number of deals, navigating a path to agreement and completion.

As an integral member of the Meridian team and having supported a number of high-profile transactions throughout his time, Dan has formed trusted relationships amongst his peers, who consider him to be highly positive, easy to deal with and flexible in his approach.

Not just a diligent corporate financier with great commercial judgement, he is a first class colleague and friend. We all wish him every happiness and success for his and his young family’s future.

Thanks Dan it has been a blast – you are going to be missed!

“A big thank you to my colleagues at Meridian and all our past clients for a fantastic five years - I've enjoyed and learned from every minute. I'm looking forward to the next phase of my career and to working closer to home, but I will certainly miss the great Meridian team! Thanks and see you soon to Mike, Darren, Phil, Kelly, Prabin and Hattie!” Dan Kirtley.

Digits Industries Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 14:21:44 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector : Technology

Completed: September 2020

Meridian advised the shareholders of Digits Industries Ltd on their sale to LDC backed Ciphr Ltd.

In business since 1993 Digits is a leading provider of e-learning solutions to a blue-chip customer base, with particular focus on automotive, retail and finance sectors. The sale adds Digits specialist toolset to CIPHRs existing HR platform, creating an end to end solution for customers to manage and train staff.

Colin Bull, founder and Managing Director of Digits said, "The Meridian team have been fantastic throughout the whole process. Very supportive and pragmatic and worked closely with Lucy Gleisner at Trethowans to steer me through. Thanks to all of you!"

Commenting on the transaction Philip Mettam, Director of Meridian who led the transaction said: “From initial meetings with Colin it became apparent that there was a strong desire and strategic rationale to bring the two businesses together. Closing a deal during the pandemic created its own unique challenges but all the professionals worked together to find pragmatic solutions to any barriers. This represents a great result not just for the shareholders but also for the team at CIPHR and LDC, and we wish them all the best moving forwards.”

Professional advisers involved included: Trethowans

Project Austin

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 14:50:38 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Energy

Completed: July 2020

Meridian are delighted to announce the completion of Project Austin, a £72m Management Buy-Out in the energy sector.

The deal paves the way for future growth, putting shares in the hands of the management team and bringing new executive talent onto the Board.

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and lockdown, all the professionals pulled together to get this transaction across the line and deliver a great outcome for the client!

Acquisition Search - Data Centre Sector

Fri, 12 Jun 2020 14:12:08 GMT

Meridian have been engaged on an acquisition search for targets in the Data Centre sector and adjacent complimentary markets as part of a client’s growth plans.

The acquirer has significant experience in acquisitions, MBO/MBI, disposals and start ups having been an established presence in the UK and overseas market for over 20 years.

Search Criteria:

Sector:

Data Centre Service providers or Equipment Vendors (not manufacturers)

Technical, Design, Project Management, Facilities Management, Service(s), Contracting

Networking, Cabling, UPS, Generators, HVAC, Fire & Security, BMS, DCIM, Racking

Facilities Maintenance businesses with Engineering bias (no soft services)

Location:

London & SE preferred initially

Wider UK & Western Europe considered

Financial:

Turnover of up to £50M

EBITDA of up to £2.5M

Turnaround opportunities considered

Data Centre Owners and Operators are also sought on behalf of retained clients (no cap on transaction value for acquisitions in this sector).

All enquiries should be made to Philip Mettam at Meridian Corporate Finance on the details below:

T: 02380 274613

M: 07738 971829

E: philip.mettam@meridiancf.com

COVID-19; Government Support for SME's

Tue, 31 Mar 2020 13:26:07 GMT

You will have read about the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Covid Corporate Financing Facility (CCFF).

You will also have read that the banks are moving quickly to support existing clients through repayment holidays, overdrafts and other methods, as the process for ‘full-blown’ government-guaranteed loans becomes clearer. Other government support, including VAT deferral and furlough, give businesses some short term options but most will be looking to their bank to help them survive through CV19 until they are to trade more normally again.

Meridian has been in close contact with the main lenders in the region for the last two weeks but we will not repeat the same information you have read about the shape and evolution of government-guaranteed loans.

Banks will use whatever tools they can (guaranteed or not) to assist companies, but can only do this with a clear and detailed picture of what their customers need. Businesses need to quantify the help they think they need, Demonstrate that they were profitable / cash generative before CV19 and forecast what their recovery to profitability may look like.

In such uncertain times it may seem strange to be asked to predict how long and deep the pandemics impact on your business will be. Lenders know and accept that assumptions will change as time goes on, but they need to have a considered set of assumptions and forecasts so they can build a reasoned support package with clear logic behind it. They need to do this as responsible lenders and as custodians of the government’s guarantee.

Credit processes are being accelerated and the most urgent cases are being ‘triaged’ but lenders still need to show structure and logic behind what they do.

If businesses don’t have a clear Idea of what they’re asking for, why they have quantified that amount and a forecast of their recovery then the process will be more difficult and take longer.

The checklist below will help you present the banks with what financial support your business needs and how you’ve quantified it, as well as evidence that you were creditworthy pre-crisis

Download PDF Checklist

Meridian has direct working relationships with area and relationship managers in all big 4 banks on the South coast. If you are facing difficulties getting access to the support you need from your bank or preparing the information needed for an application, we can help by:

Cashflow forecasting and delivery of integrated financial models;
Scenario planning and risk analysis;
Review and restructuring of existing debt facilities;
Assistance in preparing bank applications and reports required to access the CBILS; and
Structuring of existing and new bank debt and covenant setting.

Support for SME's

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 09:48:12 GMT

Given the coronavirus pandemic and the extreme disruption it has caused in our day to day life, we know that most businesses will still be taking the prudent step of reviewing their existing debt, working capital and day to day banking facilities.

For many businesses they will have the in-house expertise to manage any necessary changes but for those who need some additional expertise; then we are available to help.

Meridian have a demonstrable track record in working with SMEs and are ready to assist with services including:

- Cashflow forecasting and delivery of integrated financial models

- Scenario planning and risk analysis

- Review and restructuring of existing debt facilities

- Assistance in preparing bank applications and reports required to access the CBILS

- Structuring of existing and new bank and covenant setting

Having been incredibly active in the Solent region for nearly 20 years, in these uncertain times it is important that the Solent business community pulls together and the team at Meridian want to play their part within the professional community, in helping local businesses to get through the next few months and beyond.

If you or your colleagues know anyone who would benefit from a no-obligation chat and some advice then please get in touch.

Key contacts are as follows:

Darren Thompson - Director - darren.thompson@meridiancf.com

Michael Barcia - Director - michael.barcia@meridiancf.com

Philip Mettam - Director - philip.mettam@meridiancf.com

Main office - 02380268793

Entrepreneurs' Relief... All Change!

Thu, 12 Mar 2020 11:20:59 GMT

Following the Budget, business owners will now pay 10% Entrepreneurs' Relief tax rate on lifetime gains of up to £1m, compared with the previous limit of £10m. Business owners who make any gains above £1m will now be charged standard capital gains tax rate, which is currently 20%.

This announcement coupled with the potential effects of the coronavirus pandemic may have changed your strategy for future planning within your business. At Meridian we are experts in succession planning, company sales, raising finance and providing focussed guidance. With more than 18 years of successful deal experience, we work alongside business owners and management teams, determining their strategic aims and are committed personally to deliver their ambitions, advising them throughout their business journey.

We recognise that every business is unique, and to advise you on the best outcomes, we need to understand all aspects of what makes your business tick – not just the numbers! In a fast moving and constantly changing environment, our 'next step thinking' approach has been providing our clients with an unfair advantage since 2002.

Lucketts Holdings Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 16:44:18 GMT

Transaction: Company Sale

Sector : Travel

Completed: March 2020

Meridian advised the shareholders of family owned Lucketts Holdings Ltd, on their sale to leading, multinational public transport company National Express plc.

Established by Harry Luckett 94 years ago with a foundation in haulage and storage, Lucketts has grown to become the largest coach operator on the South Coast and one of the most recognisable brands in the region. Successive generations of the Lucketts family have contributed to building the business to its current size, employing 350 people and operating a fleet of 160 coaches. Also operating under the banners of Coliseum Coaches, Solent Coaches, Morton’s Travel and Worthing Coaches, the business has driven innovation in the sector, in areas including safety and scheduling.

The current Lucketts management team, led by managing director Tony Lawman, will remain in place reporting into Tom Stables, National Express Managing Director, UK and Germany. The business will continue to trade under its existing brand names.

National Express, which was founded nearly 50 years ago and headquartered in Birmingham, operates bus, coach, train and tram services in the UK, US, Canada, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Germany, Bahrain and Morocco as well as long-distance coach services across Europe. Tom Stables said, “We already have a strong relationship with Lucketts so know it is a fantastic company with an excellent record of delivering high-quality services. The acquisition enables us to expand further into the private hire and tours market and we look forward to welcoming all our new colleagues to National Express.”

Ian Luckett said, “We enjoyed working with Meridian during what is inevitably a challenging time, as we take the positive step to pass on ownership of a business that has been part of our family for generations. There is a lot of work and trust involved in a process like this and we are very glad to have chosen Meridian. We are delighted that Lucketts Group is joining National Express with whom we have had a strong relationship for many years.”

Meridian Corporate Finance said, “We at Meridian have really enjoyed working with the Luckett family and are pleased that their business is transferring to an excellent acquirer in National Express. National Express have the expertise and presence to keep the Lucketts Group at the forefront of the sector and build on the work of the last 94 years!”

Professionals advisers involved included, Blake Morgan , who provided legal advice to the Luckett family and DSA who provided tax advice.

Farewell Lydia Rowswell

Fri, 28 Feb 2020 00:00:00 GMT

Today we say a fond farewell to Lydia Rowswell who has completed her six month secondment with Meridian.

During her time at Meridian, Lydia has become a well respected member of the team, having worked on a number of transactions.

Lydia will re-join the Commercial Litigation team at Trethowans (Southampton) before moving to the Corporate team and is due to qualify as a solicitor later this year.

Speaking of her time here, Lydia comments, “My time at Meridian has been fantastic. The variety of corporate transactions that I have been involved in over the last six months has been first-class, and this has allowed me to develop my understanding of various corporate matters. I have also been able to develop my transaction judgement which will benefit me substantially moving forward in my career. I can’t thank Meridian enough for the time and effort that they have put into my development over the last six months, and I look forward to working with them in the future!”

It has been a pleasure Lydia, we wish you every success in your last two seats ahead of qualifying and look forward to working alongside you on future transactions.

Entrepreneurs' Relief and the 2020 Budget

Tue, 11 Feb 2020 12:17:47 GMT

If the media reports are accurate, then the predictions for the 11th March’s Budget could have a fundamental impact on business owners. With entrepreneurs' relief (ER) at risk of reform, many business owners could be faced with an increase in tax following the sale of their business, be that a 100% disposal or a management buy-out.

ER was initially designed and introduced with the intention of encouraging entrepreneurs to invest in and boost the small business market. However, certain studies by independent bodies have suggested that the relief does not appear to have encouraged investment into start-up or growing businesses, nor the preservation of existing businesses from breaking down in the event of a succession. This, coupled with the fact that the tax cost of ER is greater than any of the other reliefs, Government are under pressure to look at ER, following their pledges to generate additional capital to fund the announced spending promises.

Darren Thompson, Meridian Director comments, "It is absolutely a time of uncertainty for business owners and it is fair to assume that this key tax relief will come under scrutiny, so it is worth taking advice and planning for the future of your business accordingly."

At Meridian we are experts in providing focussed guidance as deal strategists, project managers and transaction negotiators. With fundamental technical knowledge of various types of transactions and years of successful deals experience, we work alongside business owners and management teams, determining their strategic aims and are committed personally to deliver their ambitions, advising them throughout their business journey.

We recognise that every business is unique, and to advise you on the best outcomes, we need to understand all aspects of what makes your business tick – not just the numbers! All our transactions are director led, and our ‘next step thinking’ approach helps us to see the bigger picture and gain an in-depth understanding of what is best for our clients and the strategic direction of their business.

Target Professional Services (UK) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 16:56:22 GMT

Transaction: Company Restructure

Sector : Professional Services

Completed: December 2019

Meridian advised Lisa Lyon, founder shareholder and director of Target Professional Services (UK) Ltd ("Target") on the restructure of her company.

Founded in 1988, Target are market leading global tracing and data verification specialists based in Selsey, West Sussex. Lisa Lyon, Managing Director and sole owner since 2001, has led Target’s continued growth for almost two decades, building an outstanding reputation with pension schemes, financial service companies and government authorities for their domestic and international tracing and verification requirements.

Target has an ambitious sales and business development strategy to increase market coverage and their international client base, so in preparation for this the company engaged Meridian to structure a transaction that widened the shareholding, incentivising the incumbent management team and attracting new Directors and skill sets to the Board.

Lisa, remains a committed, significant shareholder and director of the business, and is now joined by the existing experienced management team with a broad range of competencies and shared values. As a result, the company is now perfectly placed to deliver its growth plans, as it looks to expand its client base and enter new geographies. The restructuring has been self-funded by the management team to ensure they deliver the company strategy.

Commenting on the transaction, Lisa said, "Target has consistently grown over recent years to become the leading pension tracing firm in the UK, many firms aspire to follow. The company has determined growth aspirations and this restructuring enables us to look at new strategies and ensure Target continues to provide the best service to clients now and in the future.

Meridian were instrumental in assisting throughout the transaction, from formulating a structure to its completion. They introduced us to various regional advisers and were able to implement the transaction within a tight deadline. We all look forward to continuing to work with our partners and clients over the coming years and continuing to provide a market leading offering in tracing and data verification.

If you’re considering your company’s next stage of growth or exiting your business, I highly recommend that you contact them to explore the numerous options available to you.”

Philip Mettam, Director at Meridian who led the transaction commented, "When we first met Target they were unsure how to manage and structure the process of empowering the wider management team. We worked with Lisa and the team to sculpt a structure that worked for all parties and ensures Target is best placed to take advantage of the growth opportunities available in coming years."

Merry Christmas from the Meridian Team

Fri, 06 Dec 2019 11:25:24 GMT

As we enter the Christmas period we wanted to reflect, congratulate and thank you all for another great year.

In a year that was inevitably dominated by political and economic headlines, its been reassuring to see that the Solent community continued to complete a wide range of corporate transactions. As a firm we are proud to have been involved in a wide range of deals including the cross-border disposal of national kitchen refurbishment franchise Dream Doors to American PE firm Harvest, and the MBO of a leading local recruitment firm CMA to name but a few.

As a firm we have reaffirmed our commitment to the Solent region this year, continuing to provide a market leading advisory service to owner managed businesses in the region, and working alongside a number of trusted local partners to get the best results for clients.

2019 saw further recognition in the Solent Deal Awards with both Dan Kirtley and Philip Mettam being listed as finalists in their respective categories, Meridian winning ‘PE firm of the Year’, and the 2018 Aerial Direct MBO winning Mid-range deal of the Year. As always, a huge thank you to the professionals we work with, and congratulations to all the other winners and finalists – we are extremely proud to be part of such an impressive professional community.

Looking internally, Meridian has continued to support local charities through fundraising events and have raised and contributed over £7,000 in 2019. They also continue to invest in the next generation of professionals with graduate recruits Hattie and Prabin, both completing the certificate level of their ACA training and are well on the way to being fully qualified. We have also been delighted to have Ben Churchyard and Lydia Rowswell with us on secondment as part of their training contracts at Shoosmiths and Trethowans respectively who were both invaluable members of part of the team, and we look forward to continuing to work with them for many years on their return. Finally, a thank you to Jon Barnett who joined us on secondment from Goodwood in November, continuing our long standing relationship with the Estate.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year and look forward to working with you all in 2020!

Welcome Jon Barnett

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 11:30:24 GMT

Meridian are delighted to welcome Goodwood's Head of Motor Sport, Jon Barnett, on a four-week secondment.

Having joined Goodwood in 2011, Jon's position is Motor Circuit General Manager. His key focus for the Motor Circuit is to direct its strategic vision, ensuring the delivery of annual and longer-term goals, whilst facilitating the organisation of world-renowned events such as Goodwood Revival and the Festival of Speed.

With a background in marketing and operations management, he is joining Meridian to further develop his understanding of corporate finance in order to apply this knowledge upon his return to Goodwood.

During his secondment he will be meeting various banks, financial institutions, clients and private equity firms. Jon will undoubtedly be a welcome asset to the team throughout his time here.

Meridian have worked closely with Goodwood for many years and Jon is our third secondee from the Estate.

#meridian #secondment #secondee #secondmentprogramme #corporatefinance #solent #solentregion #goodwood #solentprofessionals

Next Step Thinking...

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 14:01:21 GMT

What propels the business owner to take the next step on their journey, whether it's expansion by acquisition, taking advantage of opportunity, or eventual sale?

Is it a determination to follow a strategic goal, a personal desire to see what can be achieved?

In a book commissioned by Meridian, the owners of entrepreneurial businesses share their thoughts, their hopes and aspirations, their trials and tribulations.

Farewell Ben Churchyard

Fri, 20 Sep 2019 13:21:40 GMT

We bid a sad farewell to Ben Churchyard who has completed his six month secondment with Meridian Corporate Finance. Ben has proven to be an integral member of the team in such a short space of time, significantly complementing the skill-sets of the team. Ben will re-join the Banking team at Shoosmiths (Reading), where he will qualify as a solicitor shortly afterwards. Speaking of his time here, Ben comments, “It’s been a brilliant six months with Meridian. Having had exposure to a number of impressive deals throughout my time with Meridian, my understanding of corporate transactions has developed substantially. I look forward to working with Meridian again when I return to Shoosmiths.”

Thanks for all your hard work Ben, we look forward to working with you on the other side and wish you every success for your future!

#meridian #secondment #secondee #secondmentprogramme #corporatefinance #solent #solentregion #shoosmiths

Welcome Lydia Rowswell

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 15:32:51 GMT

A huge welcome to Lydia Rowswell, who joins the Meridian Team on a six month secondment from leading national law firm Trethowans LLP. Lydia has experience in the Debt Recovery, Residential Property and Corporate/Commercial Teams, which will complement the varied skillsets within the Meridian Team.

Lydia comments, “Having spent the last 6 months working in the Commercial and Corporate team at Trethowans, I look forward to joining Meridian and using my legal and commercial knowledge to add value to the work that they do. I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to join a team with such an impressive reputation in the area.”

Meridian have been running their secondment programme since 2009 and Lydia is their 21st secondee.

#meridian #corporatefinance #solentregion #solent #secondee #secondment #secondmentprogramme #Trethowans

Meridian Donate to MND Association

Mon, 02 Sep 2019 13:15:08 GMT

Following the success of their Charity Golf Day, Meridian Corporate Finance were thrilled to present the Motor Neurone Disease Association with a cheque for £500.00, which was raised from the sale of mulligan tokens during the event. Congratulations to Pangea Life Ltd, who nominated the Motor Neurone Disease Association as their chosen charity.

The Motor Neurone Disease Association’s vision is a world free from MND and this donation will contribute towards helping researchers use cutting edge technology to analyse DNA, on the hunt for the causes of MND, leading them to new understanding and treatments and bring them closer to a cure.

Thank you also to NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Santander UK, Shoosmiths, Trethowans, Moore Blatch LLP, Blake Morgan LLP, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, EY, BDO UK LLP, Fiander Tovell, DSA Advisory Ltd, CMA, Taylor Made Computer Solutions and Peach Technologies Ltd who all generously contributed towards the event.

Photo L-R: Stephen Goulter (Pangea) Jean Block and Rosemary Rockett (MND Association) Philip Mettam (Meridian)

#Meridian #CharityGolfDay #SolentProfessionals #SolentRegion #SupportLocal #LocalCharities #CorporateFinance

Meridian Donate to Naomi House & Jacksplace

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 10:51:03 GMT

Following the success of their Charity Golf Day, Meridian Corporate Finance were thrilled to present Solent based Charity Naomi House & Jacksplace with a cheque for £1,000, which was raised from the funds of the raffle during the event. Congratulations to runners-up CMA Recruitment Group, who nominated Naomi House & Jacksplace as their chosen charity.

Thank you also to NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Santander UK, Shoosmiths, Trethowans, Moore Blatch LLP, Blake Morgan LLP, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, EY, BDO UK LLP, Fiander Tovell, DSA Advisory Ltd, Pangea Life, Taylor Made Computer Solutions and Peach Technologies Ltd who all generously contributed towards the event.

The donation will go towards Naomi House & Jacksplace's music therapy initiative, which is not only entertaining for the children and young adults in their care, but it allows them to communicate, let off steam and use their imagination.

Photo L: Daniel Kirtley (Meridian) C: Connor Phillips (Naomi House & Jacksplace) R: Richard Dibden (CMA)

#Meridian #CharityGolfDay #SolentProfessionals #SolentRegion #SupportLocal #LocalCharities #CorporateFinance

Mail Solutions Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:23:03 GMT

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Ocean Safety

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:08:39 GMT

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Phoenix Relocation

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:03:19 GMT

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Meridian Go Clubbing

Thu, 04 Jul 2019 10:02:16 GMT

A huge thank you to NatWest Solent Corporate and Commercial team for inviting us along to their Charity Golf Day. We were delighted to sponsor the 8th hole and support the fund raising for The Brain Tumour Charity. A great day was had by all - even if the golfing standards weren't quite up to par!

Photo: L - Mikael Rosen (NatWest); C - Darren Thompson (Meridian); R - Tim Meyer (TMA Data Management)

#meridian #charitygolfday #solentprofessionals #solentregion #supportlocal #localcharities #solentmind #corporatefinance #NatWest

Meridian Donate to Solent Mind

Mon, 01 Jul 2019 14:34:11 GMT

Following the success of their Charity Golf Day, Meridian Corporate Finance were privileged to present Solent based charity Solent Mind with a cheque for £5,000 raised from the entry fees of all the teams who supported their great event.

Thank you to NatWest, HSBC, Barclays, Santander UK, Shoosmiths, Trethowans, Moore Blatch LLP, Blake Morgan LLP, Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP, EY, BDO UK LLP, Fiander Tovell, DSA Advisory Ltd, Pangea Life, CMA Recruitment Group, Taylor Made Computer Solutions and Peach Technologies Ltd who generously contributed.

Well done to Shoosmiths who were playing to win the tournament for their chosen charity. These funds will add to several other sponsored events that the Shoosmiths team has already undertaken this year on behalf of Solent Mind.

Photo L: Stuart Lawrenson (Shoosmiths) C: Emma Fernandes (Solent Mind) R: Darren Thompson (Meridian)

#meridian #charitygolfday #solentprofessionals #solentregion #supportlocal #localcharities #solentmind #corporatefinance

https://www.solentmind.org.uk/ https://twitter.com/SolentMind/status/1145650845108846592

Meridian raise £6,500 for Local Charities

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 10:45:59 GMT

Meridian Corporate Finance were generously supported by the key professional firms in the Solent region at their Charity Golf Day, which raised a whopping £6,500 for local charities, nominated by the winning teams.

Solent Mind will receive the entry fees and a contribution by Meridian which overall totalled £5,000. Congratulations to the Shoosmiths team who won the overall competition and who nominated the charity. Solent Mind is Shoosmiths' Solent's office chosen charity for this year and adds to a number of sponsored events the team has already undertaken.

The raffle for the ‘Barrow of Booze’ was also a big attraction and this generated £1,000 which will be donated to Naomi House & Jack’s Place courtesy of the runners up CMA Recruitment Group .

Last (literally), but by no means least; well done to the Pangea Life team who, despite coming last, were able to donate £500 raised from the mulligan sales, for their chosen charity The Motor Neurone Disease Association.

A huge thank you to all the teams that took part and gave so generously back into the local community – a great day was had by all!

NatWest , Santander UK , HSBC , Barclays , DSA Advisory Ltd , Pangea Life , Taylor Made Computer Solutions , BDO UK LLP , Blake Morgan LLP , Moore Blatch LLP , Trethowans , Shoosmiths , CMA Recruitment Group , Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP , EY , Fiander Tovell .

#meridian #corporatefinance #solentprofessionals #solentregion #charitygolfday #givingsomethingback #localsupport #supportlocal

Meridian Win PE Firm of the Year 2019!

Fri, 24 May 2019 11:20:21 GMT

A cracking evening at the Solent Deals Awards last night!

Well done to all the finalists who were shortlisted and congratulations to all the winners in their respective categories.

Meridian are thrilled to have won Private Equity Firm of the Year for the second year running!

Huge congratulations to our very own Daniel Kirtley for being highly commended in the Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year category and to our clients Aerial Direct for winning Mid-Range Deal of the year (£10m - £50m).

Special mentions to Anthony Donohue of NatWest for winning Banker of the Year; Stephen Porter of Shoosmiths for winning Lawyer of the Year; Emma Livesey of Shoosmiths for winning Young Dealmaker of the Year; Trethowans for winning Law firm of the Year and HSBC for winning Bank of the Year.

Thank you to The Business Magazine for hosting another fabulous night – as always, it was a privilege celebrating the year's successes with our Solent professional community.

#Meridian #DealsAwards #PrivateEquityFirmoftheYear #SolentProfessionals #SolentRegion #PEFirmoftheYear #SolentCommunity #CorporateFinance #PrivateEquity

Meridian Nominated for PE Firm of the Year

Mon, 13 May 2019 15:31:00 GMT

Following on from last year’s success, Meridian have seen another year of market leading activity in the Solent region. Meridian hold 12 minority equity stakes in a variety of businesses, 10 of which are based in the Solent Region. The majority of these include active NED roles. The busy period has seen Meridian complete 2 high profile exits, 2 new investments and 1 follow-on investment.

As founder investors in loveholidays and the largest shareholder outside the management team, the sale to Livingbridge Private Equity was their largest transaction ever at £190m and hit national headlines. Meridian also realised their substantial shareholding in Fareham based national franchisor Dream Doors, which sold for £22m to a portfolio company of US based Harvest Private Equity.

The Meridian team have once again demonstrated that they are the most prominent PE firm in the Solent region. In the last 9 years, they have invested in more Solent businesses than any other firm, with a focus on helping owner managed businesses flourish.

Of these activities, the majority have included Solent based businesses and involved multiple firms and individuals from the local professional community. These include, among others; Trethowans, Moore Blatch, Shoosmiths, PwC, Womble Bond Dickinson, Fiander Tovell, DSA, Barclays and NatWest.

Amongst the maturing portfolio there have been truly outstanding performances from:

loveholidays - From start-up investment to 8th largest travel company in the UK, Meridian realised their equity stake in 2018, realising a 20x return on investment.

Blis Media - Global tech media player who were listed in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 and won ‘National Venture Backed Management Team of the Year’ at the BVCA Awards in 2017, having shown outstanding growth since the company’s debut in 2015.

Cinos – A global AV System Integration Specialist who were listed in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 in 2018, based in Camberley.

Diametric Technical - Swanmore and IoW based specialist design and manufacturing firm Diametric won SME of the year at the 2018 Solent Business Awards. This year, Meridian supported Diametric in building a 2nd tier management team to enable Steve Watts, Plant Director, to retire.

Meridian also retains minority investments in a number of the region’s flagship businesses, including:

Zenergi – Chilworth based energy broker which sold to August Private Equity in 2017 after a five-year hold period that saw profits rise from c. £700k to in excess of £2.5m.

23.5° Degrees - Backed by Connection Capital, the Southampton-based Starbucks franchisee opened 20 sites during 2018, with plans to open a further 23 in 2019. The CEO of 23.5 Degrees, Mark Hepburn, won ‘CEO of the Year’ at the Solent Business Awards in 2018.

The Meridian team continue to be active investors in the South and are committed to promoting the region as a centre of excellence with the support of the Solent professional community.

Philip Mettam Nominated for Young Deal Maker of the Year

Wed, 08 May 2019 15:05:43 GMT

Philip completed 6 lead advisory transactions in the qualifying period, which included 4 management buy-outs, a fundraise, and the realisation of Meridian’s investment in Loveholidays totalling an enterprise value of c. £250m. The majority of these deals involved multiple Solent firms and advisors demonstrating Philip’s extensive network of professional contacts.

The variety and complexity of deals executed during the period, combined with his wide range of advisory roles undoubtedly makes Philip the most active young deal maker in the region at the age of just 31 and deserving of his recent promotion to Director.

Regarding the nomination, Philip comments, "It is fantastic to have been nominated again and am really looking forward to the evening."

#Meridian #DealsAwards #SolentRegion #CorporateFinance #LeadAdvisory #ManagementBuyOut #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity #YoungDealMakeroftheYear

Dan Kirtley Nominated for CF Adviser of the Year

Wed, 08 May 2019 14:46:04 GMT

Since joining Meridian three years ago, Dan has used his transactional background in debt and banking to great effect on a large number of deals, as well as building trusted relationships among professional colleagues. He also sits as an adviser on the boards of Stewart Signs and until recently Dream Doors, reflecting Meridian’s long-term approach to client engagements and assisting with strategic change.

Dan completed 6 lead advisory transactions in the qualifying period, totalling c. £110m, all of which involved multiple Solent firms and advisers, demonstrating Dan’s extensive network of professional contacts. He is a key member of the Meridian team helping to drive our 90% completion success rate.

Dan has built up a reputation for problem solving and delivery among clients and professionals alike. With a keen eye on outcomes, he draws on his transactional experience to balance the interests of funders, shareholders, acquirers and other stakeholders in order to navigate a path to agreement and completion. During the qualifying period, this included four debt-funded management buyouts, funded by a range of banks including; RBS/NatWest, Lloyds and Barclays.

Well known for his brevity, Dan comments, "It is a real privilege to have been nominated."

#Meridian #DealsAwards #SolentRegion #CorporateFinance #LeadAdvisory #ManagementBuyOut #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity #CFAdviseroftheYear

Meridian Nominated for CF Team of the Year

Wed, 08 May 2019 14:27:04 GMT

Meridian are delighted to have been nominated having acted as lead advisors on transactions with a total enterprise value of £350m+ in the qualifying period . Their independence allows the team to work with a huge range of incredibly talented Solent based professionals, who together generate significant deal flow across the region.

In the period concerned, the Meridian team completed 12 deals, with all but one being located in the Solent Region, including selling companies to UK & US Private Equity firms as well as numerous management buy-outs, fundraises and cross border transactions. In addition to this, the Meridian Team also administer a portfolio of 12 investee companies with the headline grabbing sale of loveholidays during the period, along with one other realised investment in Dream Doors and 2 new investments in Four-Tees Engineers and Cinos.

All these transactions have included Solent based businesses including amongst others; Trethowans, Moore Blatch, Shoosmiths, Blake Morgan, James Cowper Kreston, PwC, Deloitte, Fiander Tovell, BDO, Pangea Life and CMA. These activities have also involved working closely with banks, including; NatWest, HSBC, Barclays and Lloyds.

The Meridian team continue to fully focus on the Solent Region and remain firmly committed to promoting the region as a centre of excellence with the support of the Solent professional community.

#Meridian #DealsAwards #SolentRegion #CorporateFinance #LeadAdvisory #ManagementBuyOut #SolentProfessionals #PrivateEquity #CFTeamoftheYear

Meridian Receive Multiple Nominations!

Mon, 15 Apr 2019 12:53:28 GMT

The Meridian Team are thrilled to have received 9 nominations for this year's Solent Deals Awards

Meridian are once again sponsors of the 'Lawyer of the Year' award and we wish finalists Hayley Bevis of Coffin Mew, Lucy Gleisner of Trethowans, Steve Cole of Blake Morgan and Steve Porter of Shoosmiths the very best of luck. All of the nominees have excellent reputations locally and are recognised as leading lawyers in the Solent Region.

Best of luck also to our very own Daniel Kirtley who has been nominated for Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year and Philip Mettam who has been nominated for Young Adviser of the Year.

The Meridian team are delighted to have been nominated for Corporate Finance Team of the Year and Private Equity Firm of the year. Deals we completed which have also received nominations are:

The management buy-out of Four-Tees Engineers for Small Deal of the Year;
The sale of Dream Doors to Neighborly for Mid-range Deal of the Year;
The management buy-out of Aerial Direct for Mid-Range Deal of the Year;
The sale of Loveholidays to Livingbridge for Large Deal of the Year; and
Aerial Direct for Management Team of the Year.

Meridian backed Loveholidays in 2012 as a significant cornerstone investor as part of a £2m initial fund raise, when the start-up had four employees, excluding Darren as a Board Member! Since then, Meridian had made various investments into the company as it continued to expand and outperform expectations, eventually becoming the 8th largest travel agent in the UK with its own unique technology platform.

Meridian remained heavily involved with the strategy of Loveholidays until the 'investment journey' culminated in a £190m sale to private equity firm Livingbridge, which is understood to be their largest investment to date. As the largest shareholder outside the management team, Meridian realised a 20 times return on their investment.

This is a remarkable investment journey and one that ended in a sale price roughly equivalent to c.40% of the current market cap of Thomas Cook – a travel company and household name with roots dating back to 1841. Loveholidays is a clear example of a great investment into a market disruptor by Southampton based Meridian Growth Capital and was one of the most prominent exits in 2018.

We look forward to seeing you all at The Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on 23rd May 2019 – best of luck to all the finalists in their respective categories!

#DealsAwards #Meridian #SolentRegion @MeridianCF @thebusinessmag

CMA Financial Recruitment Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 31 Mar 2019 15:34:43 GMT

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector : Recruitment

Completed: March 2019

Meridian advised the shareholders of CMA Financial Recruitment Ltd on a management buy-out to transfer the business to the next generation of management.

A leading recruitment firm with offices across the South of England, CMA engaged Meridian to assist with structuring a management buy-out and raising of debt from HSBC.

Meridian directors Michael Barcia and Philip Mettam worked alongside Paul Braye at BDO and Stephen Porter at Shoosmiths to structure a tax efficient solution that enabled the next generation of management to take a greater role on the direction of the business and prepare for the next stage of growth.

Commenting on the transaction, Nick Clarke, Director of CMA said, "We were hugely impressed by the Meridian team throughout the deal process. They took time to understand and evolved a deal structure that met our specific requirements. Mike and Philip then mobilised their impressive local network to deliver a number of competitive funding packages while working collaboratively with our legal and tax advisors."

Professional advisers involved included: BDO and Shoosmiths .

Dream Doors Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

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Gracelands Ltd

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

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aap3 Ltd

Sat, 01 Dec 2018 00:00:00 GMT

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Meridian Team Expands

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Meridian are pleased to welcome Hattie Hole, Prabin Sunar and Sam Salter-Galbraith to the team.

Hattie and Prabin re-join the team join after successfully graduating in their respective degrees during Summer 2018.

Prabin originally joined Meridian for a year in 2016-2017 on a graduate placement. He has since completed his degree in Accountancy and Finance at University of Southampton. Hattie previously interned with Meridian during 2016, following which she completed her undergraduate degree in Politics and Psychology with Economics at University College Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

They are now embarking on the ICAEW Level 7 Accountancy Professional qualification which is supported with in-house training. The qualification encompasses ACA certification alongside additional modules which focus on professional skills such as professional scepticism and business insight. This additional learning will enable our new team members to develop a well-rounded approach to business activities and enrich their opportunities moving forward.

Meridian also welcome Sam Salter-Galbraith who joins the team on a six-month secondment from regional law firm Trethowans LLP. Sam recently qualified as a solicitor and has experience across several commercial areas including Commercial Property, Commercial Litigation and Corporate law. Having had nineteen secondees from local law firms, Meridian are privileged to work with the emerging legal stars of the future and maintain excellent relationships with regional law firms.

Triumphs at Solent Business Awards 2018

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Huge congratulations to Diametric Limited, for winning SME of the year and Mark Hepburn of 23.5 degrees for winning CEO of the year at the Solent Business Awards 2018.

Meridian has worked closely with Diametric and 23.5 degrees for the past few years and couldn’t be happier with the result.

In 2015, Meridian oversaw the management buy-out of Diametric, the UK’s leading badging and branding specialist. Since then, Meridian and Diametric have worked closely together in ensuring the best progression for the company. This has comprised of a position on the board, a restructuring of the shareholding and bringing in new members of the management team. Their win at the Solent Business Awards is a culmination of the Diametric team’s hard work. Philip commented , “ Since I joined the Board after the original MBO in 2015, Diametric has gone through a period of growth that has seen profits double in only two years. This award recognises the hard work and dedication of the management team, and their focus on continued delivery of market leading products and exceptional service to their customers. We look forward to building on these achievements with the company’s first-class management team over the coming years and continuing to work with the Board to deliver great results for many years to come.”

As well as this, the CEO of 23.5 degrees, Mark Hepburn, won CEO of the year. The world’s first Starbucks franchise partner received transaction advice from Meridian in 2015 and 2018 on their growth funding package. Commenting on the result, Mike said, “We were able to support Mark at a very early stage, securing development funding from Connection Capital to embark on this ambitious journey. Having personally contributed to the funding, we bought into his vision and invested at both investment rounds. We are absolutely delighted to see him win this prestigious award, it is extremely well deserved.”

Aerial Direct Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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Dream Doors Ltd

Fri, 31 Aug 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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Completed Deal - Space & Time

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Meridian advised the Shareholders of Space & Time Media Limited on a structured Management Buy-Out funded by the company's incumbent bank.

Space & Time are a multi-award winning, independent media agency. The structured management buy-out effected the succession of the business to the new tier of management who are 'home-grown' talent with energy and ideas to continue the Company's growth.

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Media

R&M Electrical Group Ltd

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 23:00:00 GMT

Meridian advised the Shareholders of R&M Electrical Group Limited (“R&M”) one of the largest independently owned cable and electrical distributors in the UK on a management buy-out.

R&M have specialist divisions, providing products, services, expertise and project management both nationally and internationally to the Commercial, Industrial, Marine, Oil & Gas and Pharmaceutical sectors.

The management buy-out was funded through Senior Debt facilitated by NatWest and will support R&M with continued operations and further global success.

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Electrical Distributor

Space and Time Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 30 Jun 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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AndersElite Ltd

Sat, 30 Jun 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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Meridian's success at Solent Deals Awards 2018

Mon, 11 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Meridian Team are immensely proud to have won both Corporate Finance Team of the Year and Private Equity Firm of the Year - we believe the first time a firm has won both titles!

A huge congratulations to our very own Philip Mettam who again won Young Adviser of the Year, retaining his title since the award was introduced last year and our client The Quarr Group Limited won Mid-Range Deal of the Year. Three other of our client firms, R&M Electrical, Powertecnique and Shorefield Holidays were also finalists as well as Darren Thompson and Michael Barcia for Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year.

It was great to celebrate the Solent region's success with friends and colleagues - congratulations to all the winners at this year's Deals Awards.

Thank you to every one at The Business Magazine for organising such a fantastic evening - here's to another successful year!

#DealsAwards

Meridian sells Loveholidays stake

Fri, 01 Jun 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The overall transaction size is reputed to value the company at £180m and is understood to be Livingbridge’s largest investment to date.

Loveholidays is a short-haul beach holiday company that was backed by Meridian from start up and Darren Thompson of Meridian was a Non-Executive Director from inception.

Livingbridge's investment will be used to fund growth through additional customers and more repeat bookings. It will also work with loveholidays to support innovation and product expansion.

CEO Alex Francis commented “Meridian backed the business at a very early stage in its development, recognising both the opportunity and the quality of the management team. Darren sat on the Board for the crucial 2 years post investment and provided insight and valuable contributions that enabled us to make often difficult decisions."

Darren Thompson adds "Alex, Jonny and his team are the hardest working management team we have ever come across and we are delighted to have been part of their successful journey."

With the largest equity stake outside the management team, Meridian realised a significant return on their investment.

Multiple Deal Nominations for Meridian!

Wed, 02 May 2018 00:00:00 GMT

The Meridian Team are thrilled to have received 12 nominations across 7 of the award categories at this year's forthcoming Solent Deals Awards.

The annual Awards is the highlight of the South Coast's corporate finance calendar, bringing together high profile and respected professional firms across the Solent region to celebrate their successes over the last year.

Meridian are once again sponsors of the 'Lawyer of the Year' award category and we wish finalists Hayley Bevis (Coffin Mew), Steve Cole (Blake Morgan), Sophie Eales (Trethowans) and Stephen Porter (Shoosmiths) the very best of luck. All of the nominees have great reputations locally and are recognised as leading lawyers in the Solent Region.

Best of luck to our very own Michael Barcia and Darren Thompson who have been nominated for Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year and Philip Mettam who has been nominated for Young Adviser of the Year.

We look forward to seeing you all at The Hilton Hotel at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton on Thursday 7th June 2018 - good luck to all the finalists in their respective categories!

loveholidays

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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Completed Deal - Four Tees

Wed, 18 Apr 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Meridian advised the Shareholders of Four Tees Engineers Limited on their Management Buy-Out to the incumbent management team.

Fourtees is a highly reputable, competent and innovative fabrication company and the management buy-out will allow the management team to maintain the vision for the future, without compromising their excellent reputation and services, which is already driving the business to its successes.

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing

Four Tees Engineers Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 23:00:00 GMT

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Completed Deal - The Quarr Group

Mon, 08 Jan 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Meridian advised the founders of The Quarr Group on a management buy-out to the directors of its three subsidiaries: Mountjoy, Nviro and Pabulum which specialise in building maintenance and construction, contract cleaning and contract catering respectively.

The MBO team involves all the executive directors from the subsidiary companies and was led by the three Managing Directors; Simon Ingram, Managing Director of Mountjoy, Nelson Williams - Managing Director of Pabulum and Brian Warren - Managing Director of Nviro (pictured left to right).

The Quarr Group

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

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Project Bravestar

Thu, 30 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

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Zenergi Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Zenergi Limited

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Energy

Deal completed: November 2017

About the deal

Meridian advised the Shareholders of Zenergi Limited on their sale to private equity firm August Equity LLP, with Meridian realising an equity stake.

Southampton based Zenergi, provides clients in the private and public sector throughout the UK with energy brokerage and administration services. They are the leading UK independent energy provider to the education sector, providing a suite of services around energy procurement, invoice validation and contract management.

Rachel Walsh, founder and exiting shareholder comments, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Meridian these past five years. It has been an amazing journey and we cannot thank the Meridian Team enough for all their support, professionalism and hard work."

Richard Muckle at August Equity said of the process, "We were very impressed with the ground work Meridian had put in place during our investment into Zenergi. It was clear from the outset that Darren and Mike had spent considerable time with the business to prepare it for the rigours of an investment process. As a result the process was smooth, clean and ultimately resulted in a successful transaction for all parties. Zenergi continues to build on these strong foundations and we are excited about what the future brings. We look forward to working with Meridian in the future."

The sale was supported by Stephen Porter, Partner for Shoosmiths LLP and Dean Weale, Director at Fiander Tovell Ltd.

7763

Meters supplied to date

It has been an absolute pleasure working with Meridian these past five years. It has been an amazing journey and we cannot thank the Meridian Team enough for all their support, professionalism and hard work.

Rachel Walsh, Founder and Exiting Shareholder , Zenergi Limited

Powertecnique Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Powertecnique Ltd

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: TMT

Deal completed: November 2017

About the deal

Meridian advised the Shareholders of Hampshire based Powertecnique Limited (“Powertecnique”) on the sale of their company to Italian manufacturer Riello UPS (“Riello”).

Powertecnique are specialist suppliers and installers of uninterruptible power supply (“UPS”) and diesel generator systems for critical power applications and harsh environments.

Founded in 1991 Powertecnique have grown to become one of the UK's leading independent providers of critical power equipment with an unwavering commitment to quality and service.

Riello are a world leader in the manufacturing of UPS hardware.

Meridian have been working with Powertecnique since the original management buy-out in 2009. Commenting on the transaction Darren Pearce, Managing Director of Powertecnique comments, “We have been in business for over 25 years and it was vital for us to engage with Meridian again. They have continuously given us the comfort to entrust them with our most valuable asset, ‘Powertecnique’.

By anticipating every stage of the process, they ensured that we were able to make informed decisions at each milestone. Their dedication and commitment, ranged from data entry to strategic consultancy, however, no matter what the requirement, it was delivered round the clock.”

Philip Mettam, Manager at Meridian comments, “The deal was excellent for all concerned, bringing together two highly complementary businesses occupying adjacent spaces in the UPS supply chain.”

The sale was supported by Nick Gent, Partner at Trethowans, who were the legal advisers to Powertecnique and Taylor Wessing who provided legal advice to Riello.

1991

Established

By anticipating every stage of the process, Meridian ensured that we were able to make informed decisions at each milestone.

Darren Pearce, Powertecnique , Powertecnique Ltd

DT&M Services Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 30 Sep 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: DT&M Services Ltd

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Deal completed: October 2017

About the deal

Meridian advised the Shareholders of Hampshire based DT&M Services Limited (“Diametric”) on their Secondary Management Buy-Out, supported by further investment from Meridian.

Meridian have been working alongside Diametric as Board members since 2015 following the completion of the original Management Buy-Out. Since then Diametric have undergone a funding restructure to simplify it’s corporate group and raise additional bank funding to support its growth plans.

Diametric has doubled it’s profits over the last two years going from EBITDA of £500k to c. £1.2m. The Secondary Management Buy-Out allows the Shareholders to de-risk, facilitating the retirement of one individual and offering management the opportunity to take a more active role in the strategic direction of the company.

Graham Steele, Managing Director of Diametric comments, “Without Meridian's pragmatic approach to our Secondary Management Buy-Out, I feel the outcome would have been very different. Their broad spectrum of knowledge on both the financial and legal matters enabled us to achieve a structure that was more beneficial to the management team. From our initial meetings, through to each subsequent deal day and their ongoing involvement, nothing has been too much trouble. If you’ve not yet signed on the dotted line, I would thoroughly recommend you meet with the Meridian team to ensure you have the best deal on the table.”

Philip Mettam, Manager of Meridian who led the deal comments, “Diametric has been through considerable change in the last 24 months with growth of both revenue and profit margin. The Secondary Management Buy-Out represents a great opportunity for existing management to continue this journey.”

Diametric is a Swanmore and IoW based specialist design and manufacturing firm providing a range of badging and decals to manufacturers of consumer and commercial products.

The deal was supported by RBS and NatWest (Southampton), who provided funding and Trethowans LLP who provided legal advice.

35+

Years as a leading UK branding specialistYears as a leading UK branding specialist

If you’ve not yet signed on the dotted line, I would thoroughly recommend you meet with the Meridian team to ensure you have the best deal on the table

Graham Steele, Managing Director , DT&M Services Ltd

Dream Doors Ltd

Sun, 30 Jul 2017 23:00:00 GMT

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CT Automotive Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 31 Mar 2017 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: CT Automotive

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Deal completed: April 2017

About the deal

Established in 2000, CT Automotive Group Limited (“CT”) was founded to provide quick lead time, low cost automotive injection tooling manufactured in China and delivered to key European tier 1 locations.

During the early part of 2005 CT established its own tool room and trial facilities in Shenzhen catering for Tier 1 and OEM level Interior trim & HVAC tooling.

Always striving to go one step by 2006 CT established the first kinetic components assembly plants alongside the Shenzhen tool room. These now provide a wide range of products including Air Vent assemblies, Armrests, Mechanical Storage units, Gaiter boot assemblies, PKB assemblies and wrapped trim panels.

Now with multiple facilities in Asia, Europe, Middle East, North and South America, CT provide a truly global service holding major multiyear contracts with all the major automotive manufacturers.

Meridian were engaged by the management team to facilitate several non-operational shareholders exits. Meridian worked alongside HSBC, Southampton and the management team to deliver a funding package that achieved this objective whilst also providing the business with facilities to meet its strong growth forecast and expansion plans.

The management buy-out (MBO) sees two of the three original founders – Jason Philips and Oliver Whitfield – selling their shares and handing over to the new management team which consists of Scott McKenzie, managing director since 2014; David Wilkinson, group finance director since 2011; and Simon Phillips, co-founder and executive chairman.

David Wilkinson Group Finance Director of CT comments, “Meridian were the only firm which came up with the innovative structure that managed to balance shareholder cash requirements with the appetite some of them had to participate in future upside.

Michael Barcia is a very experienced CF advisor who put together a very impressive deal for us which managed to satisfy shareholder cash requirements without the need for external equity; something other advisers were unable to offer.

Philip Mettam is a young but very confident and knowledgeable advisor of the Meridian team who undertook the bulk of our day-to-day advice and provided sound guidance on both the practical aspects of getting the deal done and innovative ideas to resolve various issues that cropped up during negotiations.

HSBC has supported CT since inception, and this latest round of funding allows us to continue running successfully and without outside influence. We are also particularly grateful to our partners at Trethowans, KPMG and Meridian for helping us achieve the MBO and for their continued support.”

$100m

Revenue

Meridian were the only firm which came up with the innovative structure that managed to balance shareholder cash requirements with the appetite some had to participate in future upside.

David Wilkinson , CT Automotive

Southern Monitoring Services Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

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Christie Intruder Alarms Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT

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Zenergi Ltd

Tue, 01 Nov 2016 00:00:00 GMT

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Stewart Signs Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00:00 GMT

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CDI AndersElite Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 29 Sep 2016 23:00:00 GMT

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Diametric Technical Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Diametric Technical Ltd

Transaction: Fundraise

Sector: Manufacturing

Deal completed: September 2016

About the deal

Meridian assisted the Shareholders of Diametric Services Limited (“Diametric”) on a funding restructure.

Diametric is a Swanmore and IoW based specialist design and manufacturing firm providing a range of badging and decals to manufacturers of consumer and commercial products.

Meridian led the original management buy-out of Diametric in October 2015 and have been a Board advisor to the company since then, managing Meridians equity holding and advising on strategic matters. In 2016 the company underwent a restructuring, led by Philip Mettam, Manager at Meridian, to simplify its corporate group and raise additional bank funding to support its growth plans. Since the MBO Diametric has nearly doubled its profits and continues to grow.

Graham Steele, Managing Director of Diametric commented, “I cannot thank Mike, Philip and the Meridian team enough for the support and guidance. From our initial meeting, through to deal day and their ongoing involvement, nothing has been too much trouble. If you’ve not yet signed on the dotted line, I would thoroughly recommend you meet with the Meridian team to ensure you have the best deal on the table.”

35+

Years as a leading UK branding specialist

Keysource Ltd

Wed, 31 Aug 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: CT Automotive

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Deal completed: April 2017

About the deal

During the early part of 2005 CT established its own tool room and trial facilities in Shenzhen catering for Tier 1 and OEM level Interior trim & HVAC tooling.

Now with multiple facilities in Asia, Europe, Middle East, North and South America, CT provide a truly global service holding major multiyear contracts with all the major automotive manufacturers.

$100m

Revenue

Meridian were the only firm which came up with the innovative structure that managed to balance shareholder cash requirements with the appetite some had to participate in future upside.

David Wilkinson , CT Automotive

5 Fifteen Ltd

Sat, 30 Jul 2016 23:00:00 GMT

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CoralTree Holdings Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: CoralTree

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: TMT

Deal completed: July 2016

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance Ltd (“Meridian”) advised the Shareholders of CoralTree Holdings Limited (“CoralTree”) on the sale of their company to Japanese owned, US company Netcracker Technology Corporation.

Hampshire based CoralTree provides end to end Business Support System (BSS) solutions for Communications Service Providers (CSPs) – this includes an investment of over 13 man years development, creating 4.4m lines of code and 10,000 objects. With a best-in-class software development and professional services team, CoralTree was an attractive acquisition target.

Kevin Turner, shareholder of CoralTree comments "This process has been an incredible journey and on behalf of myself and fellow shareholders, we wish to thank Meridian for all their hard work, commitment and support. Meridian navigated us through this uncharted territory with professionalism combined with patience and humour. We really couldn't be more pleased and we look forward to contributing to Netcracker's continued success and delivering high calibre and innovative solutions to service providers around the world.“

Massachusetts based Netcracker, a wholly owned subsidiary of NEC Corporation, offer worldwide Consulting, Professional and Managed Services and an end-to end software portfolio for telecommunications and cable customers. Darren Thompson, Director of Meridian who led the deal, comments, “We quite frequently work with companies outside the UK and have a good number of international deals under our belts. This particular deal however, involved both the US and Japan. Working through contrasting legal jurisdictions was no mean feat across three different time zones! Our experience in dealing with Japanese and US buyers is unrivalled in our Region”.

CoralTree will continue with their vision of becoming the number one provider of CRM and billing software to the media and communications industry, and Netcracker will use the acquisition to expand and strengthen their video solutions, professional services and geographic footprint.

10,000

Objects

Meridian navigated us through this uncharted territory with professionalism combined with patience and humour.

Kevin Turner, CoralTree

HCR Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 29 Jun 2016 23:00:00 GMT

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CEGA Group

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 31 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: CEGA Group

Deal size: £31m

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Insurance Services

Deal completed: June 2016

About the deal

Founded in 1973 by Clive and Graham Ponsford, for over four decades, CEGA has been the outstanding emergency assistance service behind some of the UK's largest insurers, corporate bodies and public sector organisations.

In July 2014 driven by the desire to retire and pursue other interests, Clive and Graham met Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) to assess their options as equity holders. A year long process culminated in July 2015 with CEGA concluding an exciting point in their history, a management buyout led by their new Group Chief Executive, Alistair Hardie, who was introduced to the business by Meridian.

Alistair picks the story up from there, “I was introduced to Meridian by a PE house that I was working with, looking for an opportunity. Mike (Michael Barcia) at Meridian knows the Insurance claims market really well and by chance he was working with CEGA. Mike recognised the fit of my skill sets with what the business needed, introduced me to the business and structured a deal that worked for all parties, resulting in the MBO in July 2015.

As part of that transaction Mike took a place on the CEGA Board, supplementing the financial skillsets that the business already had, with an eye to a future exit. Also, as a result of the transaction we were approached by several trade buyers who expressed an interest in the business, and whilst, probably ahead of our original timeframe Mike and I embarked on discussions with several of the parties. For both of us Charles Taylor’s culture and fit with our clients stood out and we are delighted to have concluded a transaction with them.”

The move promises exciting post-Brexit international growth prospects and a strengthened UK position for CEGA’s south-coast operation, which will continue to be run by its current management team. The firm’s CEO Alistair Hardie will report to Charles Taylor’s Group CEO David Marock, and will also join the Group’s executive committee.

Charles Taylor Plc have stated that the acquisition will enable it to offer new services to its clients and establish deeper relationships with global insurers. It also forms part of the Group’s overall business strategy of delivering growth organically and through investments.

Alistair adds, “I have to admit, that having engaged with CF advisors before Meridian, I was unsure as to the value that they add to a process, however Mike and his team at Meridian do things differently, creating innovative solutions and structures that lead to win-win transactions for all involved. They introduced us to all the other advisors on the transaction and added real value over the course of the deal; a great example of how corporate finance advisors should give advice.”

The transaction finally sees Clive and Graham Ponsford end a 43 year history with CEGA.

Commenting on the transaction Clive said, “We met with Michael two years ago and have been on an incredible journey completing two transactions along the way. Right from the word go, Michael provided us with honest, sound advice explaining our options to us and then introducing us to Alistair Hardie who took on the role of Chief Executive, hence the completion of the management buy-out.

Alistair was a great fit with CEGA and has taken the company from strength to strength. We then faced our next stage of the journey which culminated in the sale. This was an arduous process with a few hurdles, but with Michael’s flexibility and ability to think outside the box, he and Alistair were able to structure a deal, with Charles Taylor Insurance Services.

The marriage of the two companies is an immaculate fit, which quite honestly suits everyone involved, including all staff members as well as shareholders, creating excellent opportunities for all.

This transaction completely exceeded my expectations and it is a great feeling to meet with existing team members and new team members knowing that they too feel exactly the same. Thank you to Michael and the whole Meridian team, it has been an absolute pleasure working with you.”

Shoosmiths and Blake Morgan provided legal advice, with corporate partner, Stephen Porter, worked closely with the directors at Meridian Corporate Finance, Michael Barcia and Darren Thompson to support the CEGA management team through the negotiations.

Michael Barcia comments “It’s a great feeling to see a deal structured at the MBO stage work so well through a trade sale and work for everyone involved. We pride ourselves in giving the right long term advice and it’s a tribute to our team that we have so many extremely satisfied clients.”

1973

Founded in

Right from the word go, Michael provided us with honest, sound advice explaining our options to us and then introducing us to Alistair Hardie who took on the role of Chief Executive, hence the completion of the management buy-out.

Clive Ponsford , CEGA Group

ProcessFlows (UK) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 30 May 2016 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: ProcessFlows (UK) Ltd

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: TMT

Deal completed: May 2016

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) advised the Shareholders of ProcessFlows (UK) Limited (“ProcessFlows”) on the sale of their company to the UK subsidiary of global technology company Konica Minolta Inc.

ProcessFlows are a Winchester based technology and software provider with over 27 years’ experience in the capture, processing, management and delivery of documents, voice and data. They have over 1200 customers across a broad spectrum including NHS, Central and Local Government, Legal, Banking, Insurance and most commercial sectors.

Konica Minolta Business Solutions UK Ltd a wholly-owned subsidiary of Konica Minolta Inc., Tokyo, Japan, forming part of its Business Technologies business area.

Darren Thompson, Director at Meridian, acted as a Non-Executive and in an advisory capacity.

Speaking of the deal process Chris Thompson Managing Director of ProcessFlows adds “We purchased ProcessFlows in a management buy-out in May 2015 and subsequently sold the business to an international corporation just over a year later. Meridian were involved at every stage: assisting us with the uncharted territory of the MBO, helping us make wise commercial decisions, as a board member and being on hand throughout the disposal process to ensure we obtained the most favourable outcome. I would have no hesitation in recommending Meridian as advisors and colleagues to any business considering similar corporate ventures.”

The deal allows Konica Minolta to further develop and deliver complete and sophisticated process-based IT services for new and existing clients across the public sectors.

1,200

Customers

NetPay (Merchant Services) Ltd

Sun, 28 Feb 2016 00:00:00 GMT

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Spinlock Ltd

Sat, 31 Oct 2015 00:00:00 GMT

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aap3 Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 23:00:00 GMT

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Diametric Technical Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 Sep 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Diametric

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Manufacturing

Deal completed: October 2015

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) advised the management team of Diametric Technical Limited (“Diametric”) on the purchase of the company from the exiting shareholders.

UK’s leading badging and branding specialists Diametric, which counts the likes of JaguarLand Rover, Triumph Motorcycles and Hasselblad among its clients has been bought by sales and marketing director Graham Steele and general manager Steve Watts.

Established in 1981 with headquarters in Southampton, Hampshire as well as its own manufacturing base on the Isle of Wight, Diametric is recognised in a wide range of industry sectors as the "first choice" supplier for all innovative, high quality, bespoke, commercial badges, labels, nameplates and fascias. The management buy-out will pave the way for renewed growth of the already booming business.

Commenting on the deal process Graham Steele who has been with Diametric for over 13 years says “I cannot thank Mike, Philip and the Meridian team enough for the support and guidance they provided during our MBO. The financial structure of the deal was key to getting it across the finish line, so a strong management team was crucial. After initially being advised that private equity was the only option to support the purchase, along came Meridian with an arsenal of solutions to satisfy both us and the vendors. From our initial meeting through to deal day, nothing was too much trouble. If you’ve not yet signed on the dotted line, I would thoroughly recommend you meet with the Meridian team to ensure you have the best deal on the table.”

Meridian manager Philip Mettam who led the transaction commented “The Diametric deal was a great example of a locally sourced and advised deal in the SME sector. From the outset this was a transaction that both parties wanted to succeed but that required careful planning and advice from a number of local specialists to structure and deliver it in a format that was acceptable to all the stakeholders.”

The transaction and ongoing support of the local NatWest and RBS teams allows Graham and Steve to take the company into its next phase of growth and build on the great reputation they have already built.”

1981

Established

The financial structure of the deal was key to getting it across the finish line, so a strong management team was crucial.

Graham Steele , Diametric

23.5 Degrees° Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 23:00:00 GMT

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CEGA Group

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 23:00:00 GMT

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ProcessFlows (UK) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 30 May 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: ProcessFlows (UK) Ltd

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Technology

Deal completed: May 2015

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) advised the management team of Process Flows (UK) Limited (“Process Flows”) on their management buy-out (“MBO”) from French listed company Avanquest Software SA.

Process Flows are a Winchester based leading technology and software provider with over 27 years’ experience in the capture, processing, management and delivery of documents, voice and data. The MBO enables Process Flows to go from strength to strength as a stand-alone firm within a deal backed by Barclays Corporate, Southampton.

Darren Thompson who will be joining the board said, “This has been a great transaction to work on and the MBO will provide management with a great opportunity to build on its strong reputation. I look forward to assisting in the continued growth over the coming years.”

27yrs

Experience

Pervasive Networks Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Pervasive Networks Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Technology

Deal completed: May 2015

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) advised the shareholders of Pervasive Networks Limited (“Pervasive”), an IT solutions provider specialising in the mobility and wireless networking services, on their sale to UK IT and professional services giant Capita Plc. From the signature of the Heads of Terms, the deal process lasted just over four weeks!

Pervasive, which consists of both Pervasive Networks (a large Aruba Networks channel partner) and Beovax Computer Services (an HP and VMware cloud technology specialist Pervasive bought in 2013), is an IT service provider catering mainly to higher education, local government and the health services sectors.

Darren Thompson, who led the deal said "This has been an extremely fast paced transaction, and the shareholders asked us specifically to close out the transaction for them, having previously been on the other side of the table to Meridian during their acquisition of Beovax Computer Solutions 18 months previously!“

The business will sit within Capita IT Enterprise Services as part of the Technology Solutions division.

Ultimate Insurance Company and Ultimate Pet Partners

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 23:00:00 GMT

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Wessex Fertility Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

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Safety and Survival Systems International

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 00:00:00 GMT

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Muc-Off Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Muc-Off Limited

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Development Capital

Sector: Retail

Deal completed: September 2014

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) assisted Muc-Off Limited (“Muc-Off”) to secure almost £2m in new financing to support its expansion plans.

The Poole-based bike care brand business has received £850,000 in growth capital investment and £1.1m in debt finance as part of Santander's 'Breakthrough' programme.

It is now planning to create five new posts with the funding. Muc-Off was founded in 1991 by Alex Trimnell and his late father Rex who invented a cleaning fluid which did not damage anodised bicycle components.

This original 'pink fluid' was launched in 1994 and remains one of the company's most popular selling products.

Muc-Off has since widened its range and now sells 140 specialist products for bicycles, motorbikes and cars including cleaners, lubricants, waxes, dry shower and rider care kits.

It has completed the development of its product range and is now focusing on increasing sales and marketing with the new funding to be used to recruit staff and invest in marketing, particularly within the road bike market.

Alex Trimnell, Managing Director of Muc-Off said: "This is an exciting time for us. The recent successes of Chris Frome and Bradley Wiggins in the Tour de France and 2012 Olympics, along with a renewed emphasis on health and exercise, have seen a jump in the popularity of cycling as a sport and hobby.

"As a result we are seeing an increase in demand and feel that now is the right time for us to be taking advantage of this upward trend."

Darren Hart, head of growth capital at Santander Corporate & Commercial, added: "It is great to be able to support a successful and innovative company like Muc-Off.

"We know that this type of Growth Capital investment can be a lifeline to small businesses looking to expand without giving up a slice of their company."

£850,000

Growth capital

We know that this type of Growth Capital investment can be a lifeline to small businesses looking to expand without giving up a slice of their company.

Darren Hart , Santander Corporate & Commercial

S. Walsh & Sons Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 30 May 2014 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: S. Walsh & Sons Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Mechanical and Engineering

Deal completed: May 2014

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance (“Meridian”) advised the Shareholders of S. Walsh & Sons Limited (“Walsh”) on its Management Buy Out (“MBO”) funded by Lloyds Bank and Lloyds Commercial Finance.

Founded in the 1960’s and based in Brentwood in Essex, with two additional sites in the South East, Walsh supports some of the worlds largest contracting and civil engineering firms.

Walsh has been involved in some of the most prominent infrastructure projects in the UK which include; the Olympic Park & Athletes Village, Crossrail Thames Tunnel, London City Airport, Canary Wharf, Emirates Stadium, Heathrow East Terminal and Battersea Power Station re-generation.

The MBO enabled the shareholders to strengthen the management team, led by Walsh’s Commercial Director and Finance Director. The two shareholders will remain involved in the business with smaller equity stakes and roles of Directors.

Mike Barcia, Partner at Meridian commented: “Joe and I worked with both the vendors and the incoming management team to fully understand the business model and financing requirements. This enabled us to find a suitable funding partner and structure a deal which was acceptable to the shareholders and also ensured the continued support of the business for future growth.”

1960s

Founded in

HCR Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: HCR Group Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Commercial

Deal completed: May 2014

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance Ltd (“Meridian”) advised the shareholders of HCR Group Ltd (“HCR”) on their sale to HCR’s incumbent management team.

Basingstoke headquartered HCR Group is one of the UK's largest and most successful companies providing UK and International Employee Relocation, together with property related services.

Andrew Finney of HCR Group said of the deal; “Deals seldom run to your ideal timetable or structure. The support and advice of Mike Barcia over an extended period was crucial to our transaction and the involvement of Darren Thompson in structuring the deal helped ensure a successful outcome. Both Mike and Darren are able to demonstrate creativity and flexibility in overcoming obstacles. The Meridian support team provide strength in depth and help to relieve the inevitable stress.”

Michael Barcia, Director of Meridian commented; “[Insert comment from Mike here]”.

The Meridian support team provide strength in depth and help to relieve the inevitable stress.

Andrew Finney , HCR Group Ltd

Coopers Fire Ltd

Mon, 31 Mar 2014 23:00:00 GMT

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Continuous Insight Ltd

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 00:00:00 GMT

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Koh (UK) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 00:00:00 GMT

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Beovax Computer Services Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 23:00:00 GMT

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Philson Haulage (Southern) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Philson Haulage (Southern) Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Services

Deal completed: February 2013

About the deal

Meridian advised the shareholders of Philson Haulage (Southern) Limited (“Philson”) on their sale to Gregory Distribution Limited (“GDL”).

Philson, based in Chichester, West Sussex, was founded in 1995 and specialises in the temperature controlled storage and distribution of refrigerated fresh produce both in the UK and Europe.

The business works with importers in the general food, fruit and vegetable sectors, and also provides a distribution network for one of the UK's leading supermarket chains. Its fleet consists of over 30 vehicles travelling over 5 million miles per year.

Gregory Distribution operates from 17 sites in the UK and has 450 trucks doing 40 million miles a year, 1,250 employees and an annualised turnover in excess of £100 million.

Phil Dickinson, Philson’s founder and majority shareholder said “Once my wife Sonia and I decided it was time to consider selling, we certainly did not expect the journey we have now been through. Joe and the Meridian team expertly guided us through each of the stages of the process from initial meetings with potential buyers, due diligence to the final legal completion. I would certainly recommend Meridian to anyone considering a selling their business.”

Meridian associate partner Joe Jeffers said “We worked with Phil to identify potential UK and European strategic acquirers. After going to market its became clear that given Philson’s geographic location and specialisation – it was a great fit with GDL.

We needed to quickly understand Philson’s operational and pricing structures with key customers to ensure that the diligence process and on-going negotiations were undertaken with minimal disruption to the day-to-day running of the business.”

£100m

Annualised turnover

Meridian expertly guided us through each of the stages of the process from initial meetings with potential buyers, due diligence to the final legal completion.

Phil Dickinson , Philson Haulage (Southern) Ltd

Inventif RMA Holdings Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Coolmation

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Zenergi Ltd

Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:00:00 GMT

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Pinto Potts LLP

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:00:00 GMT

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FibreSpan Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 23:00:00 GMT

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Network Research & Marketing Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:00:00 GMT

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Arundel Aerospace Defence Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 23:00:00 GMT

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Campden Media Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 00:00:00 GMT

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Control Circle Ltd

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 23:00:00 GMT

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Exor Management Services Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

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HCR Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

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Hot Wheels International and Circle Bikes Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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Powertecnique Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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ATW Information Technology Systems Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

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Quantum Research Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:00:00 GMT

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Jiskoot Holdings Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 23:00:00 GMT

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Portsmouth City Council

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

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Anglia NW Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 May 2007 23:00:00 GMT

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Pyros Environmental Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 GMT

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Alfatronix Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 29 Apr 2007 23:00:00 GMT

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Mail Solutions Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Mail Solutions Group Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Commercial

Deal completed: April 2007

About the deal

Meridian advised the shareholders of Longmax Industries Limited (“Longmax”) on their £25 million vendor initiated management buy-out ("VIMBO"). Longmax, trading as Mail Solutions, is a print, envelope and mailing group with a turnover in excess of £27 million and pre-tax profits of over £4 million.

The subject of a £7 million management buy-out from Homeserve plc in June 2004, this transaction allows the original MBO team to extend the rewards of ownership to their second tier of management. The new shareholders consist of various members of the management team from 3 operating divisions.

Since the original MBO, Mail Solutions has grown its business by both organic and acquisitive means. Phil Reid, Group FD and Company Secretary commented "We engaged Meridian Corporate Finance as our advisors to help us define our strategic direction. After working with them for several months the VIMBO opportunity appeared to be the most appropriate route to take. We were extremely pleased with the interest shown by the second tier of management and view this as a positive step for the continued growth of our business. Having advised us on our original MBO, we would like to thank both Meridian and Blakes through both Michael Barcia and Nick Gent for their knowledge and enthusiasm in driving this deal to completion. We would also like to thank them for introducing us to our new bankers HSBC and project managing the process smoothly to completion.“

Commenting on the transaction, Michael Barcia of Meridian said "Mail Solutions is an extremely well run business in a challenging sector. Their returns are well above the market norm and we look forward to helping them expand and grow their business by acquisition over the next few years. All of the advisers on the transaction originated from the Southampton area which gave us a high degree of control over the deal without any loss of professional input.“

Operating divisions

After working with them for several months the VIMBO opportunity appeared to be the most appropriate route to take. We were extremely pleased with the interest shown by the second tier of management and view this as a positive step for the continued growth of our business.

Phil Reid , Mail Solutions Group Ltd

Enham Partnership Trading Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 23:00:00 GMT

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J A Hainstock Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

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HS Pipequipment Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study: HS Pipequipment

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Development Capital

Sector: Mechanical and Engineering

Deal completed: January 2007

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance LLP ("Meridian") advised the shareholders of HS Pipequipment Ltd ("HSP") on their £9 million re-financing of the business.

Based in Newbury, Aberdeen and Teesside and subject to A management buy-out in July 2004, HSP is a leading supplier of valves to the oil, gas, petro-chemical and power industries.

Operating for over 25 years, HSP represents a range of the Worlds leading valve manufacturers providing valves to major oil and gas refinery projects with values ranging from £100 to over £10m.

The bank re-financing, which was provided by the original Funders of the MBO, Barclays Bank plc provides HSP with an acquisition war-chest which will enable the shareholders to embark on a planned growth strategy.

Peter Everett, Managing Director of HSP said "We've dramatically changed the shape of the business since our original buy-out, quadrupling turnover and working on more prestigious projects. The re-financing will allow us to drive the business on further by both organic and acquisitive growth. We would like to thank Mike, Nick and James for Their continued support since the buy-out."

Commenting on the transaction Michael Barcia of Meridian said "HSP is another example of our continued work with previous clients. More and more we are being engaged for follow up transactions. This is a highly fragmented market, and HSP intend to take advantage of the available synergies to make strategic acquisitions within the sector."

Other advisors on the transaction were Steve Lovell from Barclays Bank plc, and Nick Gent and James Hawkeswood from Blake Laptorn Tarlo Lyons solicitors.

25yrs

Operational

We've dramatically changed the shape of the business since our original buy-out, quadrupling turnover and working on more prestigious projects. The re-financing will allow us to drive the business on further by both organic and acquisitive growth.

Peter Everett , HS Pipequipment

HCR Group Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: HCR Group Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Commercial

Deal completed: October 2006

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance LLP ("Meridian") provided advice to the operational shareholders and management on the secondary buy-out of HCR Group Ltd ("HCR Group" or "HCR") for an undisclosed consideration.

The HCR Group is the UK's largest independent relocation services company. Established for 25 years and previously known as Countrywide Mobility Partners, HCR offer a complete range of employee relocation and rental accommodation services on both A national and international basis.

HCR, based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, was originally subject to a management buy-out in June 2000 when Michael Barcia advised the current managing director Andrew Finney and his team on their acquisition from Countrywide Assured Group plc.

Legal advice was provided by Shaun Kelly of Lamport Bassitt, with funding provided by Fortis Bank, both of whom transacted the original MBO.

The transaction provides an exit for the non operational shareholders of the business.

Commenting on the transaction Michael Barcia of Meridian said "It is always nice to keep in touch with prior clients and to help them further enhance their equity stakes in businesses. HCR is a quality business with a proven track record and I look forward to working with Andrew Finney and his team in continuing the growth of the business."

25yrs

Established

Guerba World Travel Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 29 Apr 2006 23:00:00 GMT

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Salisbury Glass Ltd

Thu, 30 Mar 2006 23:00:00 GMT

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Hants & Dorset Trim Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Hants & Dorset Trim Limited

Deal size: £4.3m

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Commercial

Deal completed: January 2006

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance LLP ("Meridian") advised management on the sale of Hants & Dorset Trim Limited (“H&DT”) to Wilts & Dorset Bus Company Limited, a subsidiary of Go-Ahead Group plc, for a total cash consideration of £4.3 million on a debt free/cash free basis.

H&DT Ltd provides bus refurbishment and accident repair services and a seat re-trimming service to bus and coach operators.

Based in Southampton, the business provides its services to both large and small bus and coach operators in the London and South East region. The sale was concluded in just over 6 weeks.

Nick Gent and Richard Atcherley of the Corporate team and Deborah West of the Employment team at the Southampton office of Lester Aldridge acted on behalf of the vendors.

Chris Drew of H&DT commented "Selling a company has got to be one of the most stressful things possible. The guys at Meridian carried this out for us with as little fuss as possible. They sold our company with complete professionalism giving us total commitment together with kindness and consideration throughout. A sincere thank you to everyone involved.“

Selling a company has got to be one of the most stressful things possible. The guys at Meridian carried this out for us with as little fuss as possible. They sold our company with complete professionalism giving us total commitment together with kindness and consideration throughout. A sincere thank you to everyone involved.

Chris Drew , H&DT

Aurora Kendrick James

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT

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Positive Response (UK) Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Fri, 30 Sep 2005 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: Positive Response (UK) Ltd

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Commercial

Deal completed: October 2005

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance LLP (“Meridian”) advised on the MBO of Bournemouth based Positive Response (UK) Limited.

Established in 2000, Positive Response is a leading Independent outbound call centre operation, selling qualified mortgage leads to a mortgage brokers in the UK. Meridian structured, negotiated and managed the deal process.

Solicitors acting on the deal were Jamie Wollen and Matthew Gilbert and others from the growing corporate team at Lester Aldridge Solicitors.

The deal was financed by Colin Lewis and Robin Freeman of HSBC, Crawley and tax structuring advice was provided by Andrew Lines of Lines Wilson LLP.

Darren Thompson of Meridian commented, “Positive Response are unique in the market in which they operate. The management have an excellent opportunity to consolidate on their existing position and drive the business forward. It was a pleasure to conclude another deal with Colin and Robin of HSBC who worked closely with us to deliver the deal on time and in line with our expectations”.

Andy Thomas, Managing Director of Positive Response concluded, “Working with Meridian has been a pleasure. The knowledge that the team has about managing the MBO process worked well for all concerned. I would personally recommend them without hesitation.”

Working with Meridian has been a pleasure. The knowledge that the team has about managing the MBO process worked well for all concerned.

Andy Thomas , Positive Response

Biogenesis Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 28 Feb 2005 00:00:00 GMT

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A1 Hire & Sales Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Sat, 31 Jul 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: A1 Hire & Sales

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Company Sales

Sector: Retails

Deal completed: 2004

About the deal

Meridian advised the Shareholders, Jan and Katie Robinson on the sale of A1 Hire and Sales Limited (“A1”) to Hire Service Group Limited (“HSS”) 25 years to the day that Jan left HSS to set up A1.

A1 is Dorset’s leading independent hire company in the field of industrial plant, tool and machinery hire.

Michael Barcia and Darren Thompson, Directors of Meridian led the transaction and Jamie Wollen, a partner at Lester Aldridge Solicitors led the legal input.

Jan Robinson commented, "We have been working with Meridian for some time and they have helped us achieve the best possible deal.”

Commenting on the transaction, Michael Barcia said, "A1 is a great acquisition for HSS. This acquisition establishes HSS as the market leader in the Dorset area. We are delighted to have helped Jan and Katie achieve their financial aims through the sale of their business and we look forward to our next deal in this sector."

Years

We have been working with Meridian for some time and they have helped us achieve the best possible deal

Jan Robinson , A1 Hire and Sales

HS Pipequipment Ltd

kelly.cheales@meridiancf.com (Kelly Cheales) — Mon, 31 May 2004 23:00:00 GMT

Case Study: HS Pipequipment

Deal size: Undisclosed

Transaction: Management Buy-Out

Sector: Mechanical and Engineering

Deal completed: 2004

About the deal

Meridian Corporate Finance LLP (“Meridian”) advised Management on the £5m Buy-In Management Buy-Out (BIMBO) of Newbury based HS Pipequipment (“HSP”).

Formed in 1979 HSP (now known by HSP Valves) is the leading supplier of valves, predominantly in the oil, gas and petrochemical markets With operating sites in Newbury, Teeside and Aberdeen.

The deal was structured, negotiated and project managed by Meridian.

The deal was financed by Steve Lovell of Barclays Bank in Reading on the back of significant new orders for oil fields in Kazakhstan, Russia and the Forties Fields in the North Sea.

Michael Barcia, Meridian Partner adds, “HSP has experienced a real step change in their business. We are building on their management team with the appointment of Peter Everett previously of Baker Hughes Inc, and management have an excellent opportunity to continue their growth over the next few years. Structuring the deal through debt means that the three key members of the management team have retained all the equity between them, with Barclays doing anexcellent job at structuring the transaction in an effective and commercial manner”.

Summarising, Steve Draper, Managing Director of HSP commented, “We have greatly enjoyed working with Meridian, who have played an integral role in managing this process and look forward to the next stage in our relationship with Barclays Bank”.

1979

Formed in

We have greatly enjoyed working with Meridian, who have played an integral role in managing this process and look forward to the next stage in our relationship with Barclays Bank.

Steve Draper , HS Pipequipment

Daler Rowney Holdings Ltd

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

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Herb UK Ltd

Sun, 30 Nov 2003 00:00:00 GMT

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meridian_corporate_finance2

Signbox Ltd

Transaction: Acquisition Sector: Architectural Signage Completed: October 2025

Project Cedar

Transaction: Management Buy-Out Sector: STEM Completed: September 2025

A fantastic evening at the South Coast Deals Awards!

Meridian Shortlisted for CF Team of the Year

Project Oak

Celebrating Andy Syvret

A Night of Generosity, Joy, and £80,000 Raised for Charity

2024 - A year of Growth, Achievements and a lot of Coffee!

Welcome Jake Bowdler

Valuation squeeze...

What does the Budget mean for business owners?

Project Venus

Qolcom Ltd

MyFibre Ltd

Transaction: Management Buy Out Sector: TMT Completed: September 2024

Breaking News in 30 Secondees

Diametric Technical Ltd

Wessex Group Ltd

Just Kampers Ltd

TMA acquires Dyball Associates

Welcome Toby Uren

Prabin wins Deal Maker of the Year 2024

Corporate Finance Team of the Year 2024

CSA Environmental Ltd

Welcome Kerry Coomer

Finalist - Small Deal of the Year

Meridian Sponsor Law Firm of the Year

Farewell Antonia Roberts

Finalist - Young Deal Maker of the Year

Finalist - CF Adviser of the Year

Finalist - Corporate Finance Team of the Year

A flying start to 2024

Computer Network Consultants Ltd

RiskSTOP Group Ltd

Meridian Go Sailing

Farwell Kam Piekarski

Welcome Antonia Roberts

Project Gospel

Welcome George Forgan

Farewell Ella Williams

Welcome Oliver Brice

Meridian go sailing

Project Pine

Meridian Win Multiple Awards

The Meridian team are thrilled to share with you the fantastic news that we won multiple awards at last night’s Solent Deals Awards 2023!

Welcome Kam Piekarski

How to Mitigate M&A Risks

The End of an Era...

Finalist - Young Deal Maker of the Year

Finalist - CF Adviser of the Year

Finalist - PE Firm of the Year

Finalist - CF Team of the Year

Meridian Ski Trip

Meridian Sponsor Bank of the Year Award

Welcome Ella Williams

Borderland Fencing Ltd

CJR Propulsion Ltd

Project Seymour

Farewell Amrita Sangha

Meridian go rallying...

Project Christie

Meridian take on Bournemouth's Half Marathon

Meridian go ribbing...

Welcome Amrita Sangha

Blis Ltd

Erevena Ltd

Project Flint

Completed: March 2022

Hattie Hole - Deal Maker of the Year 2022

Corporate Finance Team of the Year 2022

Limburn Boiler & Heating Services Ltd

Meridian Sponsor Bank of the Year

Hattie and Prabin are Promoted to Managers

Is the NSI Act on your Radar?

What is the NSI Act?

How can Meridian help?

Datatechniques Ltd

Transaction: Acquisition

Sector: Architectural Signage

Completed: October 2025

Transaction: Management Buy-Out
Sector: STEM

Completed: September 2025

Transaction: Management Buy Out

Sector: TMT

Completed: September 2024