Finance awards 2014

“KPMG L.L.P. U.S. is thrilled with the honor of Cyber Investigations Team of Year. Thanks to everyone who voted for our dedicated team of professionals.”

Ron Plesco, KPMG Advisory Risk Consulting Services

“Sturgeon Ventures are delighted to win the Most Trusted Regulatory Incubator of 2014.”

Seonaid Mackenzie, Sturgeon Ventures

Business Development Adviser of the Year - UK

www.acquisition-intl.com

2014 Finance Awards | 3

Welcome to the Acquisition International Finance Awards 2014 When it comes to awards here at Acquisition International, they don’t come much bigger than those we hand out to the businesses and individuals making real waves in the world of finance.

Finance is without a doubt one of the broadest industries we cover and, with these prestigious awards, we’re paying tribute to those in the sector – from the most innovative lawyers and tax specialists to the 100% customer-focused accountants, consultants and bankers – who, through their tireless dedication and commitment, are changing the finance landscape for the better.

The sheer breadth of the finance industry means that competition for these awards is particularly strong and, needless to say, only the firms and individuals whose work across the past 12 months can truly stand shoulder to shoulder with the best from around the globe are considered. All of the winners you’ll read about over the coming pages have been nominated and voted for by their colleagues, peers and industry experts and all of our awards are given out solely on merit.

So, if you want to find out more about some of the major players in finance and hear first-hand about the great work they’ve been doing, read on…

KPMG L.L.P. U.S.

Sturgeon Ventures

Cyber Investigations Team of the Year - USA / Page 4

Most Trusted FCA Regulatory Incubator 2014 - UK / Page 8

Swinton Accountants

Bfinance France

Camden Associates

Business Development Adviser of the Year - UK / Page 10

Best Debt Structure Advisory Firm - France / Page 12

Sustained Excellence in Biotech Corporate Finance - UK / Page 13

Clayton ERM

Commercial Finance Brokers (UK) ltd

Ghazanfar Bank

Most Outstanding Financial Information & Services Provider 2014 - UK / Page 14

Commercial Finance Brokers of the Year - East & South East of England / Page 15

Excellence in Islamic Banking - Afghanistan / Page 16

International Ins Co

KPMG

PwC Australia

Best Insurance Company - Sierra Leone / Page 17

Best Corporate Finance Practice - Brazil / Page 18

No. 1 Transaction Services Team - Australia / Page 19

PwC Ireland

Rand Merchant Bank

Please remember that recognition from rating services or publications is no guarantee of future investment success.

Private Company Services Team of te Year - Ireland / Page 20

Best Investment Bank - South Africa / Page 21

Working with an adviser, regardless of how highly rated, does not ensure that a client or prospective client will experience a higher level of performance or results.

These ratings should not be construed as an endorsement of the adviser by any client nor are they representative of any one client’s evaluations.

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4 | 2014 Finance Awards

Cyber Investigations Team of the Year - USA

KPMG L.L.P. U.S. KPMG’s Advisory Risk Consulting Services help companies manage risk in order to ensure their business flourishes. Ron Plesco leads the cyber investigations practice within Advisory Risk Consulting Services. He spoke to Acquisition International about the current cyber security landscape and how companies can avoid becoming the next victim of cybercrime – a growing global problem which is costing the world’s economy a staggering US$113bn a year.

KPMG LLP’s Advisory Services Practice focuses on fundamental business issues -- managing risk, increasing revenues, controlling costs -- that organizations, across various industries, should address in order to help them flourish. The Risk Consulting Services Group helps companies to identify and manage risks inherent in business processes and technology systems that support business objectives, and provide them with the information needed to help them meet their strategic and financial goals. Services are specialised to help clients mitigate risks across an overall risk spectrum.

KPMG Forensic is a global network comprised of over 2,500 multidisciplinary professionals from member firms of KPMG International who assist clients in achieving the highest levels of business integrity through the prevention, detection, and investigation of fraud and misconduct, and by avoiding and resolving disputes.

“Our professionals not only help clients discover the facts underlying concerns about fraud and misconduct, but they also assist our clients in assessing and mitigating the vulnerabilities to such activities. We also deliver a broad range of services to help prevent and resolve commercial disputes including the assessment of damages; the resolutions of accounting, audit, and finance-related issues; and expert witness services,” says Plesco.

Using a wide range of sophisticated technology tools, KPMG Forensic helps organizations address the risks and costs involved with evidence and discovery management as well as the acquisition, management, and analysis of large data sets. “Our professionals work alongside clients to handle information from its creation to its preservation, collection, analysis, and presentation in discovery. We also apply data analytics to assist with detecting fraud and misconduct,” Plesco says.

Fact File

With award-winning, global cyber security specialists who are at the forefront of the cyber agenda, KPMG helps some of the world’s leading organizations solve the biggest cyber security challenges of today and tomorrow. Its capabilities cut across the entire cyber security spectrum: information protection, privacy, and security; threat intelligence and cyber investigations; business resilience and continuity; risk management and compliance; and governance, strategy, and operations. KPMG has, through a global network of member firms, the deep consumer industry insight and vast knowledge on the evolving cyber landscape and regulatory environment necessary to help companies manage cyber risk across a broad spectrum of evolving threats.

KPMG LLP US is thrilled with the honor of Cyber Investigations Team of Year. Thanks to everyone who voted for our dedicated team of professionals.

Cybersecurity is one of the biggest challenges faced by company boards in this increasingly connected world, and is estimated to extract up to 20% of the global economic value created by the internet through fraud and espionage.

There are a number of ways in which a computer system, be it that of an individual, a company or a nation state, can be compromised. These threats can typically be classified into one of a number of categories.

Firstly, a “backdoor” in a computer system is a method of bypassing normal authentication, securing remote access to a computer and so on, while trying to remain undetected. The backdoor may take the form of an installed program, or could be a modification to an existing program or hardware device.

Another category is a denial-of-service (DoS) attack. Unlike other threats, DoS attacks are not used to gain unauthorised access or control of a system – they are designed to render it unusable.

Attackers can deny service to individual victims, for example by deliberately entering a wrong password enough consecutive times to cause the victim account to be locked, or they may overload the capabilities of a machine or network and block all users at once.

These types of attack are extremely hard to prevent, due to the fact that the behaviour of whole networks needs to be analysed, not merely the behaviour of small pieces of code. Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks are common, where a large number of compromised hosts are used to flood a target system with network requests, in an attempt to render it unusable.

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Name: Ron Plesco Email: rplesco@kpmg.com Web: www.kpmg.com Tel: +1 717 260 4600 Address: 30 N 3rd St # 200, Harrisburg, PA 17101, USA

2014 Finance Awards | 5

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2014 Finance Awards | 7

In “direct access attacks”, someone who has gained access to a computer can install different types of devices to compromise security, including operating system modifications, software worms, key loggers, and covert listening devices. The attacker can also easily download large quantities of data onto backup media. Another common technique is to boot an operating system contained on some form of bootable media and read the data from the hard drive in this way.

An “exploit” is a piece of software, a chunk of data, or sequence of commands that take advantage of a software “bug” or “glitch” in order to cause unintended or unanticipated behaviour to occur on computer software, hardware, or something electronic (usually computerized). This frequently includes such things as gaining control of a computer system or allowing privilege escalation or a denial of service attack.

Finally, an “indirect attack” is an attack launched by a third-party computer. By using someone else’s computer to launch an attack, it becomes far more difficult to track down the actual attacker.

The global economic cost of such attacks is huge – and growing.

The Norton Report, now in its fourth year, is an annual research study, commissioned by US technology company Symantec, which examines consumers’ online behaviours, attitudes, security habits, and the dangers and financial cost of cybercrime. It is one of the largest global studies of its kind. Last year’s report surveyed 13,022 online adults across 24 countries. It found that both the total global direct cost of cybercrime (US$113bn; up from US$110bn) and the average cost per victim of cybercrime (US$298; up from US$197) increased in 2013. The highest number of cybercrime victims were found in Russia (85% of people surveyed had been a victim of cybercrime), China (77%) and South Africa (73%). In the USA, 63% of people surveyed had been a victim, and in the UK the figure was 58%. The global cost of cybercrime, the report states, is US$113bn. Cybercrime in the USA accounted for US$38bn of that amount, and Europe US$13bn. There are, the report says, 378 million cybercrime victims globally each year; that’s over one million victims per day, or 12 victims per second.

Another problem, the report found, is that boards may feel that they have already addressed the issue; while a couple of years ago cyber threat was a leading concern of chief executives, the fear now is that having assigned responsibility for the risk to a CIO, boards think the matter is now under control.

But the changing nature and rising number of cyberattacks make this a very real and present danger to companies across all industries and of all sizes. Businesses of all sizes need to realise that today, anyone is a target.

“KPMG’s Risk Consulting Services works with a wide range of organisations the whole gamut of financial industries,” Plesco says.

“Cybercrime of course poses a huge risk to large corporations.

But,” says Plesco, “for small and medium-sized enterprises, the risk is even worse.” The main reason for this, he says, is that, while large corporations are very adept at protecting their systems, smaller companies often do not have the necessary resources to spend on setting up effective protection from cyberattacks. And the consequences can be hugely damaging.

The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, or CISPA, which is currently under consideration by the House Select Committee on Intelligence, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in the US Senate, would allow for the sharing of Internet traffic information between the U.S. government and technology and manufacturing companies. The stated aim of the bill is to help the US government investigate cyber threats and ensure the security of networks against cyberattacks.

Plesco’s work revolves around detecting attacks like these and investigating them. “Any time a computer, network or mobile device has been used in some kind of crime, cyber forensics comes in to investigate how it was used, what it did and who it was,” he says.

On being named Cyber Investigations Team of the Year – USA by Acquisition International, Plesco says, “It’s fantastic. I am honored that our KPMG has been chosen to receive this award.”

At KPMG, the U.S. Cyber Investigations team work is focused on protecting client networks and responding to incidents. From a protection perspective, the team will gather threat intelligence and proactively work with clients around prevention. However, if a breach has occurred the KPMG team will assist with investigation and mitigation.

Companies are often unaware of the scale of the threat cybercrime poses, or unable to do much about it. “While executives are becoming more aware of the potential risks, they do not seem to appreciate the enormity of the problem,” KPMG said in its most recent Business Instinct Survey. “They don’t see cyber as a board-level issue,” says Plesco. “Companies spend a lot of money on technology designed to protect their digital assets but they don’t map it to the cyber threats facing the company. In many cases, technology tools become shelfware meaning it just sits on a shelf,” he says. He points to a Symantec report which found that on average it takes 229 days for a company to identify a threat, to realise something is wrong. www.acquisition-intl.com

8 | 2014 Finance Awards

Most Trusted Regulatory Incubator of 2014

Sturgeon Ventures As bankers, traders and fund managers leave the City in increased numbers - either after being made redundant or simply wanting a better quality of life - and as regulation becomes more complex for start-up funds, it is becoming increasingly difficult to determine exactly what, as a start-up, you need to succeed. With this in mind, and with MIFID II & CRD IV looming, Sturgeon Ventures is delighted to have been named Most Trusted Regulatory Incubator of 2014.

With the increase in weight and complexity of the regulatory burden in the global financial services, a number of questions face start-up firms, particularly in the UK. For instance, do you look at becoming a Full AIFM or a UK small AIFM? Do you apply for direct authorisation or opt for a ‘Regulatory Incubator’ (a phrase coined and trademarked by Sturgeon Ventures)? How do you get an initial leg up and a mentor?

Sturgeon Ventures started in 1998 as a family office focusing on venture and public equities and pioneered the wholesale incubator back in 2001. The firm launched the wholesale appointed representative model in August 2004 and now works with a wide range of professional and retail clients.

Before Sturgeon launched its innovative incubation tool in the wholesale industry, the appointed representative was originally used by insurance companies for their sales teams and independent financial advisors for their product distributors and advisors.

Sturgeon Ventures has been the first call on the lists of most startups who do not want to be directly authorised at launch. Sturgeon tends to keep its incubatees for longer than the initial minimum contract and, as a true investor in start-ups, nurtures them though the start-up process and into growth phase. The principals and the team look after clients in different ways with the founding principals often acting as a mixture of stock broker, corporate financier, research analyst, portfolio manager, accountant and non-executive directors for start-ups and structured offshore funds. The firm can introduce its clients to key providers, such as prime brokers, administrators, auditors and lawyers, knowing the client and the service provider’s key strengths. Sturgeon also partners with IT, office providers, recruitment and headhunting agencies, virtual PAs and other great start-up services, always giving clients a choice of two or three trusted providers.

If, once incubated by Sturgeon, they want to be directly authorised, the Sturgeon team or the compliance firm that introduced them to Sturgeon will prepare their application for FCA authorisation. Once directly authorised the firm breaks away and Sturgeon or a compliance firm can support them on a monthly or quarterly basis.

What sets Sturgeon apart is that the business is so diligent about who it takes on. If the face doesn’t fit (usually meaning the strategy and/or relevant competency of the personnel does not pass the risk assessment) the firm will introduce the potential client on to others in the space who are a more suitable fit. The principals at Sturgeon know their market well. In the words of Managing Partner, Seonaid Mackenzie, “we have no competitors, only trusted partners”.

Sturgeon focuses on governance and risk management of each start-up business and is very hot on fitness and competency of the people who are going to be the senior individuals of each start up.

It is not simply about becoming an authorised firm or an approved person, it is about running a business and many coming out of bulge bracket firms have not had to do so. Nurturing and growing a business is part of Sturgeon’s role and the firm knows the corporate framework as well as the regulatory one.

Some new enquiries declare “I want cheap. I don’t care if the service is not up to anything, I just don’t want to pay very much!”

Sturgeon has employed the same pricing model since 2004 and eschews potential incubatees who do not value good work - Sturgeon has earned its reputation as a great partner and mentor.

There are offerings in the market that are both cheaper and more expensive but it’s worth noting that many of those that once offered rock bottom prices are no longer in existence.

The principals at Sturgeon are assisted and supported by the team of consultants at sister firm Sturgeon Compliance Services.

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Fact File

“Sturgeon Ventures are delighted to win the Most Trusted Regulatory Incubator of 2014.”

Company: Sturgeon Ventures Name: Seonaid Mackenzie Email: sm@sturgeonventures.com Web: www.sturgeonventures.com Address: Linstead House 9 Disraeli Road, London SW15 2DR Tel: +44 0203 167 4625

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Sturgeon’s team, although jurisdiction-neutral, has a number of funds based in Malta with Maltese investment managers where Sturgeon acts as the portfolio manager in London. Seonaid is well known to the Maltese regulator and is herself an investment manager regulated by the MFSA. Seonaid sits on a several investment committees and has a very good local network of legal and compliance partners. She has recently helped the MFSA to train local professionals in governance.

As of July 2014 Sturgeon Ventures is still the largest and bestknown firm in the sector with a specialist knowledge of regulatory incubation of wholesale firms.

As Seonaid says, “Many other firms are now using the Appointed Representative Wholesale model not just IFAs for advising and arranging. We are no longer the educator of this new paradigm for financial services start ups; however we are benefitting from our competitors marketing, as we are known as the pioneer, and our greatest focus is still Governance and Risk.”

Seonaid has been rewarded on multiple occasions for her enterprising work in the field of entrepreneurship and has recently been awarded a life honour as a member of Strathmore’s Who’s Who in the US. Sturgeon won the Thomson Reuters Compliance Innovator of 2013 and this year the firm was named Most Trusted FCA Regulatory Incubator 2014.

Sturgeon and its team are members of the Association of Professional Compliance Consultants, and Seonaid is a Freeman of the City with The Worshipful Company of International Bankers. She is a member of the Corporate Finance Faculty for the Institute of Chartered Accountants and all of the team are Chartered Members of the Institute of Securities. Seonaid is also a member of the Women’s President Organisation peer to peer group for global female entrepreneurs. Sturgeon was an early adopter of AIMA, having joined originally in September 2004. Seonaid is passionate about training and learning and she is founder of a charity focused on self-harm amongst the United Kingdom’s teenagers.

Find out more about Seonaid and the Sturgeon team at www.sturgeonventures.com

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The firm also offers virtual chief operating officers and independent risk officers for those smaller AIFMs who want to outsource that role.

A man with a new idea is a crank until he succeeds - Mark Twain

Sturgeon Ventures LLP is authorised and regulated by the The Financial Conduct Authority FCA. This is a financial promotion for Professional Clients and their advisors only, it is not for Retail Clients and is for Information Purposes Only.

Where this communication constitutes a financial promotion/ marketing communication it is issued and only made available to, and directed at, (a) persons who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(1) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the “Order”) or (b) high net worth entities, and other persons to whom it may otherwise lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(1) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This communication must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this communication relates is only available to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. This is for professional clients and eligible counterparties only.

The information herein was obtained from various sources.

We do not guarantee its accuracy.

This information is for your private information and is for discussion purposes only.

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10 | 2014 Finance Awards

Business Development Adviser of the Year - UK

Swinton Accountants The team at Swinton Accountants are delighted to accept the award for Business Development Adviser of the Year - UK. The award is a great accolade to the hard work the company and all the team have put in to being far more than just accountants.

This is achieved by agreeing a fixed monthly fee with the customer which is beneficial to the customer as it clearly spreads the costs of our services including the usual compliance services but also covers all communication and any other services agreed with the customer such as business monitoring and development. This means that our customers are not afraid to get in touch to share a challenge or talk through an opportunity. Working like this we build trust and true partnership as we understand our customers business on a far deeper level than just numbers and helping them to develop and excel. Providing our customers with true business confidence is key to everything we do at Swinton Accountants allowing us to make a positive difference to their business goals.

We work with small and medium sized companies across the UK but with an emphasis on those in the Eastern Region. The businesses we work with are diverse and from a range of different sectors but they all share a passion for growth. In many cases the pursuit of growth will mean that additional finance is required by the customer, an area where we have developed particular expertise.

Despite the recent challenging economic climate we have maintained a very strong track record in raising corporate funding for our customers, at the time of writing it’s still a 100% success rate.

We believe this success is down to knowing the customer’s business and thinking more widely about their challenges and making sure we understand the root cause of any issues. We can then look at a wide range of possible solutions. In today’s diverse market place there really are numerous solutions and it is finding the right one or combination that works best for our customers which will not necessarily be the traditional route.

We have developed particular expertise in obtaining funding for customers whether it be for a business, property or asset purchase, short term funding, longer term cash flow or to take on more staff to support expansion. All funding options and combinations are explored (including grant funding) knowing which source to approach and how to present the business case to find the right solution for the customer.

In addition to raising finance we assist customers with business development and the achievement of their goals. This could be to expand the business and its profitability in the short term or to prepare the business for a possible sale or succession and estate planning in the longer term. Every case is different and may not necessarily be for financial gain, one particular case involved systemisation so that the business owner could free their weekend from tedious and time consuming business record keeping.

We also assisted a customer to rebrand their business giving the various branches a corporate identity which is now well known in the area.

We have embraced modern software accounting solutions so that we can provide a cost effective and customer friendly answer to their needs. We work extensively with cloud based software to streamline procedures and we deliberately pick software for the business owner rather than accountant. The reports produced by the software are easy to read give the business owner the key information they need at a click of a mouse and trends, problems and variations are easily identified. We display the information in a format that our customers understand because it is essential that they understand what is happening in their business rather than for our convenience. The advantage of the cloud based software is that customers can have access to real time accounts from their office, home or holiday villa.

We promise to: • Never surprise you with bills you’re not expecting • Provide a friendly, courteous and efficient service • Always exceed your expectations • Listen to what YOU are saying • Communicate with you quickly and fully • Advise you on how to pay the least amount of tax (legally) • Provide hands-on business advice without accountants’ jargon

www.acquisition-intl.com

Fact File

“We believe this success is down to knowing the customer’s business and thinking more widely about their challenges and making sure we understand the root cause of any issues.”

Company: Swinton Accountants Email: enquire@ swintonaccountants.co.uk Web: www.swintonaccountants.co.uk Tel: +44 01603 812131

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Our strong ethos in supporting SME’s is what has helped lead to this success. We realised that many businesses saw accountants as a necessary (expensive) requirement but were reluctant to call them for business advice due to anticipated large bills. We work hard to provide more than the services expected from a Chartered Accountants by using a transparent fixed pricing scheme which encourages our customers to use us as a business sounding board.

Swinton <less accountants more advisors>

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Sustained Excellence in Biotech Corporate Finance - UK

Camden Associates Camden Associates is a corporate finance house with a particular specialty in international financing and a special emphasis on the following sectors: biotech, tech, real estate as well as junior mining and exploration companies.

Jean-Claude Gonneau tells us more about the firm, its client base and the services it offers. “Camden Associates is a boutique investment banking firm. It means we are close to the client taking his interest at heart and we do not hesitate to “speak our mind”.

We are in partnership with our client for their own benefit and ultimately helping them to achieve their transaction.

“We really have historically been involved in tech, biotech, mining and real estate. These sectors tend to have very different characteristics at different moments of the economic cycle. From 2007 until early 2010 mining was the main area of activity, then US real estate took over and since 2012 we are very active in tech and biotech with some spectacular developments happening in biotech.”

In fact, over the last 12 months, the biotech sector has been extremely lucrative for Camden Associates, as Mr Gonneau continues: “2013 has seen us broaden our footprint in the biotech sphere with two major clients in that space, one being a f’ench biotech company the other one being a US company. Very different style and very different in scope but both of them truly exceptional.

“There are times when people are busy, very busy and it is now such a time. Everybody minds their own business which leaves little time to think about trends. Trends take a bit longer to identify.

A lot of what makes people successful today are the same qualities which were making them successful in the previous cycle.”

Of course there are factors which affect business in the biotech sector, and Mr Gonneau embellishes on these macro factors. “The recovery certainly lifts all boats but remember, we are very “micro” minded. We are in the business of helping firms finance themselves. We have to make sure the management in place has realistic and achievable goals. This does not mean reasonable goals.

It means that management must clearly identify the pitfalls it is facing and put in place an organisation , a team and a team spirit compatible with that goal.”

permits people to feel part of the action, each contributing at their own level, pace and capacity.

Fact File

“Our logo is a tree. A mature tree and a well-balanced tree. Our culture is to accept that proper growth takes time to be well established and that doing things well even when they take time is the best way to grow fast.

“In terms of setting ourselves aside from the competition, we think that differentiation is something which happens by itself and when differentiation works it sets you apart naturally. We are not trying to be aggressive towards our peers. They do their job and we do ours. If it takes time so be it. We do not complain when an assignment takes longer than initially expected, we chose the assignment carefully and therefore we care about trying to do it well. We are just trying to be professional and make it a point of not being contentious.”

It seems to be working, as recently Camden Associates was named as the Sustained Excellence in Biotech Corporate Finance Firm of the Year – UK. An accolade which is voted for, and awarded by, Acquisition International and its devoted readers. Mr Gonneau tells of his reaction to winning this award.

“It was one of great joy after all the stress and energy spent doing these deals. It is certainly a tremendous boost to me personally and my team.

“It is difficult to say what we attribute this recent success to, but actually we focus so much on each of these deals that I have to believe that somehow the focus and dedication pays. We try and take very seriously all the objections and criticisms aimed at us and at the client and the transaction to come to a team wide conviction.

We have to believe in the deal. Once we believe in the deal we just strive to execute the best possible way.”

“It was one of great joy after all the stress and energy spent doing these deals. It is certainly a tremendous boost to me personally and my team.”

Company: Camden Associates Name: Jean-Claude Gonneau Email: jcg@camdenassociates.co.uk Web: www.camdenassociates.co.uk Address: 27 Hill street London W1J 5LP Tel: +44 207 290 9812

Team spirit is very much at the heart of Camden Associates’ core beliefs and its overriding philosophy. “We want to be perceived as a friendly and competent organisation. We do not underestimate the competition and certainly do not underestimate how difficult it is to manage a firm in these extremely difficult economic conditions. We just want to be serious, friendly and above all cooperative. Our mode of operation is just that – cooperation and to be friendly, not familiar, relaxed but focused and, above all, not arrogant.

“For me, managing a team is a real challenge, far more than just managing a firm. When they talk football people understand easily that a good coach is essential to the morale of a winning team.

In a small firm the challenge is to have a culture in place which

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14 | 2014 Finance Awards

Most Outstanding Financial Information & Services Provider 2014 - UK

Clayton ERM Clayton is a leading provider of due diligence and credit risk management services to the financial services community in the US and Europe. The firm has provided its expertise on numerous projects, ranging from due diligence on mortgage portfolio acquisitions and securitisations, to Government and Central Bank projects in Europe and various M&A projects. Client Development & Strategy Director, Konstantine Pastras took the time out to talk to us about his business, its award win and what the future holds.

Firstly, tell us about your reaction to winning this award (Most Outstanding Financial Information & Services Provider 2014 - UK) and how important/beneficial awards like this are, both to individual businesses and the wider industry.

When it comes to your industry, what, in your view, makes a good business?

We are very excited to see that for the second year in a row, our work is being recognised by our clients and market participants, so we would like to thank them again for their continued support.

For any business it’s important to understand the challenges being faced both internally and externally. Through this period of assessment and reflection, the leadership can analyse data that is necessary to steer the business to make improvements to existing services, and also help create new business opportunities.

To what do you most owe this award win? Are there any specific areas you’ve focused on that have led to this success?

What sets Clayton ERM apart from your competitors and peers and how do you use this differentiation to your advantage

The consistency in our approach to assessing and reporting risk plays a significant role in our continued success and I think the market has recognised how strong our capabilities are and continue to work with us because of this.

We have been a leader of due diligence services for over two decades, so our experience as a firm and that of our work force in assessing Asset Quality is a key factor when a client considers us versus the large Consultancy and Audit firms. Secure and substantial IT infrastructure is also key when handling an entire Country’s Banking system data. Finally, alongside the in depth nature of our Credit reviews we have a Consultancy division with in-house modeling skills to provide pool and loan level cashflow modeling and balance sheet stress testing.

Tell us about any recent developments/success in your business over the past year.

This past year has seen numerous changes for our business, but the most significant of all has been the recent acquisition of Clayton by Radian Group Inc. Radian is one of the leading providers of private mortgage insurance and other risk mitigation products to the mortgage industry in the US. The inclusion of our business under the Radian umbrella will allow us to further develop our risk management capabilities and provide enhanced solutions to the market.

What are the main factors that affect businesses working in the financial arena (geography, legislation etc)? How do you cope with (or take advantage of) these outside influences?

We believe that having local knowledge is important given the differences in cultures, and legal systems that a financial services company will encounter working outside their home country. Clayton Euro Risk and our parent Clayton Holdings operate throughout the United States, Europe and beyond and consider our international team of finance professionals as vital to our success.

Tell us about Clayton ERM’s overriding philosophy. How do you strive to operate with regards to your clients and peers?

We are committed to our clients and work extremely hard to get the job done to a high standard and delivered within agreed timelines.

We aim to achieve this through our expertise in regulation, risk management assessment and also retaining the best people in the jurisdictions where we operate. With this philosophy in mind, we aim to achieve for our clients a product that is of high quality and consistent in its approach while maintaining our impartiality.

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What have been the most prevalent trends in the finance industry over the past 12 months?

Numerous to list here however, mortgage regulation, the direction of house prices and interest rates, have been and will continue to be the key topics until year end and beyond. I would also add the possible return of securitisation, which has been discussed by central bank governors recently.

What developments or changes do you see having the biggest impact on your business and industry over the coming year and where do you think the biggest opportunities – and challenges – will lie?

With several European countries still looking to deleverage non-performing assets, on-going changes in mortgage regulations and regulatory capital requirements our Consulting and Analytics division (whether it be loss-forecasting, capital shortfall’s or balance sheet cashflow modeling) will be a key driver for us. As ever new products and services will continue to be added to our proposition and this will cater to our current client base as well as winning new business.

One opportunity for our business is the potential for activity in the securitisation markets in the UK and Europe. While the US has enjoyed a stable flow of transactions over the last few years we are still waiting for this to spread to the European market.

Fact File

“We are very excited to see that for the second year in a row, our work is being recognised by our clients and market participants, so we would like to thank them again for their continued support.”

Company: Clayton ERM Name: Michael D Bolton Email: mbolton@claytonerm.com Web: www.claytonerm.com Address: 40 Queen Square, Bristol, BS1 4QP, United Kingdom Tel: +44 117 315 5800

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Commercial Finance Brokers of the Year - East & South East of England

Commercial Finance Brokers (UK) ltd Ralph Black, Chief Executive Officer of Commercial Finance Brokers (UK) ltd tells us more about the firm, its areas of specialism and what it felt like to win an award.

“Firstly, we were somewhat blown away by our win as it was pretty unexpected. Awards like this can help us attract new clients, who are searching for a broker to assist them and lift awareness of the industry as a whole,” CEO Ralph Black enthuses. “We believe that our no-nonsense approach to achieving our client’s objectives is probably key to our winning the award. We have focused on getting the most competitive result in the timeliest fashion.”

Regarding the firm, Ralph tells us more about its business specialisms, product offerings and services. “We work pretty much exclusively in the commercial finance arena helping SMEs find the finance they need, whatever the objective. Our clients come from all business sectors and from all over the UK – whilst we are based in the South, our network of Business Development Managers help us to support the needs of our clients, in England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland.

“Our recent focus on property investment has neatly complemented our historic capability in development finance, even those speculative proposals. We now offer a “soup to nuts” solution for investors looking to take a project from bare land to finished article for sale or retention with the provision of both long & short term finance packages.”

Over the last 12 months CFBUK has seen many developments and successes, as Ralph continues to explain: “Over the last 12-24 months or so we have focused on building our investment property and property development capability for both non-residents and residents, whether they be domiciled or non-domiciled in the UK. We have had great success in financing and refinancing facilities for several off-shore entities & trusts, including high net worth individuals – as long as the UBO (ultimate beneficial owner) can be properly identified and source of the funds confirmed.”

There have also been prevalent trends emerging over the last 12 months. “The strengthening of the global economy, the strengthening of sterling, the knowledge that there are far more lenders in the commercial finance market place than our four clearing banks and therefore SME’s understanding that 100% reliance on their business bank is a risky strategy, this is what we have seen coming to the forefront of our industry,” states Ralph.

“Our biggest challenges since the credit crunch have been positively identifying the source of funds that investors bring to bear, especially if there is an overseas component. However, most overseas investors now appreciate how legislation and regulation have moved on and are more willing to jump through the hoops than they were, say, 24 months ago. Regulation of the commercial finance sector by the FCA is likely, even beyond the Consumer Credit Licencing structure and although challenging, CFBUK are in full support of clearly defined industry regulation within commercial finance.”

The firm’s overriding philosophy is client-centric and Ralph tells us more about how the client is the most important part of any transaction. “A customer is the most important visitor on our premises,” he states, quoting Mahatma Gandhi. “He is not dependent on us.

We are dependent on him. He is not an interruption in our work.

He is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider in our business. He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him. He is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do so.

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“The best broker businesses in our industry are the best because the individuals within the broker firms are able to understand their clients. Mainly because they have the background knowledge, the experience and the mind set of an entrepreneur or business leader and can communicate effectively at that level.

“The culture within the company also helps set it aside from the competition and ensure that it remains one step ahead. “Our culture is solution orientated and based on giving our clients the choices and options they need to maximise the proposals rewards.

We believe that giving clear and regular communication is paramount, even when things sometimes go wrong……’give bad news early’ “Whilst it might sound arrogant or even a little twee, we like to think that we are business people who happen to be in commercial finance rather than commercial financiers playing at being in business. This identification with our clients allows us to develop an empathy with them that sets us apart, from the norm.

“We would like to thank all of our clients and professional introducers for all of their help and support, which has led to CFBUK Ltd receiving this prestigious accolade from Acquisition International.”

“Firstly, we were somewhat blown away by our win as it was pretty unexpected. Awards like this can help us attract new clients, who are searching for a broker to assist them and lift awareness of the industry as a whole.

We believe that our no-nonsense approach to achieving our client’s objectives is probably key to our winning the award.

We have focused on getting the most competitive result in the timeliest fashion.”

Company: Commercial Finance Brokers (UK) ltd Name: Ralph Black Email: info@cfbuk.com Web: http://cfbuk.com Address: 2 Beta Terrace, West Road, Ipswich, IP3 9FE Tel: +44 0800 999 2015

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16 | 2014 Finance Awards

Excellence in Islamic Banking - Afghanistan

Ghazanfar Bank Based in Kabul, Ghazanfar Bank serves the financial needs of a variety of commercial customers. Established in March 2009, the bank invests heavily in the economic vitality and spirit of the customers it serves. Deposits made at Ghazanfar Bank remains within the community, providing loans to local businesses and consumers.

A fully-fledged licensed commercial Bank, Ghazanfgar’s shareholders belong to one of the country’s leading business groups. As a leading business house, Ghazanfar Group is involved with and is a front runner in various key businesses sectors, including import and distribution of petroleum/gas and other various important industrial sectors.

Ghazanfar Bank offers key financial services both under conventional and Islamic Banking. Since its launch, the bank has opened branches at various key locations such as Mazar Sharif, Hairatan, Kunduz, Takhar, Pule- Khumri, Jalalabad and Herat, as well as opening another two branches in Kabul in Sarai Shahzada and Shar-e-Naw. The bank intends to expand its branch network in kabul as well as at other key locations of the country.

The management team of the bank is comprised of highly experienced and qualified bankers, financial experts, accountants and risk managers who all possess considerable expertise in all aspects of banking. With the help of such a dynamic team, the bank is in a position to offer specialised skills in a traditional way in all related spheres, such as counselling and advising on any financial matter, handling of foreign exchange transactions, handling of investments in a depository account, Islamic banking transactions, lending/corporate banking transactions, SME lending transactions, money transfer transactions, retail banking transactions and international trade related transactions. Recently a pension scheme was launched by the bank under the nomenclature of

Rahat-e-Zindagi. This is the first time that such a scheme has been introduced in Afghanistan. The Ghazanfar Bank continues to expand the horizons of banking in the country.

• To provide to our team members – loyalty, opportunities and rewards • To provide to our customers – Personalized service to meet their needs • To provide to our community – leadership, economic growth and philanthropy • To provide to our shareholders –financial gains and sustainability A message from our CEO Good is a powerful word. And we each have a unique understanding of what it means. But when we say that a bank has a responsibility to do well, there can’t be any debate over interpretations.

The simple fact is we have an obligation to do what’s right – for the customers who do business with us, the people who work here, the diverse communities we’re part of and the environment we all share.

Doing good begins with managing our business responsibly while upholding the highest standards of ethical governance. Any decision we make to enhance our financial performance must be firmly grounded in the trust that we’ve built with our customers and other stakeholders. This foundation of trust has a further dimension that is unique to the financial services sector: Society counts on banks to fuel economic prosperity and growth – and, at the same time, to be accountable for the system that makes growth possible.

Corporate responsibility is not a declaration; it’s a process. Being truly responsible means recognising that every action has an impact and every business decision must be weighed accordingly.

As we work constantly to meet our customers’ high expectations, and the expectations of all Ghazanfar Bank stakeholders, we steadily deepen our understanding of what it means to be a good business – in every sense of the word. In a competitive market, people choose which companies prosper and which not. Consumers look out for innovative and simple solutions that stand out of the ordinary. Ghazanfar Bank offers crafted solutions that simplify your banking.

Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. Trust is a reciprocal value. The belief in ourselves, our ambitions, our convictions and abilities, inspire others to believe that they can fulfil their dreams and desires.

Ahmed Siar Khoreishi Chief Executive Officer

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Fact File

“Trust is the cornerstone of any relationship. Trust is a reciprocal value. The belief in ourselves, our ambitions, our convictions and abilities, inspire others to believe that they can fulfil their dreams and desires.”

Company: Ghazanfar Bank Email: mainbranch@ ghazanfarbank.com Web: www.ghazanfarbank.com Address: Main Branch, House No 866, Sher Pur Main road, Kabul, Afghanistan Tel: 079 786 0003

2014 Finance Awards | 17

Best Insurance Company - Sierra Leone

International Ins Co International Insurance Co was recently given an award, as voted for by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Here, Francis L. Johnny tells us more about the firm, its core values and how it felt to reign triumphant.

International Insurance Co. (SL) Limited is a member of FIB Group with affiliate insurance companies in the Gambia, Guinea and Liberia. It was incorporated under the Laws of Sierra Leone (CAP 249) on the 23rd September, 2002 and obtained the certificate of registration and license on the 7th October 2002. On the 19th May, 2003 the Company was granted approval and authorized to underwrite non-life classes of insurance and commenced business effectively on the 1st August 2003 with a staff portfolio of 8 members. Today the Company has grown in leaps and bounds to set up a full fledge LIFE OFFICE which offers the best Assurance products and services in the local industry today. Staff complement is about 150 at present with branches in the three main provincial cities in Sierra Leone namely: Bo, kenema and Makeni.

“Firstly, we thank you very much for this recognition,” states Mr. Johnny. “It came as a surprise to us as through this award we realize that there are people out there, besides our customers, who are watching us and evaluating our performance.

“To be recognised in this manner in just ten years of our existence as a company in Sierra Leone demonstrates hard work and commitment coupled with our creed of professionalism – integrity – excellence and service. The award is therefore important and beneficial to individual businesses and the wider industry as it improves competition and effective bench-mark for our competitors.

“We owe this award to our numerous valued clients and customers who have supported us over the years to achieve what we have achieved through their patronage, objective criticisms and desire for best service. We owe it also to our management and staff who demonstrate our creed mentioned above. Emphasis on the creed as area of focus and unique products needed here.”

Mr. Johnny goes on to tell us a little more about International Insurance Co Ltd, the services it provides and its recent developments. “The Company celebrated its 10th year anniversary in 2013 highlighting its achievements over the years. In its bid for further growth, the Company has acquired and fully paid for a piece of land in a choice location in the Central Business District of Freetown for the construction of an ultra-modern office complex that would house the Corporate Headquarters of the Company, the Life Office as well as other offices. Construction work on this complex will start later this year,” tells Mr. Johnny.

states that IIC-SL’s overriding philosophy is: “To understand that we are all partners in progress in our efforts to satisfy our customers by working as a team with mutual respect for one another and with integrity, discipline and responsiveness to the needs of all stakeholders.”

The culture within IIC-SL is high standards and professionalism.

“We settle for nothing but the best and we develop the minds of our human resource to this fact,” says Mr. Johnny. “What sets us apart from our competitors is our professionalism, integrity, excellence and service. We are using this creed to create a difference in the local industry which is helping us in our on-going successes.”

The company has seen trends emerging in the last 12 months, including the introduction of monetary and fiscal policies to control the volume of transaction in foreign currencies, especially the US dollar. “There has also been an influx of huge investments in the mining, construction, tourism and other related economic activities will create the biggest impact on our business over the coming year,” says Mr. Johnny. “The main factors that affect businesses working in the financial arena include, but not limited to, high cost of operation due to the depreciation of local currency and inflation. We are coping with these challenges through prudent financial management without compromising quality service to our customers.”

On a final note, Mr. Johnny hammers home the firm’s mission statement: “Our objective is to excel in the provision of financial security to our clients not only in Sierra Leone but also within the sub-region and beyond by offering qualitative insurance services that are second to none, through uncompromised commitment to professionalism, expertise, reliability and excellence as well as upholding the ethos and ethics of the insurance profession.”

Fact File

“To be recognised in this manner in just ten years of our existence as a company in Sierra Leone demonstrates hard work and commitment coupled with our creed of professionalism – integrity – excellence and service. The award is therefore important and beneficial to individual businesses and the wider industry as it improves competition and effective benchmark for our competitors.”

Company: International Ins Co Name: Francis L. Johnny Email: fjohnny@iicinsurance-sl.com Web: www.iicinsurance-sl.com Address: 20 Bathurst Street Freetown, Sierra Leone Tel: +232 25 259276

“IIC-SL specializes in all classes of insurance and currently has the best Life Assurance products in the insurance industry in Sierra Leone. We are the ‘insurers you can trust’.”

Indeed, Mr. Johnny believes that the ability to meet the expectations of the insuring public through prompt settlement of genuine claims is what makes a great business in this financial sector, and

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18 | 2014 Finance Awards

Best Corporate Finance Practice - Brazil

KPMG KPMG is a global professional services organisation offering audit, tax and advisory services, and of which KPMG Brazil is a member-firm.

David Bunce of KPMG tells us more about the firm.

“We serve the largest global companies and mid-market organisations in each of our national markets. KPMG Corporate Finance is part of KPMG’s advisory operations and operates with over 3,000 dedicated corporate financiers, 90 of them in Brazil. Our corporate finance business focuses on M&A advisory, debt advisory, business valuation and PPP advisory and project finance.

“We have various industry sector experts in our team and we actively accompany industry trends to identify and predict drivers for M&A activity.”

KPMG has recently been named as Best Corporate Finance Practice – Brazil by Acquisition International readers, and Mr Bunce tells us more about what it really means to win such a prestigious accolade, and to what he attributes this success to.

“We are both pleased and proud to receive this award, which we see as a confirmation of our client service and success in achieving desired outcomes for clients,” he enthuses. “We also see recognition of KPMG Brazil’s corporate finance practice as both validation of our successful strategy execution and of the power of the model of a strong corporate finance practice within a wider professional services firm.

“We have focussed on providing a tailored and high quality corporate finance service to mid-market companies and business owners looking for alternative finance solutions and sell-side M&A, as well as buy-side M&A for Brazilian and international conglomerates.”

Mr Bunce has noticed prevalent trends emerging in the industry, and he embellishes further on how these have affected business within the country, and the firm’s sector.

“Here in Brazil, a key factor has been a stalling economy which has caught some exposed businesses unprepared. This has generated, and is generating, opportunities in M&A and debt refinancing.

“The past 12 months in particular have been a success for us. We have continued to conclude significant transactions for our clients, for example: “GVO Secured Bond - financial advisory on the structuring and implementation of a Secured Bond transaction for Grupo Virgolino de Oliveira. GVO is one of the largest sugar and ethanol companies in Brazil and KPMG successfully assisted GVO in identifying investor demand for the Transaction and structuring the collateral package, as well as on the notes’ general features.

“Project Prototype - sell side advisory to a 3D printing service provider in Latin America. KPMG has successfully assisted the seller

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in identifying the buyer, and in the negotiation of the sale transaction. KPMG international network and knowledgeable team were fundamental for the success of the transaction.

Fact File

“Vicel - exclusive financial advisor on the sell side advisory to a Brazilian Oil & Gas service provider in water treatment. KPMG has successfully assisted the seller in the valuation, in identifying the buyer, and in the negotiation of the sale transaction.”

It’s no wonder KPMG has such as fantastic success story as the firm’s overriding philosophy is one focused on client satisfaction.

“Primordially, KPMG is a client focussed organisation,” says Mr Bunce. “In a significant number of cases, we have worked with individual corporations for extended periods.

“When it comes to our industry, and specifically our specialist sector, we believe that a great firm should under promise and over deliver, consistently.

“Our fundamental culture is one of meritocratic promotion and continuance, supported by a concept of stewardship, where partners recognise that an essential duty is to pass on an improved business to the next generation of partners.”

Indeed, KPMG differentiates itself from the vast array of competitor firms through its unique culture and it’s highly trained and qualified staff, something that is time and time again reflected in client testimonials and references which the firm deploys against new opportunities.

There are, however, always going to be challenges arising in such a competitive industry, however Mr Bunce sees not only challenges, but multiple opportunities for future success and future growth.

“The upcoming October elections in Brazil bring some possibility of political renewal, a possibility which is already being reflected in a rising stock market,” he explains. “In fact, in any scenario, 2015 will be a year of adjustment in macroeconomic terms. This will bring challenges and opportunities for businesses and demand for organizations which can help them through a period of change.

If political renewal occurs, we will likely see an uptick in FDI and inbound M&A.”

“We are both pleased and proud to receive this award, which we see as a confirmation of our client service and success in achieving desired outcomes for clients,” he enthuses. “We also see recognition of KPMG Brazil’s corporate finance practice as both validation of our successful strategy execution and of the power of the model of a strong corporate finance practice within a wider professional services firm.”

Company: KPMG Name: David Bunce Email: dbunce@kpmg.com.br Web: www.kpmg.com/BR

2014 Finance Awards | 19

No. 1 Transaction Services Team - Australia

PwC PwC has been voted No 1 Transaction Service Team – Australia and Sean Gregory tells us more about the firm and how it felt to win this prestigious award.

“Our TS team works on a range of due diligence transactions from smaller and mid-sized deals to the most large and complex transactions, including domestic and cross-border acquisitions, divestitures and spin-offs, capital events such as IPOs and demergers,” begins Mr Gregory of PwC, talking about the firm and services it offers.

“Our due diligence provides insight on business-wide risks and value drivers and helps clients in negotiations, decision-making and execution. Our Australian TS team comprises 20 partners and managing directors and 100 staff across 5 cities.”

He continues to explain the main factors that affect businesses working in this financial sector and how the firm copes with these external influences.

“The key drivers of activity in the Deals market have traditionally been positive equity market trends, board / business confidence and availability of capital (debt and equity, local and overseas).

Industry changes are increasingly playing an impact as business are affected, positively and negatively, by the pace of change and shift to a digital world.

“On the buy side, the clients with access to capital, a clear strategy and willingness to do deals have been pro-active. On the sell side, many clients have recognised challenging market issues or the need to free up capital for growth and pursued a divestment strategy.

“We are also seeing more sales of family-owned businesses which are a significant part of the Australian economy as the current owners look to retire and pass on to subsequent generations or exit completely.”

Recently, PwC was named No 1 Transaction Services Team for Australia, as voted for by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Mr Gregory describes the team’s delight on hearing the news, and further explains what he puts the firm’s success down to.

“We are delighted to be recognised in this way, even more so given that it is based on client feedback/nomination. Awards like this give all industry players the opportunity to be judged based on what they bring to their clients. An award which is valued, focussed purely on Transaction Services has to be good for our clients and the industry.

“There are a range of factors which I believe have contributed to our position in the market. We have always had good networks and a strong market reputation but feel that we have differentiated ourselves through: •

Forming our Deals business a few years ago where we brought all our Deals specialists together. This enables us to more readily provide expertise to our TS clients across a range of areas such as lead advisory, debt and capital structuring, valuations etc.

• Our focus on industry such that we go to market as a Deals business by industry. We have encouraged all team members to develop an industry specialism so that we can be as relevant and knowledgeable to our clients as possible.

Fact File

• Recognising the strength of Asian capital flows and making sure we have people in our team who are experienced in working with off shore bidders looking at Australian assets.”

Client satisfaction is key, explains Mr Gregory and he embellishes to describe the culture at PwC, the overriding philosophy of the firm, and what he believes makes a great business.

“As a Firm we undertook an exercise in 2012 with our teams and clients to establish our six core Values. In my mind they have been a case of “evolution, not revolution” and they neatly encapsulate how we strive to operate both with our clients and team.

“Without going through perspectives on all six Values, I think it’s important that we have recognised, similar to many businesses, that there is tension between short and long term growth and profitability objectives. Our “Open and Authentic” value enables us to debate this balance and call out behaviours which do not meet our Values. Our longer term success enablers in terms of culture and innovation are captured in our “Have a Go” and “Care” values.

“At a Firm level, the Values discussed above demonstrate the importance we put on culture within PwC. Our individual commitment to the Values and how we go about our work is part of our appraisal processes from Partner down to most junior team members.

“The TS team is committed to and passionate about our clients.

The team enjoys learning and values the opportunities to work on the most interesting deals. This year our senior team members are challenging ourselves to provide greater learning experiences to the whole team by providing greater clarity on the strategic intent and final decisions of our clients.

“A good business has to do the basics of client service very well (understand their client, communicate often and with integrity, be responsive, deliver what is promised etc). A great business must be able to consistently add value, offer insights and provide broader advice in line with what the client needs.

“We would love to say we are in the latter camp but we recognise we have a way to go to get there. Over the last couple of years we have sought out client feedback (either directly from clients or indirectly though third party market surveys of clients and prospects) to help define our strategy.

“We are delighted to be recognised in this way, even more so given that it is based on client feedback/nomination. Awards like this give all industry players the opportunity to be judged based on what they bring to their clients. An award which is valued, focussed purely on Transaction Services has to be good for our clients and the industry.”

Company: PwC Name: Sean Gregory Email: sean.gregory@au.pwc.com Web: www.pwc.com.au Address: 28 Sydney Avenue Forrest ACT 2603, Australia Tel: +61 (2) 6271 3000 Fax: +61 (2) 6271 3999

“What sets us apart from the competition, I believe, is a combination of the quality and depth of the team we have in TS, Deals and the Firm generally. This enables us to bring the right industry expertise and skill sets to help our clients as above.”

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20 | 2014 Finance Awards

Private Company Services Team of the Year - Ireland

PwC On behalf of PwC Ireland’s Private Business Services Team, I am delighted to accept this significant international award. The award recognises the deep commitment of our team to our private business clients and is an acknowledgement of our objective to become trusted business advisors to the companies we work with.

Our mission is simple. It is to help the people and clients we work with to grow both their business and personal wealth. We do this by: • Understanding their needs - both at a business and personal level.

• Telling it like it is - by giving the honest insights they expect from a trusted business partner.

• By keeping them out of harm’s way – they didn’t get to where they are by surrounding themselves with ‘yes’ people.

• Bringing them the very best ideas and fresh thinking on a host of business issues.

Our teams are passionate about our client’s success and our relationships with our clients are built upon pursuing this success together.

The Irish Private Business Landscape Private businesses make up approximately 90% of all businesses in the Irish economy and account for around 70% of employment in the country. As a result they represent one of the most important sectors in the Irish economic landscape.

As has been well documented internationally, Ireland’s economy has been through a significant challenge in recent years and many private businesses suffered the brunt of the storm. These businesses are significant clients of our Private Business Services team, and we listened, understood and helped them navigate through the most challenging moments of a very difficult period. We believe this commitment and support is now reflected in the presentation of this award.

As we look to the future, a growing optimism now prevails amongst Ireland’s private businesses and the overall macro-economic picture is improving. There is less uncertainty about global economic prospects and great progress has been made on Ireland’s sovereign position. As a result Irish private businesses have now moved into post-austerity mode and are planning for growth again, with a focus on innovation and exporting. Our Private Business Services Teams are fully committed to supporting them as they move into this new phase and help them optimise the opportunities that lie ahead.

Our team Our Private Business Team is comprised of 15 partners and over 300 professionals focused on working with private companies, entrepreneurs and high net wealth individuals. They bring all the talent and skill that come with being part of PwC – coupled with a passion for the unique challenges and opportunities that private businesses face. And because our people have business and commercial skills – as well as qualifications in fields as diverse as engineering, communications and of course, accounting – we see the whole picture and share this with our clients.

Whether it is a family-owned business or a private company they face many challenges, from strategy and growth to succession planning.

No matter what their size, industry or market, our team are equipped and committed to helping the businesses succeed by providing them with a full suite of advisory, tax and accounting support services.

Our integrated service offering means that our clients only have to

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maintain one relationship with their nominated trusted advisor in order to access the best people across the firm globally to meet all of their needs. This includes helping private companies and their owners meet the following challenges: • Buying, selling and restructuring • Development and growth strategies • Expanding overseas and into new markets • Reward and incentives • Corporate and family governance • Private wealth management and succession • Management of all tax exposures • Financial and reporting obligations

Fact File

We regard it as critically important that we can offer our clients the full range of supports that will enable them to achieve their ambitions and optimise their potential.

“On behalf of PwC Ireland’s Private Business Services Team, I am delighted to accept this significant international award. The award recognises the deep commitment of our team to our private business clients and is an acknowledgement of our objective to become trusted business advisors to the companies we work with.”

Looking to the future Ensuring that we remain the number one service provider to Irish private businesses is a key objective for us. This means continuing to focus on the developing needs of our clients, and the challenges arising from the markets in which they operate. It means working harder to understand these challenges better and developing how our services need to evolve into the future.

It also means training and developing our teams so that they remain appropriately skilled and passionate about the success of the clients they serve.

In order to do this, we have recently entered into co-operative arrangements with the Irish chapter of the Entrepreneurs Organisation and have co-partnered with Dublin City University to support the creation of the DCU Family Business Centre. We have also commenced working strategically with the Irish Exporters Association.

Working with the Entrepreneurs Organisation enables us to understand the changing needs of entrepreneurs and the latest entrepreneurial thinking.

Through our relationship with the DCU Family Business Centre, we will be seeking to translate leading Irish and International research into best practices for our clients and together with the Irish Exporters Association, we are building a programme to assist Irish businesses to focus on Africa as a developing market for the future.

These initiatives are important developments for us. They provide the basis for a focused and exciting development of our practice. More importantly we are developing our practice in collaboration with the private business sector which we serve.

Winning the Private Companies Services Team of the Year Award validates this approach. It also recognises our long standing commitment to the Private Business Sector and reaffirms our ambitions to lead the sector for many years to come.

Company: PwC Name: Paul Hennessy Email: paul.hennessy@ie.pwc.com Web: www.pwc.ie Address: One Spencer Dock North Wall Quay Dublin, 1, Ireland Tel: +353 (1) 792 6000

2014 Finance Awards | 21

Best Investment Bank - South Africa

Rand Merchant Bank RMB Corporate Finance is a full-spectrum advisory business ranging from M&A, equity capital markets (including capital raisings and IPO’s), leverage buy-outs, property advisory, resources advisory, black economic empowerment (BEE) and structuring.

Paul Roelofse of RMB tells us more about the firm. “We have a sponsor team who, on behalf of many of our clients, deal with all their interactions with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. Our team has extensive knowledge of the regulatory environment, including taxation, proposed empowerment frameworks, the Companies Act, and Competition regulations.

“Furthermore we have a number of partners who provide us with access to other jurisdictions namely, Greenhill, China Construction Bank and JM Financial (India). Our joint venture with Morgan Stanley in our equity capital markets business provides access to a global and local investor base.”

RMB Corporate Finance has spent the last few years building our property advisory business with a view of participating in deal activity in that segment of the market. “We have already seen some success with a few sizeable transactions and notable credentials to our name over the last 12 months,” says Mr Roelofse. “We also continue to build our Africa franchise and Indo Africa corridor business.”

Prevalent trends within the industry have emerged over the past 12 months, which Mr Roelofse tells us more about, including how they have affected business for RMB Corporate Finance and the opportunities that have arisen as a result.

“We have seen a significant increase in the level of M&A activity as well as in equity capital markets where we have completed a number of successful capital raisings. There is strong competition for good assets at the right price.

“We believe that Africa and the Indo Africa corridor represent significant opportunities. We have the largest dedicated, on the ground M&A and ECM team in South Africa supporting local teams in Nigeria and Kenya. We also have an on the ground team in Mumbai, focussing on the Indo Africa corridor. We continue to drive and invest in our Africa and India strategies which are already showing a good return on effort.”

Recently, RMB was named Leading Investment Bank in South Africa in the Acquisition International Finance Awards 2014. Companies are nominated and voted for by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Mr Roelofse tells us of his, and the firm’s, reaction to winning such a prestigious accolade and what he believes contributed to the firm’s success.

“RMB is extremely honoured to be recognised as the leading Investment Bank in South Africa. These awards help us to benchmark ourselves against our peers and ensure we continually remain relevant in terms of our client’s needs and at the forefront of the services we offer.

“Our Corporate Finance team has also recently been ranked 1st for M&A and listings in the 2013 PwC peer rankings as well as 1st

by M&A deal value in the 2013 Dealmakers awards.

Fact File

“RMB has a proven track record and extensive experience in structuring and executing complex transactions. We pride ourselves in being able to offer innovative solutions to our clients as part of a holistic offering that spans the breadth of our investment bank. We owe this award to our team whose focus on client service, through offering innovative client solutions, remains unparalleled as well as to our loyal clients.”

Indeed, RMB Corporate Finance’s overriding philosophy is one of traditional values and innovative ideas. “We nurture and celebrate inspired thinkers and entrepreneurs who challenge the boundaries, engage in vigorous debate, create their own opportunities and apply thinking that can change our world,” states Mr Roelofse. “We do not subscribe to business-as-usual practices – rather big thinking that requires our employees to stretch themselves, to push the boundaries, to think differently, have an entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to make a difference in the world.

“In our business we believe that exceptional results are only possible with exceptional people. RMB is a place where exceptional people can embrace our collaborative and owner-manager culture and drive their particular lines of business as though it’s their own.

“We are absolutely relentless when it comes to client service and believe that the strength of our client relationships and the value we offer them differentiates us from our peers. It therefore goes without saying that our team and the brand equity we have built in the market are our most valuable assets. We foster an inclusive culture where out-the-box thinking and innovation is encouraged and rewarded within the strict parameters of being a responsible advisor.”

“RMB is extremely honoured to be recognised as the leading Investment Bank in South Africa. These awards help us to benchmark ourselves against our peers and ensure we continually remain relevant in terms of our client’s needs and at the forefront of the services we offer.”

Company: Rand Merchant Bank Name: Paul Roelofse Email: paul.roelofse@rmb.co.za Web: www.rmb.co.za Address: 1 Merchant Place Cnr Fredman Drive & Rivonia Road Sandton 2196 South Africa Tel: +27 11 282 8000 Fax: +27 11 282 8008

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22 | 2014 Finance Awards

2014 Finance Awards Corporate Profiles

Corporate Tax Practice of the Year - Belgium

Created in 1994 by Thierry Afschrift, this law firm brings together lawyers with extensive knowledge in every field of tax law in the widest sense of the term. Here, we find out a little more about the firm and its work from lawyer, Spyridon Chatzigiannis The Afschrift Law Firm is more than just an association of tax lawyers. All our members share the same vision of our profession and support the same commitment to advise and defend taxpayers, be they individuals or businesses, both in Belgium and abroad.

All our lawyers share the same values. They fully understand the importance of adopting a global vision in every situation, in response to queries from our clients on the management of their professional businesses or their private assets. They also know that the success of their interventions depends upon speed, efficiency and confidentiality.

Aware of the increasing internationalisation of our clientsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; private and professional activities and of the complex nature of their taxation matters, we have opened offices at Antwerp, Madrid, Geneva, Luxembourg, Tel Aviv and Hong Kong. Clients who would like face-to-face meetings with our lawyers, may make appointments in any of these offices.

At the core of the Afschrift Law Firm versatility is key. This comes out of the demands of two key factors of our philosophy: getting to know our clients personally and providing the advice they need.

The relationship between a lawyer and his client is person to person and lasts for life. It relies upon mutual trust which grows deeper with time. In order to allow you to weave this essential link, your lawyer has the necessary specialised knowledge to help you in all your taxation case files. The transfer of a special file from one lawyer to another within the

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law firm is therefore regarded as an exception rather than the rule, and would only happen if we believed that our colleague would have the right skilled knowledge to guide your case to a successful conclusion.

Your lawyer is there to help you in any and every case where recourse is needed to a tax expert. All our lawyers are versatile and have mastered all the small print of taxation matters, either when providing advice or when defending your interests before the tax authorities.

To be really useful, a fiscal counsel should not only base his actions on a thorough knowledge of the law and jurisprudence. He should also have a deep-seated belief that, if necessary, he could defend any chosen solution in court and win the case. That is why most of our lawyers are also seasoned barristers: the expertise that they have accumulated in their court sessions allows them to make realistic and impartial evaluations of the solutions that they envisage for their clients.

Every taxpayer is different. For companies and individuals alike, there will be assets and holdings, all with their own personal significance, and the same goes for the nature and range of their businesses and their national or international nature. Everybody has his own idea of legal, economic and taxation matters, his own level of risk aversion, willingness to go right to the end of every possible avenue of possible action, the time and the resources available to become personally involved in the putting in place of a solution.

Afschrift Name: Spyridon Chatzigiannis Email: spyridon.chatzigiannis@afschrift.com Web: www.afschrift.com Address: Avenue Louise, 208, 1050 BRUSSELS, BELGIUM Tel: +32 2 646 46 36 Fax: +32 2 644 38 00

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SME Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - West Yorkshire

Established in 1975, Andrew Wright & Co is an experienced firm of accountants with offices in Wakefield and Dewsbury.

The company acts on behalf of a wide variety of clients, including start-ups, local owner-managed businesses, self-employed individuals, SMEs and sub-contractors. Here, we talk to Sally Wright about the firm’s award success and the range of services her company offers.

We are delighted to have won this award, especially as we were up against so many other high calibre practices. It is a wonderful achievement and a great justification to all at Andrew Wright & Co. Awards like these show the pursuit of excellence that we all must strive for. This award is owed to the hard work and depth of knowledge of all staff at Andrew Wright & Co and is testament to our commitment to ensuring that our clients are as tax efficient as possible and our continual striving for total client satisfaction.

We are always looking to move forward as a business and in recent times have successfully implemented RTI and also had a great success with a number of HMRC investigations.

For example, we took on an assignment where it became apparent to ourselves that amounts paid to a director relating to instalments of Capital Gains tax on the disposal of goodwill from his previous business had been incorrectly treated as director’s remuneration under the PAYE legislation.

Best Fund Management Company of the Year - Angola

Following lengthy correspondence with HMRC, we successfully argued that the amounts had been incorrectly classified and our calculations were agreed. Our client had tax refunded in excess of £46,000 – a fantastic story for Andrew Wright & Co. To ensure we provide the best possible service, we offer a wide range of services including Year End accounts, bookkeeping, VAT and payroll to name a few and we also prepare and submit personal, partnership and corporate tax returns.

However, just as important as the services we provide, we also recognise that a good business is dependent upon a proactive and enthusiastic management backed up with conscientious staff with a great work ethic and outstanding skill set. We are proud to say that we have a number of staff that have been part of the team for over 25 years, thus giving us a wealth of knowledge and experience and that we have a nucleus of clients that came to us 39 years ago and we are privileged still to act for them.

Andrew Wright & Co Name: Sally Wright Email: info@andrewwrightaccountants.co.uk Web: www.andrewwrightaccountants.co.uk Address: 10 Cliff Parade Wakefield West Yorkshire WF1 2TA Tel: 01924 379 479

Angola Capital Partners was founded as a joint venture between Banco BAI and Norfund to create a leading independent Private Equity firm in Angola. Banco BAI is Angola’s largest private commercial bank with an extensive local network while Norfund is an investment company owned by the Norwegian Government with a long track record of investments in developing countries.

“Angola Capital Partners’ focus on superior returns has been strategically paired with a focus on corporate governance and on the highest standards of reporting and transparency. This differentiated us and allowed us to partner with some of the best entrepreneurs and companies in this market, as well as attract international players to co-invest with us in these deals”

Angola Capital Partners launched Fundo de Investimento Privado - Angola (FIPA) in 2010, with $USD 39 million under management dedicated to invest in equity, and other long term instruments, in private small and medium enterprises in Angola across a wide range of industries to uncover value by facilitating new business initiatives and upgrade existing technologies in partnership with strong management teams to enhance performance and deliver superior returns to Angola’s economic and social development.

Differentiation in the market place is everything and Mr. Laranjeiro continues to explain what it is that really sets Angola apart from the competition.

Recently, Angola Capital Partners was received an award, as voted by readers of Acquisition International magazine, as Tiago Laranjeiro tells us his reaction to receiving such an accolade.

“Angola Capital Partners is delighted to have been recognized for successfully bringing private equity into a frontier market like Angola. As our inaugural fund is reaching the end of its investment period, it is now demonstrated that private equity has an important role to play in Angola and that it can provide local businesses the much needed long term financing and partnership while allowing the investors in our fund to capture the high growth and financial returns of this market.

“Angola Capital Partners has a strong local presence and unique local network. Our company has Angolan DNA, as it is the joint venture between the largest Angolan bank BAI and the Norwegian development finance institution Norfund.

This makes the level of our local relationships fundamentally different than those of international private equity players.

Also, because we were the first-to-market we created a track record and outstanding reputation within the Angolan business community.”

Angola Capital Partners Name: Tiago Laranjeiro Email: tiago.laranjeiro@angolacapitalpartners.com Web: www.angolacapitalpartners.com Address: Academia BAI - Edifício C, Avenida Pedro de Castro Van-Dunem Loy, 1º andar Dto., Morro Bento, Luanda, Angola Tel: +244 227281000, extension 4019

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Most Professional Asset & Trade Finance Firm of the Year - International

Specialising in Infrastructure Finance for EPC Contracting, over the last 15 years, APT has established itself as the clear Service Leader in Broker Finance for International Projects, and has funded thousands of assets of every description to Organisations who Build Operate and Transfer Infrastructure Assets in Oil and Gas, Power Generation, Water. Mining, Transport & Construction, from sole traders to PLC’s. We spoke to Director, Noel Morris about winning this award and his approach to business.

I have to say, it was a surprise to win this award for the second year running but as recognition of our continued service leadership, it’s awesome.

I believe that our focus on arranging trade and export finance for infrastructure in emerging markets has had a big part to play. Then, of course, there is our ongoing commitment to constantly improving our core offering and services, including: • • • • •

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Banking & Finance Legal Team of the Year - Kuwait

Full independence with client-dedicated focus Business approach to successful fulfilment of financing Preparation of strategic planning to international standards Arranging project finance with a client focus Readying the client for a full due diligence review by top international accounting, legal and environmental assessment firms Financial modelling, which connects with clients, banks and ECAs simultaneously

ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners is Kuwait’s leading tier one corporate law firm, and one of the most prominent firms operating across the GCC. ASAR has been operating in Kuwait since 1977 and in the Kingdom of Bahrain since 2006, and is recognised for professional legal services of the highest order. We spoke briefly to Partner, Rob Little about how the firm draws on its unique knowledge of the Middle Eastern business environment and in-depth understanding of the socio-political climate to advise its clients on a wide array of technical legal issues.

Helping you thrive in the regional corporate world, as one of the region’s leading law firms to many foreign and domestic multinational companies, we advise many of the biggest and most ambitious organisations across all major industries and we are consistently considered as the law firm of choice.

Our clients have formed a bond of trust in retaining ASAR with their most ground-breaking transactions because of our extensive ability to reduce complexity, mitigate risk and, simply, to get the deal done.

With more than 30 lawyers as part of our international division and spanning two emerging and highly competitive markets in the GCC, we are able to function exceptionally with a deeper understanding of our clients’ businesses and provide commercially innovative and robust advice to ensure profitable business outcomes for our clients.

Our expertise extends over a wide range of areas that cover local and foreign multinational corporations, banks and investment companies, industrial conglomerates, governments and state authorities, and private clients.

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• • • •

Assessing ‘goodness of fit’ between clients, funders, suppliers and ECA Expertise in Commercial and Financial Negotiation of EPC Full introduction and negotiation services for clients with banks and international export credit agencies Post transaction services and monitoring

We’re fully focused on service leadership in finance and leveraging our expertise to provide our clients with accurate and effective advice on a timely basis. We operate quickly and effectively when dealing with our clients and peers, particularly aware of the fact that precise identification of client needs at a very early stage is essential, as is the ability to deliver a solution using the best proprietary products in the market.

APT Finance Name: Noel Morris Email: noelmorris@apt-finance.com Web: www.apt-finance.com Address: 75 Horseshoe Crescent, Shoeburyness Garrison, Shoeburyness, Essex SS3 9WL United Kingdom Tel: +44 1702 294618 Mobile +44 7979 690118

Our diverse group of skilled and qualified professionals operating under the firm’s home grown culture of ethics, integrity and hard work has instilled loyalty and credibility across the GCC and international board.

ASAR encompasses many varied areas of legal expertise, including: • Agency and Distributorship • Banking and Finance • Capital Markets and Securities • Commercial Litigation and Arbitration • Corporate • Energy • Franchising • Insurance • Islamic Finance • Mergers and Acquisitions • PPP and PFI Projects • Restructuring and Insolvency ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Name: Rob Little Email: asar@asarlegal.com Web: www.asarlegal.com Address: Salhiya Complex, Gate 1, 3rd Floor Mohammad Thunayan Al-Ghanim Street Kuwait City, P.O. Box 447, Safat 13005, Kuwait Tel: +965 2292 2700 Fax: +965 2240 0064

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Most Innovative Healthcare IT Solutions Provider of the Year – UK

Aura Healthcare was founded on the idea of bringing innovation to healthcare markets in which creativity had been hampered by large centralised programmes.

The company’s whole philosophy is about breaking the mould and doing things differently. This fresh approach includes a focus on delivering on its commitments and delivering affordable and innovative solutions that make a genuine difference to professionals on the frontline of healthcare and their patients. Quite simply its solutions are enabling clinicians to deliver better, safer care.

Aura designs, implements and supports a range of IT solutions, including applications for patient flow/bed management, clinical noting, bedside observations (vital signs), and e-nursing.

These automate care processes and support workflows on wards and across hospitals, ensuring patient care is coordinated.

Most Outstanding Asset Finance Firm of the Year - UK

The company’s innovative approach even extends to software development where it has adopted the latest agile methods, including test driven development and pair programming with doctors and nurses involved every step of the way. This methodology not only guarantees clinical integrity, but also allows Aura’s developers to produce and deliver higher quality software faster than industry norms.

“Essentially we have been taking a fresh look at old problems that have existed in the healthcare for decades, but can now be solved with modern technologies and some innovative thinking,” said Adrian Stevens, Aura’s chief executive officer.

“We are supporting moves to paperless working in healthcare, while also helping drive the required improvements in efficiency and safety while also reducing costs. We are solving the real problems faced by clinical and medical teams daily.

Aura’s solutions put an end to paper processes that create inefficiencies and risk and instead provide meaningful information in real time for medical staff to make informed clinical decisions at the point of care. These are also shown to reduce the burden on nurses especially and release more time for patient care.

“Our philosophy is to make a difference in everything we do and to respond quickly to customer needs and innovation requirements,” he said.

Its products are developed using Facebook and Twitter type technologies that can be implemented far quicker than traditional software and at a lower cost, so benefits and payback are more immediate. Deliberately simple and intuitive, Aura’s applications will run on any computer or mobile device, using any web browser. This also avoids any extra investments in hardware and infrastructure and lengthy integration projects.

Aura Healthcare Limited Name: Adrian Stevens - CEO (pictured left) Address: 12 Exchange Quay, Salford, Manchester, M5 3EQ Email: info@aurahealthcare.com Web: www.aurahealthcare.com Tel: 0161 813 2280

Barclays is one of the longest- established Asset Finance businesses in the UK and was recently awarded Most Outstanding Asset Finance Firm of the Year.

industry-leading Asset Management team with expertise across an extensive range of asset classes.”

“Barclays is delighted to have won this award for the second year running,” explains Steve Bolton, Director, Asset Finance, Barclays. “External recognition through awards like the Acquisition International Finance Awards is good for customers to see and is also really encouraging to everyone at Barclays.

“At a time when the UK economy is shown clear signs of renewal, providing quick, easy access to Asset Finance is vital and Barclays is delighted to be playing its part with new customer numbers, as well as lending figures, up significantly in 2013 over 2012.

“In addition to our field-based team of Asset Finance product Specialists customers increasingly like to deal direct over the phone– in the past year we have recruited 10 new members of staff into our Basingstoke office and are looking forward to the arrival of our first new joiners under the Apprentice Scheme shortly.”

Steve explains more about what type of services the firm offers. “We offer the full suite of Asset Finance products in support of our customers’ ambitions.

“In addition to Lease Purchase and Finance Leases we offer Operating Leases often supported by ‘own risk’ residual values. This last aspect of our business is supported by an

“In short, Aura is making healthcare simpler.”

It is clear that ‘putting customers first’ means harnessing the best Technology thoughtfully and ambitiously. Barclays is investing significant sums to ensure we are able to provide customers with the range of solutions they need both quickly and efficiently.

“At Barclays we are proud to put customers ‘at the centre of all we do’ and recognise that as a supplier of debt we can only be successful if our customers are successful first.

“This investment will not only give us industry-leading technology it will also allow us to better adapt to the on-going changing needs of our customers and our regulator.”

Barclays has a reputation of being in the vanguard of technological change, think Credit Cards, think ATMs and more recently Ping-It and whilst the nature of debt itself has remained relatively unchanged for centuries we believe the successful Asset Finance businesses of the next decade will be those that embrace and harness new technology and make it work for their customers.

Barclays Asset Finance Ltd Name: Steve Bolton Email: steve.bolton@barclays.com Web: www.barclays.com

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Banking & Finance Services Team of the Year - UK

Based in Surrey, Barlow Robbins LLP has been named Banking & Finance Services Team of the Year - UK Barlow Robbins LLP is a well-regarded law firm providing an integrated commercial service to an impressive list of clients as well as offering a full range of services to private individuals, including expatriates, and has considerable experience in acting for independent schools, charities and the not-for-profit sector.

Principal areas of work Services to Businesses Company Commercial: Including M&As, company restructuring and refinancing, compliance issues, shareholder and investor agreements, partnership affairs (including LLPs), insolvency and commercial agreements.

IP/IT: Specialist intellectual property advice on protection, exploitation and enforcement of rights including trademarks, copyrights, patents and designs. The firm’s IT work covers electronic transactional work to privacy on the internet; from software development, licensing and maintenance agreements to strategic advice on business process outsourcing.

Employment: Proactive preventative advice, in-house training for employer clients and effective tribunal and court representation. Specialists in all aspects of corporate and private contentious and non-contentious employment law.

Commercial Property: Wide ranging transactions including commercial landlord and tenant renewals, leases, surrenders, freehold acquisitions and disposals, secured lending and general commercial property development work.

No 1 Trust Provider - Belize

Based in Belize, Bay Trust Corporate Services Limited (BTCSL) specialises in trust establishment and administration as well as insurance management.

Bay Trust Corporate Services Limited (BTCSL) is able to provide a full range of trust, company and insurance establishment and management services to practitioners, banks and intermediaries.

Bay Trust

Corporate Services Limited

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Together with its associated company, Bay Trust International Limited (BTIL), BTCSL are fully licensed under the appropriate legislation in Belize to carry on business as registered agents and trustees.

BTCSL offers a wide range of products and services, including: • IBC incorporation • Full Company Management Services • Full Trust Services • Insurance Company Incorporation and Management • Mutual Fund Administration • Ship Registration/Ownership (BTCSL is an approved shipping agent)

Dispute Resolution: Advising on breach of contract claims, injunctions required to secure business interests, boardroom disputes and economic tort claims. Active in acting for lenders particularly on professional negligence claims.

Services to individuals Personal Injury & Clinical Negligence: Experts in dealing with all types of personal injury litigation, particularly regarded for its work in complex and high value claims.

Family: Separation, divorce, civil partnership as well as more complex cases. Specialists in advising expatriates on divorces.

Private Client: Advice on wills, tax planning and administration of estates including application for all types of grant and distribution of assets. Experienced in dealing with all forms of trusts, business succession issues.

Residential Property: Specialists in high-value residential transactions with expertise in agricultural matters, leasehold enfranchisement and lease extensions, and equestrian property transactions.

Barlow Robbins LLP Name: David Foster Email: godalming@barlowrobbins.com Web: www.barlowrobbins.com Address: The Oriel, Sydenham Road, Guildford, Surrey, UK, GU1 3SR Tel: (01483) 562901 Fax: (01483) 464260

Bay Trust Corporate Services Limited Address: Suite500 The Matalon Business Center PO Box 2013 Coney Drive Belize City Belize Tel: (501) 223 1756 Fax: (501) 223 1775

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International Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year

Benchmark International is a global corporate solutions advisory firm specialising in merger and acquisition transactions and corporate growth strategies, within the £5m to £100m ‘mid-market’ value range.

“We’re immensely proud of the awards we’ve been presented as they represent validation of the hard work and tireless effort we pour into each and every transaction we manage.

That our efforts are, in turn, recognised underlines the high standard of service we give to each client, truly most satisfying aspect.

“Our entire team possesses a great deal of experience and knowledge, although it must be said that the most prominent factor underpinning our success is something that comes naturally - hard work. Without the exceptional level of commitment demonstrated daily by our team we couldn’t boast anything close to our current level of success. Our Deal Teams truly ‘live and breath’ each of our clients’ deals, forgoing the typical ‘9 to 5’ mind-set to ensure our clients achieve and surpass their initial goals.

“Alongside receiving a number of high profile industry awards, the most significant development within the business over the past year has been the continual development of Benchmark International’s unique M&A relationship platform, DealDesk Pro. Developed in-house, in collaboration with our software development partner, DealDesk Pro is a powerful and direct tool for closely managing correspondence with buyers and clients alike, ensuring strong relations are maintained on both sides of the transaction. Introduced

Corporate Finance Team of the Year - Netherlands

Independent M&A specialist, Blacktrace, was recently awarded Corporate Finance Team of the Year for the Netherlands.

Here, Jaap Smits tells us more about the firm and what he feels led to this success.

“Blacktrace is an independent merger and acquisition specialist,” explains Mr. Smits. “We provide guidance for medium-sized and large businesses when implementing merger and acquisition transactions, attracting shareholder capital and arranging funding.

“Blacktrace focuses on medium- and large sized business and our typical transaction value lies between € 10 and 200 million.

These values relate mainly to international corporates where consolidation and divestment are relevant strategic topics.”

M E R G E R S & AC Q U I S I T I O N S

Recently, Blacktrace was awarded Corporate Finance Team of the Year – Netherlands, as voted by Acquisition International readers and here, Mr. Smits explains the firm’s reaction to winning this prestigious accolade and the reasons he believes they were so successful.

“Blacktrace is excited to win the Corporate Finance Team of the Year – Netherlands award. Although Blacktrace is a relatively young firm, this award is a positive signal from the market and our clients and it is recognition for our efforts.

Winning this award further motivates our team to keep delivering the high level of service to our clients.

“Blacktrace does not aspire to be the largest corporate full service firm of the Benelux, but instead wants to stay a specialized boutique advisory firm, upon which clients can build.

in 2012, the software has been in continual development as we adapt to the needs of our clients. This ultimately means a much improved service and efficient marketing capabilities which help to increase potential for maximised value on our clients’ eventual exit.

“In the M&A industry, the most successful businesses are those that truly care about their clients. Business owners dedicate a huge amount of time and effort, sometimes at great expense, to develop their company. To handle the sale of such a business without due regard for their endeavours throughout the years would be a disservice to the business and its owner; and for this reason, Benchmark International has strategic plans in place to continually develop our service, striving to improve in all areas so that our clients will receive the rewards for every drop of sweat and every moment of sleep lost building their company.”

Benchmark International Name: James Thornton Email: Thornton@benchmarkcorporate.com Web: www.benchmarkcorporate.com Address: Benchmark House, Folds Road, Bolton, Greater Manchester, BL1 2RZ Tel: +44 161 359 4400 Fax: +44 161 359 4401

We are flexible, act fast and respond to our client’s wishes faster than larger full service providers could. In-depth knowledge, cross-border experience, a broad international network and a thorough approach are other important ingredients for success. Blacktrace has a strong track record and it is only growing, with significant transactions already closed in 2014.”

Mr. Smits tells us more about the firm’s core philosophy and objectives and how it strives to meet these.

“Blacktrace wants to make a visible contribution to the value of the enterprises that we deal with. We maintain a helicopter overview of the proceedings and guide the parties towards a desirable result for all of those involved. Blacktrace is committed to developing long-term relationships based on trust and results.

“A good business is one that is independent and committed to their client. A combination of negotiating skills, empathy, networking and professional skills are key success factors in transactions in our industry. Furthermore, a team is as efficient as its weakest link. A perfectly attuned team is crucial for achieving our and our client’s goals.”

Blacktrace B.V. Name: Jaap Smits Email: jaap.smits@blacktrace.nl Web: www.blacktrace.nl Address: Hugo de Grootlaan 11 5223 LB ’s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands Tel: + 31 (0) 73 640 95 71 Fax: + 31 (0) 73 644 13 53

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Audit Advisory Firm of the Year - West Yorkshire

Launched in 2003, BOHORUNS is a firm of chartered certified accountants and registered auditors. We spoke to Company Secretary, Alka Bohorun about the firm, its work and the value of forging close relationships with clients.

The ethos of Bohoruns is to provide a professional and personal service to each client in a friendly and relaxed environment. Therefore, clients feel comfortable and speak freely without any intimidation from ‘technical jargon’, which results in good and timely advice being provided. It is for this reason that clients trust Bohoruns completely with all their business affairs.

Bohoruns firmly believes that each client has a significant business role to play in the community, whether it is that of a small self-employed plumber or an internet-based company such as Microsoft. We value each individual client and work very closely with them, regardless of the size and nature of their business. We are fully committed to going the extra mile with them to ensure their business success and growth.

Consequently, this professional but close and friendly working relationship has been so beneficial to our clients and is a huge part of why they value us as ‘business partner’.

Bohoruns, as a firm recognises what clients expect from their advisors and we understand the importance of providing a proactive service to our clients. The firm provides services to businesses and individuals, such as business advice, taxation, accounting and audit of trading companies and charities in addition to government and European grants.

Most Outstanding Specialised Tax Team of the Year - Scotland

Callan Accountancy is a tax specialist firm, mainly dealing with small to medium size businesses, high rate tax payers and non-resident tax payers.

Stephen Ward tells us more about Callan Accountancy.

“We are a small, highly motivated and highly efficient team.

We strive to provide the best possible service for our clients.

We not only offer a wide range of accountancy services to our clients, we also provide them with financial advice on savings, insurance and much more to give them the opportunity to ask a question that comes to mind or to make arrangements for future financial security and peace of mind.”

Recently, Callan Accountancy received the award for Most Outstanding Specialised Tax Team of the Year – Scotland, as voted by Acquisition International readers.

“We were very grateful to win the award for Most Outstanding Specialised Tax Team of the Year – Scotland. It meant a lot to the staff and management for being recognised for the hard work they contribute to the firm.

“We would not have been able to win this award without the generous feedback submitted by our clients and the hard work from our team that made it possible to achieve such positive feedback.”

And it’s no surprise that Callan Accountancy clinched this prestigious award when we look at the firm’s overriding philosophy and how it strives to meet the needs of its clients.

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Our aim is to provide a ‘one stop shop’ by creating a network of business professionals where all the requirements and needs of our clients are met either by us or through our business contacts. Our professional network consists of banks, government offices, independent financial advisors, solicitors, web designers/hosts, ICT, internet providers and many others.

The services offered by Bohoruns are summarised below; however, if you feel the service you require is not listed below then please contact us either by telephone or e-mail and we will endeavour to find a solution to your problem.

• Statutory Audit • Due Dilligence • Accounts Preparation • Taxation • Business Advice • Start-up Packs • Bookkeeping and Management Accounts • VAT Preparation and Payroll Services • Company Formation and Company Secretarial BOHORUNS Chartered Certified Accountants & Registered Auditors Name: Alka Bohorun Email: alks@bohoruns.co.uk Web: www.bohoruns.com Address: 214 York Road, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS9 9LN Tel: +44 (0) 113 248 2800 Fax: +44 (0) 113 248 2820

“We believe in honesty and transparency at every stage and we think great service should be available to all companies, regardless of size or budget,” states Mr. Ward. “We are passionate about providing excellent service and have great working relationships with our clients and peers.

“We believe that providing good solid tax advice, communication with clients and most importantly meeting filing deadlines makes a good business in this industry.

“To many of the bigger accountancy firms each client is just a number, different people deal with them every time they make contact and often nobody really gets to know them or their business properly. It’s not like this at Callan, we are a small team and we get to know our clients really well. We get to know their companies inside out and can give better advice because we understand exactly how their company operates and exactly what they are trying to achieve.”

Callan Accountancy Name: Stephen Ward Email: Stephen@callanaccountancy.co.uk Web: www.callanaccountancy.co.uk Address: 34 St Enoch Square, Glasgow, G1 4DF Tel: +44 0845 050 7613 Fax: +44 0845 050 7614

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Insurance Broker of the Year - Ireland

Campion Insurance is celebrating its 30th year in business with expansion and better brand awareness. Chief executive Jim Campion puts this down to acquisitions, the opening of new offices in Kildare and Clare, and the launch of new niche products for the insolvency, vintage, bus and coach and motor trade. This activity has created employment in rural and urban communities, brought competitive pricing to new and existing clients, and improved service levels.

Campion Insurance was formed in 1984 in Kilkenny, Ireland and grew to become one of the largest local insurance broker in Kilkenny and Tipperary. The business began to develop strategic alliances and partnerships with other insurance brokerages throughout Ireland and, in 2008, negotiated the amalgamation and consolidation of these businesses into a single company, creating what is now one of the largest single brokerages in the country.

Campions has one of the largest geographical spreads in the industry with offices in Connaught, Leinster and Munster unlike most other independent or multinational brokerages whose office base is generally limited to a specific county or province. Our network of offices gives our business a competitive advantage and sets our company apart within the industry. This is also a unique selling point for our suppliers who value the opportunity to work with a broker with a national presence.

The company is one of the most innovative and progressive insurance brokerages in Ireland, we have successfully developed a number of very innovative products based on a clear understanding of our customer’s requirements. Our approach differentiates us from our competitors who favour more “off the shelf” commodity type insurance products. We pick specific product areas and we work with exclusive suppliers to create a unique product offering with a long term product life cycle which provide customers with greater value, more protection and provide our business with higher conversion rates and greater retention.

We realised quickly where we invest heavily in our people we achieve results, having well trained and educated team is critical to our success which is why we developed our Campion Business School to align everyone in our organisation with the company strategy vision and values. We are also committed to staff progression and have an internal

Corporate Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - South East

Working from offices in Harrow and Beaconsfield, Charterhouse (Accountants) Ltd has been established for more than 40 years.

Offering far more than traditional tax and accounting services, the firm provides expert consultancy and advisory services to a wide client base, ranging from local owner-managed firms and SMEs, to larger corporate businesses and high net worth individuals. We spoke to Partner, Rajesh Jiwani about the business and its award win.

Awards like these are important to businesses for a number of reasons. First, they can help differentiate firms from their competition and inspire confidence in both current and prospective clients, especially where financials are concerned. They also go some way towards motivating the team who are able to see their hard work has been recognised and appreciated.

Since we were established in 1970, Charterhouse has grown from a small local accountancy firm to a top 100 medium-sized practice, offering a comprehensive accountancy, audit and tax compliance service – as well as a cutting edge bespoke tax planning service together with an array of complimentary services including HR, estate planning and will writing.

We have grown both organically and by acquisition. In November 2005, we acquired a practice in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, and currently operate in Beaconsfield and from our head office in Harrow.

What gives Charterhouse its unique character is the ability to offer commercial, bespoke business and tax advice to a broad array of clients - from business start-ups through to multi-million pound turnover companies and trusts, as well as individuals whose diverse business and personal tax

9 month staff development programme which was put in place to allow high quality team members build their knowledge and skills for potential commercial business development roles.

Campion Insurance is currently ranked by Finaccord as the 6th largest Commercial Non-Life Broker in Ireland and as such we compete successfully with multinational players such as Aon, Willis and Marsh in addition to several indigenous competitors.

Campion has also won the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Award for three consecutive years (2011-2013) and in 2014, won the Deloitte Best Managed Companies Gold Standard Award, in recognition of its business planning strategy and the creation of the Campion Business School for the development and education of our employees.

2013 was an exceptional growth year for the business with significant acquisition of the Aviva Direct Life & Pensions business and opening several new offices across the country. Over the past 6 to 9 months we have taken to time to integrate and consolidate these additions within the company to maximize our return. We are now actively looking for further potential acquisition opportunities as it is a key strategy for growth within our business model.

The market remains a tough place to do business and as a brokers we have to be constantly aware of pricing trends and consumer demands within the insurance market but we have strong relationships with our providers and an excellent management information which enables us to react and make decisions quickly.

Winning the Irish Insurance Provider of the year 2014 is an incredible honor. It’s an endorsement of our business model and it’s a reflection of the hard work, dedications and customer focus of our team.

Campion Insurance Name: John McCarthy Email: dalford@campionins.com Web: www.campionins.com Address: 2nd Floor Otter House, Modern Plant Building, Naas Road, Dublin 22 Tel: + 353 01 4033700

requirements can be effectively serviced by our multi-disciplinary team.

We offer far more than the traditional tax and accounting services offered by similar sized firms, providing expert consultancy and advisory services to a wide client base, ranging from owner-managed firms and SMEs, to larger corporate businesses and high net worth individuals.

We pride ourselves on our proactive approach and our excellent standards of service. We take a progressive approach to dealing with our client’s requirements and our friendly and motivated team work closely with them to help them achieve their goals.

Services we provide include: Accounting and bookkeeping, auditing, business planning, HR strategic advice and compliance, wills and LPAS, payroll, tax advisory, tax planning and company secretarial.

We have undergone a period of consolidation during the last five years focusing on how we can service the needs of our clients by taking advantage of numerous government initiatives as well as developing new services to assist our clients through a very difficult economic period. Like us, our clients have emerged from the recent economic downturn focused on growing their business and maintaining their competitiveness.

Charterhouse (Accountants) Ltd Name: Rajesh Jiwani Email: welcome@charter-house.net Web: www.charter-house.net Address: Harrow Office, 88-98 College Road, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 1RA Tel: 020 8863 4566 Fax: 020 8861 2460

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30 | 2014 Finance Awards

Best Systems & IT Due Diligence Provider - UK

CloudOrigin exists to accelerate the adoption of enterprise cloud computing in public and private sectors. We provide award winning strategy, advisory and implementation services to end-users and providers to take advantage of this fundamental change in the business model of information technology.

Richard Hall of CloudOrigin explains more about the firm, its clients and the services it offers.

C CloudOrigin

“We provide award-winning strategy, advisory and implementation services to end-users and providers to take advantage of this fundamental change in the business model of information technology brought about by cloud computing. This spans technology providers – from datacenter managers to Software as a Service firms – as well as intensive technology users across public and private sectors.

“Based in London but operating globally, we have decades of experience designing, delivering and managing the most advanced business services, software solutions and infrastructure platforms worldwide.

“Our reputation has grown in the Private Equity and Venture Capital community keen to clearly understand technology trends in terms of market demand. We are equally pleased to have enabled first round funding for new startups as we are to have advised on multi-billion dollar acquisitions.

“Have also been asked by several of our investment sector clients to advise on their own internal IT strategy and use of cloud infrastructure and Software as a Service solutions, especially useful to collaborate with their portfolio firms and funding partners, completing the circle.”

Recently, CloudOrigin received an Acquisition International Finance Award and Mr Hall tells us how this felt, and to what the firm owes this success.

Irish Financial Advisory Firm of the Year

Complete Financial Advice is a boutique advisory firm that works with business owners and international clients to provide solutions for various financial challenges faced in an ever-changing landscape.

Directors Bill Anderson & Fergus O’Halloran tell us more about the firm and the services it offers to clients and what changes it has experienced over the last 12 months.

“We advise on asset protection, investment management, pension/retirement planning and succession planning.

“Over the past year we have seen a dramatic rise in demand by clients looking for advice in relation to their international options and cashflow planning. A recent development is new clients being referred to us for advice on how to rescue their investment portfolios from underperforming and loss making investments which unfortunately is all too common. We have encountered many overseas advisers who really shouldn’t be providing advice. It’s a painful process to go through but once we have identified the problems we help our clients regain their assets where possible in a more planned manner which ensures there are no surprises. We believe in planning for the downside as well as the upside.”

Recently, Complete Financial Advice was named as Irish Financial Advisory Firm of the Year, voted by AI readers. Mr. Anderson tells us of his delight and the reasons behind the firm’s success.

“We were delighted and honoured to win this prestigious award as it is a testament to the expertise and dedication that we provide our clients.

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“We are delighted to see another year of record growth at CloudOrigin be recognised in this way, and yet another indicator that both direct investment in TMT sector is an increasingly attractive component of many investment firms strategy, alongside the need for rigorous IT due diligence on the majority of today’s end-user organisations.

“We have had another phenomenal year, working on some of the world’s largest buyouts, mid-range Private Equity investments as well as VC growth rounds, and we think this award is testimony to our clients and their continued confidence in the TMT sector in particular.

“We are particularly pleased to have had a wave of referrals bringing new Family Office, Venture Capital and Private Equity firms as clients across Europe and USA.” Finally, Mr Hall comments on the firm’s overriding philosophy, to ensure many more years of successful business to come.

“Firstly, we put the business impact of technology foremost, and speak in a language that investors will understand.

Secondly, we build trust with the target to prove that we really understand the innovation and service delivery processes at the heart of their firm and the challenges they will encounter at each stage of evolution. Thirdly, we give pragmatic actionable advice rather than simply flagging issues.”

CloudOrigin Limited Name: Richard Hall Email: Richard.Hall@cloudorigin.com Web: www.cloudorigin.com Address: 2nd Floor, 145-157 St John Street, London, EC1V 4PY, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (203) 642 5715

“We focus on providing our clients with consistent, relevant advice on their international affairs and in particular in protecting their assets.”

This success is, in part, due to the unique culture of the firm which Mr. Anderson tells us more about. “We are always investing in our people with technical training and the best tools available. We are a customer focused and solutions driven company and for us a great solution must be primarily driven by our client s needs and goals.”

Indeed the firm’s overriding philosophy is one of diversification and involves planning for all eventualities.

“We have a top-down, conservative approach in our investment philosophy. We are very risk & return focused company and believe in longer term growth rather than short term chopping and changing,” says Mr. Anderson. “The old saying “it ain’t what you do it’s the way that you do it” is very appropriate for us.”

Complete Financial Advice Name: Bill Anderson Email: bill@completefinancial.ie Web: www.completefinancial.ie Address: 82 South Mall, Cork City, Ireland.

Tel: +353 021 427 1687 Fax: +353 021 427 2088

2014 Finance Awards | 31

Commitment to Client Services - London

Compliant is an accountancy and professional services firm dedicated to helping small and medium-sized businesses become more efficient and profitable.

Founded in 2009 Compliant stands for consistent quality and expertise.

The firm is registered to perform audits in the United Kingdom and Ireland by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants and is also regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

We provide services to over 100 Small and Medium Sized Entities (SMEs) operating in a variety of sectors including construction, entertainment & leisure, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, property and travel.

We focus our considerable experience and expertise on partnering with our clients to reduce their administrative effort and also to help them spot and take advantage of opportunities for improving their businesses.

At the core of this approach is the provision of effective, timely and proactive support through our range of services. We regularly engage with our clients in person and at their place of business. This gives us a tangible sense of the business behind the numbers and allows us to make recommendations on how the entire operation might be enhanced.

Commitment to Client Services - Leicestershire

Custom Enterprises Ltd provides a full range of Accountancy and Book-keeping services. Managing Director, Glen Patterson, tells us more about the firm.

“We specialise in providing a unique friendly accountancy experience for individuals and businesses. Due to this style of service the firm has undergone continuous growth year after year. By the end of 2014 our highly qualified team will have doubled in size. Clients range from an electrician through vehicle dealerships to mobile applications from game companies. As we are based in Hinckley, Leicestershire (UK centre), regular contact with UK clients has never been easier. Those who are further afield in Europe and beyond still receive our unique service due to the ease of electronic communications.”

“The firm has expanded due to the team’s unstinting efforts and some of our recent achievements are: Finalist UK World Skills, NIACE East Midlands Employer of the Year, Finalist for the National Apprenticeship East Midlands Employer of the Year, publications in several International and National Digests.”

Glen tells us how it felt to be awarded the Commitment to Client Services – Leicestershire Award of the Year, as voted for by readers of Acquisition International magazine.

“We were totally surprised and extremely delighted at the same time to win such a prestigious award. The team feel great that their hard work has been recognised by a leading finance journal. As a small firm this award as “Best in Class”

At Compliant we are focussed on your entire business and not just the numbers.

We work alongside our clients to identify good business opportunities, source funding for them and devise tax efficient structures in which to carry out their activities.

We also assist our clients with the expansion of their businesses through organic growth - franchises, new regions, new products, new product lines etc. Our service offering in this area may include due diligence, business process re-engineering, planning for growth, and financial modelling.

Finally if you are thinking about retirement or reducing your operations we can also assist you with devising and implementing a tax-efficient exit strategy.

Compliant Accountancy & Tax Name: Carlison Morris Email: enquiries_2014@compliantnet.co.uk Web: www.compliantnet.co.uk Address: 2 Lansdowne Road Croydon Greater London CR9 2ER Tel: + 44 (0)20 8680 7400

for Leicestershire reinforces our belief that the standards of excellence that we set ourselves are of the highest order.”

“This success is due to the team’s daily efforts. They work together to deliver a premium service to each and every client.

Everyone works hard to ensure that each client feels like they are the ONLY client. They provide an ease of interaction that is not normally found in the Accountancy environment and this is continually reinforced with all client communications.”

Custom Enterprises Ltd sets itself apart from competitors by providing a totally bespoke client service. Glen elaborates on the firm’s overriding philosophy: “We operate a unique low-key service that ensures the client feels immediately at ease just like a “home from home”. Clients are not rushed out of the door and discussions are in “plain English”. In such an environment clients openly speak about the issues they face.”

“We pride ourselves on providing each client with a first class service and delivering high quality results which are appreciated.”

Custom Enterprises Limited No Frills Accountancy Skills Chartered Management Accountants & Certified Book-keepers Name: Glen Patterson, Managing Director Email: gnp@ce-l.com Web: www.ce-l.com Address: 8 Regent Court, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 0AD Tel: + 44 (0) 1455 233 733 Fax: + 44 (0) 1455 210 012

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32 | 2014 Finance Awards

Businesses Growth Advisory Team of the Year - UK

Jonathan Wall is Managing Director at Elman Wall. Here, he speaks about winning the prestigious International Finance Award from AI magazine.

companies as we can get beneath the skin of a business and quickly understand what it would take to make transformational changes.

“Elman Wall are delighted to receive this award. This follows our winning both Independent Firm of the Year - Greater London and National Best Employer at the British Accountancy Awards in 2013 and also winning a 2020 Group Innovation Award.

“We believe we are a little different and we have clients who can tell you that we have made large differences to help them in their businesses.”

“These awards recognise our recent achievements and, having just doubled the size of our office and moved into the City, this allows us to really power on as a boutique firm of accountants and tax advisors providing high-quality expertise, coupled with approachable and available solution-driven directors, to our existing and future clients.

Elman Wall Name: Jonathan Wall Email: jonw@elmanwall.co.uk Web: www.elmanwall.co.uk Adress: Becket House, 36 -37 Old Jewry, London, EC2R 8DD. Tel: +44 020 7600 5667

“We love what we do and it shows. We have a 98% plus client retention rate and we are aiming for higher still. The only way to achieve this is to give our clients exactly what they want and more-aiming to be world class at every point of contact.

“With integrated Advisory; M&A; Tax Consultancy and Wealth Management, we hope to be an irresistible pro-active hub to privately-owned company owners.

“We live in interesting times! However, given a fair wind over the coming months there are many opportunities for successful business owners to grow, improve, acquire or even sell their businesses. We believe we can really add value to

Fiduciary Services Team of the Year - Cyprus

Fiduciana Trust (Cyprus) Limited is a boutique Cyprus trustee and fiduciary services company with international coverage.

The firm takes pride in offering a friendly and personal service. It focuses on offering the highest level of personalised trust, corporate and accounting services and solutions to clients. The boutique nature of the business ensures that its clients’ affairs are kept strictly confidential and the most personal approach is offered in the handling of all matters.

order to provide a service to its clients of extraordinary quality.

Anna Homenko, Fiduciana’s managing partner, has 14 years of tax, compliance, trust corporate and fiduciary experience.

She is proficient in dealing with all aspects of corporate law, including the incorporation, management and structuring of Cyprus and international corporate entities as well as advice, structuring and ongoing management of complex multijurisdictional trust structures.

Fiduciana provides services in trust services; corporate services; accounting & financial management; international tax planning; family office and virtual office; Cyprus funds registration and administration.

Ms Homenko studied International Law in the Institute of International Relations, Kyiv Taras Shevchen-ko University, and continued her academic development in the UK, where she graduated from Keele University with a dual bachelor’s degree in Law and International Politics. Following that, she completed the legal Practice Course (LPC) in Chester, UK. Ms Homenko is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and ITPA.

The firm’s personnel consists of chartered accountants, lawyers and paralegal administrators - high calibre professionals carefully recruited and suitably trained to meet the needs of the most demanding situations. Its team is extremely dedicated, working long hours in order to give clients the best service possible. Fiduciana clients are certainly not treated as a number - each client is known on a first name basis.

The firm builds a committed team of people who take total responsibility for its services locally as well as internationally.

Its aim is to always exceed its client’s expectations.

Fiduciana leads the field in providing added value to its clients. Where the firm provides directors for a client company, it has the ability and experience to understand their business and therefore conduct the entire business of the company, liaising with the company’s owners only where appropriate.

Fiduciana is proud to source highly qualified employees in

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Fiduciana aims to deliver services of the highest standard, provide solutions and guide clients, working together with expert legal, financial and tax advisers. It combines legal knowledge, fiduciary experience and business sense to ensure the best possible outcome for the client. The firm believes that the art of fiduciary services is to ensure that there are no impossible solutions, and it has that down to a fine art.

Fiduciana Trust (Cyprus) Limited Name: Anna Homenko, Managing Director Email: anna.homenko@fiduciana.net Web: www.fiduciana.net Address: 8 Mikinon Street, 1065 Nicosia, Cyprus Tel: +357 22 460890

2014 Finance Awards | 33

Most Outstanding Tax Compliance Consultancy 2014 – UK & Premium Tax Solutions Advisory Firm of the Year - UK

FiscalReps is a firm focused on delivering indirect tax compliance solutions to international businesses. The company’s main area of operation is in the insurance sector where it delivers IPT and VAT services to a wide range of international insurance companies. We spoke to Mike Stalley, Chief Executive about what winning these two awards means to his business.

First of all, these awards are recognition of the hard work that the team consistently puts in. Whilst it is great to be acknowledged by the industry as a market leader, we use it as a focus to push on and strive to improve our business and how we service our clients.

FiscalReps is a small niche firm working in an industry dominated by large multinational organisations and to be recognised ahead of some of our larger, more illustrious competitors is a great achievement for us. Our success is a combination of hard work and dedication but also the ability to deliver a uniquely challenging service to over 250 international clients in an effective manner.

When FiscalReps was formed back in 2003 we had to create a new business model as we were developing a service which was new to the market. The secrets to success are creating a strong team of individuals who are talented and professional but also have a clear focus on what needs to be achieved to get the job done.

Having a team that can speak 12 languages certainly helps us to do this, but the concentration of skills, resources and operations in a single location has meant that we can offer clients a single point of contact with the ability to access our team of tax experts quickly.

Our primary focus is the ‘compliance’ business – creating processes that enable clients to remain in full compliance with premium tax legislation in multiple territories. The work pattern is cyclical with filing deadlines every month; consequently the business is very process, task driven and is built around the requirement to constantly hit ‘hard’ deadlines set by the tax authorities.

Advisory work, by contrast, is less about process and more about analysis of problems and evaluating and presenting solutions to clients. It is typically less routine in nature and definitely not standard in terms of work performed but does rely on the same tax knowledge that drives the compliance business.

Historically, demand has always been greater for the compliance side of the business as the primary problem for most clients has been delivering fully compliant tax returns monthon-month in multiple territories.

This is still the case, but with greater reliance placed on the systems used by FiscalReps to deliver this compliance, clients are now creating time to focus on more commercial aspects of their business; this is where the consulting practice can then begin to deliver results.

islation for the benefit of our clients. A positive result of this is our ability to discuss advisory issues with tax authorities openly and honestly, which enables clients to make the right decisions about the application of tax legislation.

We do not promote aggressive tax planning; consequently the tax authorities have grown to trust that we will promote full compliance to our clients rather than constantly seeking loopholes in the legislation This means that advice given to clients will normally have the full backing of the tax authorities which gives clients greater certainty in terms of tax policy.

With business compliance being such a hot topic in recent times, clients have focused on building compliance systems that are robust and can deliver long-term compliance. However numerous changes to tax legislation constantly change the tax landscape and can impact both compliance activities and consulting projects.

For example the introduction of a new tax not only creates a new compliance reporting requirement but also a need to understand how the tax must be applied within the business and what needs to change to accommodate the new tax.

Our overriding philosophy within FiscalReps is to “do the right thing”. When managing clients this means a focus on full compliance and a deliberately non-aggressive stance when it comes to tax planning. This may mean that occasionally difficult conversations need to be had but these are always dealt with professionally, openly and with honesty.

The last 12 months has really followed the pattern of the previous few years; many countries are looking at premium taxes as a way of generating much needed revenue and consequently we have seen many rate increases but also countries introducing new taxes.

On a global basis the trend remains the movement to towards indirect taxation and away from direct taxation; meaning that the taxation of transactions and consumption will remain a key focus for governments.

The continued focus on corporate compliance and the scrutiny of the tax affairs of multinational businesses has created an environment where full tax compliance is not an option.

The challenge for FiscalReps is to deliver a fully compliant tax solution but in a transparent manner; giving clients reassurance that they are compliant together with the evidence to demonstrate full compliance.

Fiscal Reps Limited Name: Mike Stalley Email: mike.stalley@fiscalreps.com Web: www.fiscalreps.com Address: 200 Fowler Avenue Farnborough Business Park Farnborough Hampshire GU14 7JP UK Tel: +44 (0)20 7036 8070

Over time I am hopeful that the two areas of business will begin to balance out as it is important that we continue to develop the capacity and capability to deliver both services We always look to build strong relationships with tax authorities so that we can gain a thorough understanding of the leg-

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34 | 2014 Finance Awards

Financial Consultancy Firm of the Year - Madagascar

FTHM Conseils this year celebrates its 20th anniversary, highlighting an unprecedented longevity for a consulting firm in Madagascar. Specialising in two core business segments - namely strategy consulting and management services and outsourcing (BPO or business process outsourcing), the company assists businesses in their creation and development.

Thierry Rajaona from FTHM explains more about the firm and the services it offers. “Having more than 20 years of experience helping businesses achieve business performance, FTHM Conseils was founded in 1994. Currently based in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city, its reputation is well known over the entire Africa.

“FTHM has a wealth of expertise that enables it to provide a wide range of consulting services. We assist companies, institutions or organizations in all their activities by delivering a host of value-added services in: • Management ; • Project management ; • Corporate finance and M&A • Human resources ; • BPO : Business Processing Outsourcing ; • Economics.”

Recently, FTHM was awarded Financial Consultancy Firm of the Year, as voted for by AI readers. Mr Rajaona explains how this award adds to the firm’s success.

“This award will benefit both to all staff and the firm. Employees will be proud of their firm and be happy to work there and to contribute to its growth. For partners and senior executives, it will show that the strategy is relevant. This award will also strengthen customer’s trust towards the firm. On regional level, it is always an honor that a firm from Madagascar receives this award. It will encourage the other firms to go further.

Personal Injury Economic Damages Assessment Testifying Expert of the Year United States & Financial Forensic Accounting Firm of the Year - United States The Gingras Firm, LLC

The Gingras Firm, LLC is a full-service forensic accounting firm specialising in economic damages calculation and associated expert testimony in all types of litigation matters, including but not limited to, personal injury, accounting and legal malpractice, complex business litigation and securities class action litigation. The firm has clients from coast-tocoast of the United States, from California to Georgia.

Recently, The Gingras Firm was named Personal Injury Economic Damages Assessment Testifying Expert of the Year - United States, as voted by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Mr. Gingras explained how he felt to be awarded this prestigious accolade.

“I was very happy to have been selected and voted as such.

It is always great to be awarded an accolade based on votes by peers. I am certain that this award will help solidify the recognition of my expert status in the U.S. Courts.

“There are certain areas of focus which have helped lead to this success, such as personal injury economic damages is a complex area and demands for the thorough evaluation and investigation of the damages suffered by a Plaintiff or reasonable damages to be paid by Defendant.

“My methodology strives to award to Plaintiff economic damages available under the laws of a specific jurisdiction without speculation or conjecture.”

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“Our consulting firm FTHM Conseils has led these last years’ many successful assignments in corporate finance and in mergers & acquisitions (M&A). We have recently assisted in fund raising up to US$ 4 million in foreign Private Equity investment for the leading organic fertilizer manufacturer in Madagascar. This year 2014, FTHM succeeded in helping the Government of Comoros to finalize the first ever privatization of SOE in the country, namely the Development Bank of Comoros.”

FTHM’s success also depends on the service it provides to clients, and Mr Rajaona embellishes on what it is that sets the firm aside from competitors.

“FTHM’s mission is to provide high quality services to companies. Those services meet the international standards. In 2007, FTHM was awarded the ISO 9001:2000 certification for all its services. As such, it has been the first management consulting firm in Africa which has ever received such a distinction. This certification ISO 9001:2008 has been renewed in June 2010 and March 2013.

“Besides, as a member of MGI worldwide network, FTHM Conseils belongs to one of the world’s top alliances of independent audit, tax, accounting and consulting firms.”

FTHM Conseils Name: Thierry Rajaona Email: trajaona@fthm.mg Web: www.fthm.mg Address: Immeuble ARO Antsahavola, B.P. 7631 101 - Antananarivo, MADAGASCAR Tel: +261 20 22 631 86 | +261 32 07 631 86 Fax: +261 20 22 337 20

J.P. continued to explain what he believes makes a good business, and how he positions his firm to keep ahead of the competition.

“Client service was, is and will continue to be the determining factor in the success of a firm like The Gingras Firm; great service counts, great work product is essential but these are discounted when the client receives poor services in terms of responsiveness and willingness to go above and beyond the minimum requirements of a matter.

“I believe I have extensive and unmatched professional experience in the industry. Starting my career at a Big 4 accounting firm, I went in-house where I prepared publicly issued financial statements before joining an AmLaw top 50 law firm as an in-house accounting expert in the Securities Litigation Group before opening The Gingras Firm, LLC.” In addition to his certifications as a CPA, CFE, FCPA, CFCS, CGMA and CFF, Mr. Gingras believes that he separates himself from the rest of the field with his years of experience of being in a law firm.

The Gingras Firm LLC Name: J.P. Gingras Email: jpgingras@thegingrasfirm.com Web: www.thegingrasfirm.com Tel: +1 (404) 247-5480

2014 Finance Awards | 35

Best Accounting Firm - UK

Graham Associates (International) Ltd was originally established as a partnership 26 years ago and now has a diverse client base throughout the UK and internationally. With bases in Wales, London and LA As International Accountants specialising in the film and television industry, we have provided financial contractual advice to such companies as BBC, NBC/Universal and William Morris Agency. We have a client bank of film production talent throughout the UK and US including household names.

GRAHAM ASSOCIATES (INTERNATIONAL) LTD

We have instructions to act on many high profile and exciting projects some of which already have expressions of interest from worldwide distributors even at a script level.

Several of our clients are BAFTA and OSCAR nominated/ winners having worked with visionaries such as James Cameron and Steven Speilberg on such major movies as Titanic, Phantom of the Opera, War Horse and the current US series made in Wales, The Da Vinci Demons Having a passion for the cinema and television we bring together the best of British film makers with investors and the Seed and Enterprise Investment Scheme to make a project happen, make it successful and carefully control the risk.

Utilising HMRC approved tax investment schemes and coupling the UK film tax credit of 20% of the core costs on a film it is possible to mitigate the risks of film investment to just 14.3% for a highest rate taxpayer. With a project that has already been market tested before being made the returns can be huge which, under the approved schemes, are then tax free after 3 years.

Best Financial Planning Firm - Germany

Guido Küsters Private Office GmbH is specialized in comprehensive financial advice and planning.

Driven by founder and owner Guido Küsters, the company is part of a network of financial and estate planning professionals as well as product providers, and also has good relations with standard setting organisations as well as regulators for the financial services industry.

Guido Küsters

Private Office GmbH

Guido Küsters Private Office GmbH provides advice and comprehensive services as a Private Office for individuals.

Services are on a fee basis and include holistic financial planning as well as focussed advice in any one of it’s components, such as cash flow planning, evaluation of investment opportunities, real estate services, risk management, or estate and succession planning.

We are also working on several joint ventures with production companies, distributors and investment angel networks.

We have developed a refreshing new way to make great British Films for film makers and an exciting less risky way for investors to be involved in the film and television industry.

This has been so successful that we have also created our own film company, Independent Moving Pictures Ltd (IMP).

IMP has already financed 6 iconic cult horror films all made in Wales. All of our films are the result of a partnership with UK and US distributors with whom we work to create marketable films which have a guaranteed route to market before any money is spent. We have 7 more green lit for 2014 and 2015. The model is now self funding.

Over the last 4 years we have helped to finance and produce 32 films with a huge slate for the future including a pilot for an exciting new suspense series for television. We are creating employment and helping to boost the UK economy through the production, distribution and export of British films and the tourism that brings back to the UK. Graham Associates (International) Ltd Name: Robert Graham Email: robgraham@gai.uk.com Web: www.graham-assoc.co.uk Address: 180 Piccadilly, London W1J 9HF Tel: +44 0207 917 1727

certification, education and related programs for financial planning organizations so they may benefit the global community by establishing, upholding and promoting worldwide professional standards in financial planning.

Guido Küsters Private Office GmbH Name: Guido Küsters Email: info@kuesters.eu Web: www.kuesters.eu Address: An der Alten Burg 17 47839 Hüls bei Krefeld Deutschland Tel: +49 (173) 720 77 44

Through it’s network, Guido Küsters Private Office GmbH provides the services to clients in Germany, Austria, France and the USA, with clients assets in many more countries.

At DIN Deutsche Industrie Norm and ISO International Standards Organisation as standard setting bodies, Mr. Küsters chaired the Technical Committee 222 Requirement for Financial Planners.

He is also a board member of FPSB Financial Planning Standards Board Deutschland, and responsible for international topics, law making and regulation. In this capacity he serves in various working groups of FPSB Ltd., the global nonprofit association that manages, develops and operates

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36 | 2014 Finance Awards

Accountancy Firm of the Year - Wales

As we approach our 100th year in business it is nice to receive recognition for all the hard work we have been putting in. Starting as a one person practice back in 1915 we have grown to one of the largest accountancy firms in North Wales with ten partners. Despite our size we have not lost our key values of offering quality advice at a competitive price. We pride ourselves on the relationships we create with our clients.

We are very proud to win this award, especially since it comes from such a prestigious, globally recognised publication as Acquisition International . It allows potential clients to recognise we always offer the best possible service and sets us apart from the competition. We believe it is down to our laid back approach and our eagerness to please. We always talk to our clients like human beings and do not baffle them with jargon. We always accept phone calls no matter what the issue you would like to discuss, or we ring you back as soon as possible if we are already in a meeting. We also allocate one partner to solely handle all your affairs, you will not be passed around the houses.

Due to our large number of staff we have specialists in a number of fields, from medical practitioners, overseas residents, charities, access to finance and loan applications, HMRC investigations, audits, construction, VAT, payroll, capital allowance claims, off shore workers through to leisure and tourism. As a firm we have over nine hundred and twenty years’ experience across our staff. Furthermore we are incredibly proud of our staff retention. The average length of service with the firm within our accountancy team is over

Financial Accountancy Firm of the Year - South East

Hudson Conway & Co is a leading practice of accountants in Bristol and associate offices throughout the UK, giving trusted advice to businesses and individuals. Fresh from their awards success, we caught up with Partner, Chas Roopra to find out exactly what makes the business tick.

We’re very pleased to receive the award. It is recognition for the hard work we have been putting in over the years.

Awards like this are important as they let us know we are going in the right direction. They also give existing clients assurance that they are in the right hands and, in the eyes of potential clients, they give us added credibility.

Leading up to this award win, our focus has been on what clients need and want, not what would make the work easier for us. For example, rather than just providing compliance services, we aim to help our clients run their businesses more successfully.

At Hudson Conway, we offer the usual compliance services taxation, year-end accounts, bookkeeping, VAT, payroll - however we also specialise in providing our client with business growth support, such as help with their sales and marketing and in managing growth of their business.

With regards to all of our clients, we strive to provide a complete business support hub, from initial marketing to managing business growth and dealing with the compliance aspect. And we provide all of this while operating at the highest service levels.

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seventeen and a half years, so you can rest assured you will always be seeing a familiar face.

One of the features we are currently promoting is the development of entrepreneurship among an area of high unemployment. We like to help people not accustomed to self-employment make the first steps to running their own business. We will continue to support them on their journey as they grow their business.

We are always looking to create new, mutually beneficial, relationships with businesses of all shapes and sizes. If you would like the help of a pro-active accountancy firm, with your interests in mind, to help you make the most of your business please do not hesitate to contact us.

The Harold Smith Partnership Name: Craig Cox Email: craigcox@haroldsmith.co.uk Web: www.haroldsmith.co.uk Address: Unit 32, St Asaph Business Park St Asaph, Denbighshire, LL17 0JA Tel: +44 (0)1745 538000 Fax: +44 (0)1745 538111

It’s all about providing the client with more than they need.

For example, they may come to you for compliance services, which you can provide, however, with specific advice, you can inform them about other services, which they didn’t know were available. By doing this, their business will benefit from your relationship in more than one way.

I believe what sets Hudson Conway & Co apart from our competitors is our unrivalled service level and a personal approach to every one of our clients’ needs. Rather than a traditional once a year service, we aim to work closely with clients by providing free online book-keeping software, devise a business growth plan, regularly review the progress and then suggest tax saving strategies to maximise take home.

There is a big drive at the moment towards online bookkeeping and we have already developed a partnership with one of the major providers so we can provide the software and training free of charge. We are also starting to educate our clients with regards to the upcoming introduction of compulsory pension contributions as we believe that this will have a major impact on our industry over the coming years.

Hudson Conway & Co Name: Chas Roopra Email: cr@hudson-conway.com Web: www.hudson-conway.com Address: 18 Roneo Corner Romford RM7 0QB Tel: +44 0208 507 2092 Fax: +44 0871 528 9529

2014 Finance Awards | 37

Best Insurance Broker - Finland

IIZI Firstbrokers Oy is first in its field in Finland, servicing companies in risk management. The firm, which specialises in employee benefits, audits, benchmarks, designs and administrates a wide variety of risks. We spoke to CEO, Jaava Myllyniemi about his company and its award win.

Firstly, Jaava, tell us about your reaction to winning this award and give us an idea of how important you believe awards like this to be, both to individual businesses like IIZI and the wider industry.

Awards like this are well appreciated in our company and demonstrate that we, as a firm, possess the right kind of attitude when it comes to achieving goals in business. As an international but local company, it is important to show that market outside of Finland has recognised this.

To what do you most owe this award win? Are there any specific areas you’ve focused on that have been a major contributing factor to this success?

Put simply, we have a 25 year-old tradition of servicing multinational clients together with our networks in Finland and our Finnish clients abroad. This success is also due in no small part to our truly multilingual staff, their expertise and talent.

Tell us about the most notable developments or successes in your business over the past year.

The most notable recent developments in our firm have been the establishing of a new worldwide network of partners and our winning of several big clients in global tenders.

What are the main factors that affect businesses working in the financial arena (geography, legislation, for example) and how do you deal with or take advantage of them?

Sole Practitioner of the Year - North West

Islam & Co Chartered Accountants & Business Advisors are delighted to have been awarded “Sole Practitioner of the Year – North West” in the International Finance Awards 2014. It is tremendous recognition for the hard work and efforts of the team over the past 12 months during a sustained period of growth for the firm. The award attests to the quality of the international work undertaken over that period.

As an SME accountancy firm we continually tailor our approach and adapt rapidly to the growing needs of the thriving entrepreneurial SME market in the UK and overseas.

Our depth of expertise in a broad range of service lines has been recognised by this award with our key divisions being Corporate Finance, Corporate Tax Planning, Mergers & Acquisitions and International Tax Planning and Advisory.

This significant award demonstrates the ability of Islam & Co to deliver services which are generally associated with larger firms or the “Big 4” but with a price positioning more attune to the SME market.

Global markets continue to present SMEs with exciting platforms to develop and offer opportunities to benefit from strong GDP growth whilst home markets remain relatively less fluid in the short term. We have worked alongside our clients to help them achieve their international aspirations of reaching their targeted markets and developing trading operations in Brazil, China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, UAE and Vietnam over the past 12 months.

Finland is an oligopoly insurance market and is dominated by three carriers who make our market unique. We try to offer variety of foreign choices and alternatives to our domestic clients.

Tell us about your firm’s overriding philosophy and the culture within IIZI. The first thing that new clients will notice is that our staff is fast, easy to understand and always transparent. No matter how small the client is, they will get same service that a larger global company would expect.

We also ensure that we put in place easy and simple processes and tools for staff and clients when working together and we undertake ongoing auditing of clients in order to identify potential risks.

So, what sets your business apart from your competitors and peers and how do you use this differentiation to your advantage?

I believe that our transparency has a huge part to play. All of our clients feel completely comfortable, even when discussing complex issues, which allows us to build great trust and confidence.

What have been the most prevalent trends in the finance industry over the past 12 months?

When the economy slows down, clients start to concentrate on their most important tasks and outsourcing rest to professionals like us hoping to get savings as well.

IIZI Firstbrokers Oy Name: Jaava Myllyniemi Email: info@iizi.fi Web: www.iizibrokers.fi Address: Heikkiläntie 2 B, Helsinki, Finland FI-00210 Tel: 358 (0) 20 761 9220 Fax: 358 (0) 20 761 9229

diverse range of market sectors. This differentiates us from our competitors, enables us to deliver tailored professional services that in turn enables our clients to execute their ever expanding business models in the most efficient manner possible.

Our own business model is akin to many of our clients in that whilst our offices are based in Liverpool, we advise businesses based both nationwide and worldwide. The North West of England has proven to be a prosperous location to be situated from given the wealth of entrepreneurial sprit prevalent in the region. We are proud of the part we have played in that development and fully committed to seeking out new opportunities for our clients in the future.

Global markets have become more accessible then ever before and we firmly believe with the right advice a small idea can be turned into an international opportunity.

Islam & Co Chartered Accountants Contact: Tawhid Islam Email: tawhid.islam@islam-co.com Web: www.islam-co.com Tel: +44 (0) 151 236 6964

We passionately believe that as an SME firm ourselves we understand the acute needs of the SME market over a

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38 | 2014 Finance Awards

Commitment to Client Services - West Midlands

JHK Accountants is a boutique five-partner practice based in Birmingham, London and Manchester, specialising in Tax Planning, Forensic Accounting and Business Advisory Services.

James Howroyd tells us a little more about the firm.

“All our Partners and staff come from a Big 4 background, this has enabled them to gain a multitude of experiences across many industries and businesses. Their backgrounds allow them to exercise a very high level of expertise and professionalism.

“Our clients are as varied as the British weather, some of our clients include; Owner Managed Businesses, Technology Start-Ups, GP practices, Barrister Chambers, High Net Worth Individuals, Retail Businesses, Pharmaceutical Businesses, Manufacturing Businesses, Healthcare Groups and Hedge Funds.”

There have been recent successes in the last 12 months for JHK and Mr. Howroyd embellishes on these.

“Over the last 12 months our practice has gone from strength to strength, we recently opened an office in Manchester and two overseas offices in Istanbul and Dubai. Through our Dubai office, with support from the London office, we helped one our client’s acquire a competitor in Saudi Arabia.”

Recently, JHK was named Commitment to Client Services West Midlands of the Year and Mr. Howroyd explains how it felt to have received such an accolade.

“We were very pleased to have won, as it was a recognition of the time and effort we put into building & and nurturing client relationships. Our sole mission is to help our clients succeed, in their success lies our success.

Best Support Services Forensic Accounting Firm - USA

Founded in 1988, Kessler International is a world leader specialising in a wide variety of forensic and investigative services. With offices worldwide, the firm offers a full range of forensic accounting, computer forensics and corporate investigative services to protect companies against the dangers of fraud, counterfeiting, product diversion, trademark, patent, and copyright infringement, money laundering and computer crime.

Kessler International is a globally respected investigative firm that has assisted in thousands of successful investigations for corporations and government agencies worldwide. The company is privately owned, licensed and certified with a network of established affiliates on every continent.

Clients who’ve come to rely on the business include preeminent national and multi-national companies, government agencies, financial institutions, investment groups, insurance companies, law firms and private individuals.

Known for the quality of the investigations it carries out and the integrity with which it conducts them, the firm’s extensive portfolio of services includes forensic accounting, business intelligence, investigation and surveillance, internet monitoring and comprehensive litigation support for attorneys and their clients.

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“Client satisfaction lies at the heart of our business culture. 12 months ago we committed ourselves to becoming the business partner of choice for our clients. It is this focused approach that has led to our success. Our clients have said that our focus on providing strategic level advice really sets apart from other practices.”

Delivery exceptional client service is key to JHK, and one of the reasons the firm stands out from the competition.

“Put simply, we believe in delivering a high quality service with no exception. We aim to add value to our clients businesses and financial affairs, through the deployment of expert advice coupled with a deep understanding of our clients and their needs.

“All our people bring their unique personalities, intelligence and expertise together to create a culture of inclusion, teamwork and high quality output. We recognise the need to nurture great individual talents and provide an environment where people can flourish personally and professionally. In fact, our future depends on it. So whilst you will find that people share a common set of values across our business, each person brings their own set of experiences, skills and aspirations.

“Throughout the year we have a number of training and cultural events across the globe, which bring together all our staff across the five offices.

“Our culture and modus operandi are unique in the area we operate; this gives us a key competitive advantage.”

JHK Accountants Name: James Howroyd Email: info@jhkaccountants.com Web: http://jhkaccountants.com Address: Bradford Court, Bradford Street, Birmingham, B12 0NS Tel: +44 121 773 3645

details and requirements of their case. Clients can also expect to receive the highest level of supervision and client support until their case is brought to its full conclusion.

Kessler International constantly invests in new technologies to provide state-of-the-art protection for all of its clients. This includes the latest information technologies, audio and video surveillance equipment and computer software. The firm’s proprietary international databases of corporate and individual profiles are some of the most extensive in the industry and are continuously updated to ensure uncompromising data integrity.

With offices and electronically-linked affiliates around the globe, the company’s worldwide presence gives it the ability to respond quickly and effectively to any investigation need, anywhere in the world. With one call to Kessler International, clients can tap the resources of qualified local investigative and accounting personnel with expertise in local business practices and important contacts with law enforcement agencies.

As a business, Kessler International takes pride in its impressive track record of successful investigations and its ongoing success is the direct result of a unique combination of financial expertise and investigative abilities, its supremely qualified personnel, and the highly effective team approach to each case.

Wherever the threats to a client’s business exist - perhaps a software piracy ring in the Pacific Rim, a product counterfeiting operation in Europe or embezzlement in their own backyard Kessler International offers a discreet, capable and thoroughly professional business partner, committed to restoring peace of mind. The firm’s personnel have the expertise to detect and vigorously pursue those who pose harm to a client’s business, and to prepare for their prosecution. More importantly, Kessler International can help prospective and existing clients to develop proactive measures to prevent and deter future harm.

Every member of the Kessler investigation team has years of experience and specialised skills in the areas of accounting, financial analysis, investigation work, information systems, law enforcement and computer forensics. From a client’s first encounter with the firm, they receive the full benefit of this collective expertise, as well as utmost attention to the unique

Kessler International Address: World Headquarters: 45 Rockefeller Plaza - 20th Floor, New York, NY 10111-2099 Tel: (212) 286-9100 Fax: (212) 730-2433 Toll-Free Tel: (800) 932-2221 Toll-Free Fax: (800) 451-4546

2014 Finance Awards | 39

Most Outstanding Family Run Accountancy Firm of the Year - UK

We are thrilled at Lamont Pridmore to win this prestigious award and awards like this are extremely important in setting you apart from your peers and confirming to clients the high quality of your services.

We are a Top 100 national award-winning family-run firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers with three partners, 53 staff and eight offices across Cumbria and Lancashire. We trace our roots back 120 years, being run by the same management team for over 25 years.

We have a framework of values, including integrity, honesty, reliability, accuracy, loyalty, respect, quality, excellence, value for money, focus, enthusiasm, passion, innovation and creativity.

These values are reflected in everything we do, regardless of how long a client has been with us.

The firm has grown significantly, remaining one of the UK’s fastest-growing accountancy firms in each of the last four years.

Net profits were up 22% and fee income grew 13% for year ended 31/03/2014 (100% growth over past five years).

Combining traditional values with a forward-thinking, innovative approach to the constantly evolving demands of the modern business world, we focus on the future rather than the past, starting where many firms finish. Rather than just concentrating on the transaction, we look to build successful, long-term relationships with our clients, growing with them and helping them achieve their business and personal goals.

Best in Corporate Law - 2014 - Indonesia

tax liabilities and make the most of their wealth – in short, we aim to help our clients get to where they want to be.

We pride ourselves on being able to add significant value to our clients’ businesses, which in 2013/14 were 3.3 times the fees we charged or £11.1m (2012/13:£9.9m). We believe this demonstrates real value for money, setting us apart from our competitors by demonstrating and concentrating upon value not price.

We carry out weekly client satisfaction surveys to provide feedback and we constantly strive for excellence.

Six new services were launched this year:- cost reduction, private client service, tax planning for landlords/property businesses, R&D tax claims, family business and owner-managed business. We have developed our finance director service and corporate finance services to improve our offering to clients.

We also recognise that key to our success is our team, who are involved in and share our commitment and enthusiasm for shaping our future.

However, we have not become complacent – we are constantly looking for innovative new ways to deliver even better client service.

We have developed a wide range of specialism’s in the key economic sectors launching innovative added-value services designed to help clients increase their profits, minimise their

Lamont Pridmore Name: Graham Lamont Email: Graham@lamontpridmore.co.uk Web: www.lamontpridmore.co.uk Address: Phoenix Business Centre, Unit 8, Phoenix Court, Phoenix Road, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2UA. Tel: + 44 01229 840261 Fax: +44 01229 840241

LGS was founded in 1985 by Timbul Thomas Lubis, Dr. Ganie and Arief Tarunakarya Surowidjojo. Since then, LGS has grown into the largest corporate transactions and corporate litigation firm in Indonesia. LGS has also obtained Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance certifications of ISO 9001:2008 for Quality Management systems and ISO 14001:2004 for Environmental Management systems to ensure the quality of all aspects of the firm’s operations and services.

“We strive to understand a client’s needs and the legal complexities faced by them in Indonesia’s highly dynamic legal and business landscape, translate this into a solution, and then see the successful outcome,” says Kiki. “To this end, we approach our clients’ assignments with a pragmatic view that is driven by a deep understanding of their business needs and of the surrounding practicalities of the legal and business landscape that they operate in.”

Acquisition International recently awarded the most successful firms in the industry with prestigious accolades, as voted by the magazine’s dedicated readership. LGS clinched the title of Best in Corporate Law for Indonesia and managing partner, Dr. Mohamed Idwan (‘Kiki’) Ganie, explains how it felt to receive this.

Indonesia’s substantial population, whose prosperity is steadily increasing, and ample natural resources have proven to be an attractive business environment for investment.

Indonesia presents an appealing proposition – an economy driven by growing domestic demand rather than exports, with a domestic resource base, and a market that is growing organically rather than due to government policies.

“We are extremely pleased at the recognition of our more than 29 years of service, and experience in representing a diverse range of clients from domestic to multinational corporations, public and private companies, to government instrumentalities and state owned enterprises.

“One of our unique selling points is the combination of our long-standing commercial law practice and our premier litigation department that has extensive experience in dealing with commercial disputes in the context of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution as well as litigation in the Indonesian courts. This allows our corporate transaction departments to benefit from such litigation experience, and from their own compliance work, to ensure that any transactions handled by the firm are carried out with a view to the potential for future disputes and any existing risks.”

The firm’s overriding philosophy is to understand client needs and arrive at practical solutions that are cost effective and viable.

“Combined with substantial market opportunities presented by a wide range of sectors that have yet to be developed, including even basics such as agriculture, the ample room for continued business growth in the years and decades to come will continue to attract substantial inward as well as domestic interest.”

Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo Name: Mohamed Idwan (“Kiki”) Ganie Email: ganie@lgslaw.co.id Web: www.lgsonline.com Address: Menara Imperium 30th Floor Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said Kav. 1 Kuningan Jakarta 12980, Indonesia Tel: +62-21 831 5005, 831 5025 Fax: +62-21 831 5015, 831 5035

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40 | 2014 Finance Awards

Most Trusted Financial Planner of the Year - Brazil

It was really exciting to know that my work is being internationally awarded. Recognitions like this are very important, especially for positioning in an international setting the awarded professional, and I feel very thankful for being nominated by my clients and my articles’ readers for this prize.

As a Certified Financial Planner and lawyer, I offer full support to my clients in terms of financial planning, comprehending wealth management, tax planning, investments, legislation, real estate law, succession planning, family property, supplementary pension and insurance.

Luciano Teixeira Pinheiro

I provide service to domestic clients and also foreigners who wish to develop a portfolio of investments make business in Brazil or settle themselves economically in the country.

Over the past year, I highlight my progress in guidance on updating and adequation of investment portfolios, hedge strategies, and also on restructuring families’ financial projects, as these are currently global demands. I also highlight the orientations I´ve provided on my articles written for magazines, web sites and tabloids, clarifying reader´s doubts on finances and legislation.

My belief is that the degree of efficiency of the political, monetary, economic and fiscal management of a country is a key factor in the financial arena. I think that in terms of Brazil, economic stability is a positive factor, making movements of fiscal, exchange and monetary policies more predictable for those who follow them closely.

Medical Financial Strategies Firm of the Year - USA

Medical Capital Advisors (MedCap) are specialists in medical technology, business strategy, and M&A. The firm possesses a unique global perspective on healthcare and has a deep understanding of the value of clinical efficacy, intellectual property, regulatory approval, reimbursement and, most importantly, unparalleled industry contacts.

MedCap’s clients’ products lead the way in medical innovation and have a direct impact on the space where clinicians and patients meet. The firm becomes part of this evolution by developing great, actionable ideas and driving them into meaningful transactions. We spoke to Chairman and CEO, Christopher J.P. Velis to find out a little more about his firm.

MedCap Advisors’ commitment to building strategy for emerging medical devices, biotechnologies, and biologics spans over 20 years, having represented clients through more than 150 medical device mergers and venture investments.

While passion for the business side of the medical industry is crucial, true success also demands a focus on the human experience. We are authorities in the full spectrum of strategic, scientific, and financial strategies that drive the medical marketplace. We bring our clients to new levels of success by combining our experience in these areas with a deep understanding of diseases, treatments, standards of care, regulatory environment, and intellectual property.

Our clients, large private and public companies exclusively in the healthcare and medical technology industry, engage our

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I consider that a customer is satisfied when it has the necessary set of information, provided in a clear and detailed manner, to make the best investment decision. Customers certainly feel prestigious when the financial plan is customized and take into account the objective and subjective factors that affect their decision making.

Values like ethics, transparency, quality, efficiency and timeliness should be part of the culture of every business, and having these values as the basis is what makes my business successful.

Over the past 12 months, we´ve observed an increased concern on the regulation of financial markets, search for new stimuli for the recovery of economies, prospect of new emerging markets, increase on conservative financial positions, and cautiousness with equity and exchange markets.

For the next year, I believe that the major challenges and opportunities will lie in managing global portfolios, in the offer of solutions to growing demands of tax planning and capital repatriation, in the detection of new market fronts and monitoring trends in monetary, fiscal and socio-economic policies in Brazil´s post-election period.

Luciano Teixeira Pinheiro Name: Luciano Teixeira Pinheiro Email: lucianotpinheiro@yahoo.com.br

expertise to assess and create strategic business opportunities. Working side-by-side with them, we produce solutions to maximise market potential through mergers & acquisitions, licensing agreements, strategic partnerships, and private equity/venture capital financing.

MedCap Advisors also funds promising start-up medical technology endeavors through its venture capital arm, GreyMatter Health Ventures. Working with universities, hospitals, scientists, and clinicians, our team provides the resources for new concepts to become quality commercial medical products.

Our primary focus is on pre-seed stage ideas that have the skeleton of a promising medical device, implant, or therapy.

We join human, financial, and intellectual capital in an environment that best supports the interests of our institutional partners.

MEDCAP ADVISORS Name: Christopher J.P. Velis Email: info@medcapadvisors.com Address: 97 Winthrop Street Harvard Square Cambridge, MA 02138 Tel: 617-945-0299

2014 Finance Awards | 41

Most Outstanding Corporate Recovery Firm of the Year - UK

Moorfields Corporate Recovery LLP is a leading provider of Corporate Advisory, Restructuring and Insolvency Services.

The firm’s focus is on the corporate market in situations where companies typically have a turnover from £5m to £100m.

Partner, Phil Smith took some time out to tell us a little more about the business.

We are delighted to win the award for most outstanding Corporate Recovery Firm of the Year. This demonstrates the continued growth of Moorfields Corporate Recovery in the insolvency and restructuring industry, our specialist expertise and proven success. This award also recognises the hard work and dedication of our staff.

Moorfields continues to be one of the UK’s fastest growing independent practices of Restructuring and Insolvency Specialists. In the last six months the firm has undertaken some high profile assignments having been appointed administrators over Blockbuster, the UK’s largest chain of film and game rental stores (and one of the largest retail administrations of 2013) with 264 stores. Additionally the firms property division were recently appointed over a mixed portfolio valued at £290m.

The key to our success is our focus on client satisfaction and transparency of costs. All our assignments are partner driven and teams are structured to optimise cost effectiveness and efficiency. Our main focus from day one has been our commitment to breaking down barriers with regards to fees and quoting ‘price for the job’ whenever possible.

Business Planning & Advisory Services Team of the Year - South East

My Controller is an innovative and expanding Accountancy & Tax practice based in Windsor and Wokingham, Berkshire and helping businesses throughout the Thames Valley.

Debbie Parrish explains more about the firm and the services it provides.

“Our service can be tailored to meet the needs of any business and budget from start-ups through to large enterprises.

We’ll work out the most effective way to work together with our clients and establish a successful working relationship. Our services cover compliance areas in accounting & tax as well as business advisory services. Again, and our ultimate focus is to help our clients improve their profitability and retained cash.

“We focus on the SME market and owner managed businesses in particular. Our service is particularly focused on helping clients to grow their businesses and we focus on giving them the relevant financial controls and insights to achieve this. We specialise in Accounting Services and Tax.” Recently, the firm was named Business Planning & Advisory Services Team of the Year – South East by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Miss Parrish tells us more about the team’s reaction to winning.

“We were thrilled! We work hard as a team to put strong controls in place and do our best to operate at a high level. Our ultimate goal is to focus on and help our clients.

Winning an award like this, helps motivate everyone to keep going and try to do even better; so it helps everyone in the organisation. In terms of clients, it helps reinforce our messages and the fact that we strive for high standards. Finally, as an industry it is important that practitioners, clients and other stakeholders have a mechanism to share high levels of work and commitment.

Our specialist teams spend 100% of their time on their specialist sectors to ensure that they understand any issues affecting the market and ensure strategies are maximised.

We pride ourselves on our excellence in retail and property, having been appointed on some high profile cases over the last three years. We also have dedicated teams for solvent liquidations and personal guarantee enforcement and bankruptcy.

We are committed to the rescue and recovery culture and the firm’s ethos is based on meeting the specific needs of our clients and delivering a solution which is right for their unique situation, whilst ensuring that strategies meet cost expectations. We actively encourage our clients to use us as a sounding board and treat us as their strategic partner, so we can provide them with early advice and options to help minimise risk. Our overriding philosophy is to provide excellent service and value for money.

Our high performance culture encourages our staff to have ambitious career aspirations and consistently challenge themselves to reach their full potential, our culture as a business is very similar we never take our clients for granted and consistently challenge ourselves to push boundaries.

Moorefields Corporate Recovery Name: Phil Smith Email: psmith@moorfieldscr.com Web: www.moorfieldscr.com Address: 88 Wood Street, London, EC2V 7QF, UK Tel: 0207 186 1144 Fax: 0207 186 1177

“We focus on the client with everything we do. Our ultimate aim is to help our clients improve their profitability and retained cash. It is this focus that drives us and ultimately ensures any success that we have.”

Recent new developments have added to My Controller’s success and, Miss Parrish believes, helped the firm to clinch the award.

“In the past year we have opened a new office in Wokingham, led by a very strong Accountant who joined us from RBS,” she begins. “We are delighted with the calibre of our team and the new members we continue to attract.

“From a client perspective, we have built on our library of guidance notes. These are designed to help answer questions around key business and tax areas to help clients as they have issues where they need guidance. Additionally, we have extended our use of Social Media to help us widen our ability to educate and inform. This helps us reach not only to clients, but other people or organisations that would like to have a simple non-intrusive way of keeping informed.

In particular we have introduced monthly video blogs on our You Tube Channel - MyContollerUK. “Finally, we have just published a new book on Amazon Kindle called Running a Better Business - A Guide to Improving Intuitive Intelligence. Again this helps us widen our reach with our goal to help educate and inform.”

My Controller Name: Debbie Parrish, Partner Email: dparrish@mycontroller.co.uk Web: http://www.mycontroller.co.uk Address: 67 St. Leonards Road, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3BX Tel: +44 01753 840 948

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42 | 2014 Finance Awards

Most Trusted Bank - Sri Lanka

NDB Group is one of the largest financial conglomerates in the country. Equipped with novel, client-centric financial instruments, we are geared to meet the diverse financial needs of a client base of varied demographic, socio-economic and geographic settings.

Since our inception as a development finance institute in 1979, NDB has evolved into a leading banking conglomerate that is synonymous with quality, stability and solid performance. NDB Group differentiates itself from its peers by providing its clients with an integrated value proposition in Banking and Financial Services, inclusive of Capital Market and Insurance offerings.

NDB is the only full service financial services conglomerate in Sri Lanka. We place significance on our continuing relationships and are committed to become a partner in each stakeholder’s life and project cycles. Appropriate, responsible financial solutions along with timely advice and guidance make NDB a true knowledge bank.

The NDB Group structure is unique; it includes: • NDB - the Banking arm • NDB Capital Holdings PLC (NCAP) - the Investment Banking cluster Our strength lies in this unique group structure which enables operational individuality and combined synergy between our constituents. NDBs distinctive human capital base supplemented by a prudential credit culture and entrenched business ethics; assure security and reliability to the group’s stakeholders.

Why NDB Group?

• The only full service financial services conglomerate in Sri Lanka with a wide range of client-centric products and services • Low risk profile with high asset quality – NPL ratios well below the industry average.

• Strongly capitalized balance sheet • Independent bank with no single major shareholder • Diversified corporate clientele

Best Law Firm - Czech Republic

Nielsen Meinl is a law firm based in the Czech and Slovak Republics. The firm has been running for four years. Here, Tomas Nielsen tells us more about the company: “Our aim has always been to keep the company small but highly effective and professional. Our aim is also to become a trusted partner to our customers – IT companies, real estate firms, banks, telco operators, but also to individual or formalised financial investors, etc. Our main specialisation is exactly in these business areas, but as a partner of our clients, we help them in other matters too. We try to make the relationship with our clients as comfortable to them as possible – including provision of services in different languages beside Czech and Slovak, particularly Russian and English.”

Recently, Nielsen Meinl was named Best Law Firm for the Czech Republic, as voted for by readers of Acquisition International magazine. Mr Nielsen explains how it felt to win such a prestigious award, and to what the firm owes this success. “I believe the best promotion of a law firm is reference of its clients. And clients tend to make positive references only, if they are really satisfied. In my view, awards, such as AI’s best law firm award, are mainly a nice proof that our clients are satisfied with our services. Also, any international recognition is a huge motivation for me and my colleagues.

“As I mentioned before, I guess and hope the main reason is satisfaction of our clients. We try to build long-term partnership relationships with our client, as legal services is a highly discreet are of co-operation. And even though we assist even ad hoc clients, our services are most effective in longer

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• • • •

Development banking roots - specialists in project and Small Medium Enterprise financing Strong governance and compliance framework Rapidly expanding branch network – 80 and growing Stability of AA-(lka) Fitch rating

Products and Services of the NDB Group The banking arm of NDB Group provides its services through; • Corporate Banking – NDB offers Commercial Banking and Project financing for large corporates and development projects.

• Retail Banking – NDB’s host of customized personal financial services provides a one stop shop for individual’s banking needs and help them reach their lifestyle goals.

• SME financing – Empowerment of SMEs of Sri Lanka through a unique portfolio of banking products coupled with technical and advisory support has been NDB’s forte since inception.

• Treasury Services – NDB provides a comprehensive range of treasury services via a strong treasury product portfolio, to a wide range of clientele from large corporates, private and institutional investors to many other exchange market participants including individuals.

NDB Group’s Investment Banking Cluster offers its services through; • NDB Investment Bank – the only listed full service Investment Bank in the country • NDB Securities - a market leader in stock broking in Sri Lanka • NDB Wealth Management - the largest fund management entity in Sri Lanka • NDB Capital - the investment banking operation in Bangladesh THE NDB GROUP Name: Suvendrini Muthukumarana Email: Suvendrini.Muthukumarana@ndbbank.com Web: www.ndbbank.com Tel: +94 11 244 8448

perspective, if we become a part of the client’s (or I should rather say “our partner’s”) team.

“In the area of financial and corporate law, we work with clients when they prepare investment projects, and realise such investments. Usually, these projects cover international or local investments in new companies, in acquisitions of experienced businesses, complex international financial transactions etc. We focus on understanding the whole life-cycle of such investment project to be able to assist our clients immediately, when it is necessary. In the Czech Republic, we also have a very specific situation now, as from January 2014, the whole legal system was changed dramatically, including the corporate law. It was and still is highly important to get accustomed with the changes and to be able to work in line with the new laws. I guess our co-operation with the University sector and the fact one of our colleagues is the co-author of the commentary to the new Corporation Act helped us a lot, too.”

Nielsen Name: Tomas Nielsen Email: tnielsen@nielsenmeinl.com Web: www.nielsenmeinl.com Address: Žatecká 55/14, 110 00 Prague 1 - Josefov Tel.: +420 270 004 935 Fax: +420 270 004 939

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Tax Returns Firm of the Year - East of England

Norwich Accountancy Services was recently awarded Tax Returns Firm of the Year for the East of England. Here, they explain more about the firm and what makes it tick.

“At Norwich Accountancy Services we pride ourselves in delivering a low cost alternative to traditional accountancy services which have been plagued by complaints of over-servicing, slow service, high cost and poor adviser/ client communication. We encourage clients to prepare their own summary figures and give them easy to understand templates and notes to help them save money. We treat our clients with respect and engage with them in an open, friendly manner irrespective of their status. With tax returns starting at just £50 we have managed to remove the barrier which has stopped individuals and small businesses using a tax adviser in the past. The services we provide are individual and small business tax returns, accounts and tax returns for small limited companies, CIS and payroll services, VAT, help with tax credits and setting up limited companies. We offer clients with simple tax returns, same day service and also allow our fee to be taken from the client’s refund for a small additional charge. We also provide, in limited circumstances, instant refunds but due to the risk and cost to both parties we recommend against these.

the award validates this satisfaction and the progress we have made. These awards are important because they give recognition to excellence and give firms in our industry a goal to strive for which can only be a beneficial thing for the end client.

“We believe that we owe this award win to our tireless efforts in delivering excellent customer service at an affordable price during what has been a long drawn out recession in addition to what we believe has been an excellent marketing campaign which has helped get our USP out to our potential customers.

“At Norwich Accountancy Services we believe that if you don’t enjoy your job you shouldn’t be doing it so we encourage a happy, friendly environment which is still formal. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and find satisfaction in getting our clients a good result!”

Norwich Accountancy Services Ltd Email: jon@norwichaccountancyservices.co.uk Web: www.norwichaccountancyservices.co.uk Address: 66 Prince of Wales Rd, Norwich, Norfolk NR1 1LT Tel: +44 (01603) 630882

“We were delighted to hear recently that we had won Tax Returns Firm of the Year – East of England.

“We have worked hard to deliver a low cost alternative to traditional accountancy services over the past four years and with many satisfied customers and a rapid growth rate

Music Industry Advisory of the Year - UK

NWN Blue Squared is delighted to have won the 2014 AI Finance Award for Music Industry Advisory of the Year – UK. Over the past five years, NWN has worked hard to transform itself from ‘just another local accountancy practice’ into one of the UK’s leading accountancy and business advisory specialists to the creative sector in general, and music industry in particular. This Award is clear recognition of success.

The music industry is a highly dynamic sector which, as a result of the internet, is undergoing seismic change in the way it works. While the major record labels are still dominant, the independent sector is now the driving force behind progress in the music world. This can include anything from singer-songwriters producing acoustic albums in their bedroom, to small record labels signing the next global star. Whatever their size, specialist accountancy and business advice has become a critical part of their success.

Accountancy services that deliver the unexpected

While earnings from physical formats (such as CDs and vinyl) are still important to many musicians, digital, merchandising, synchronisation (music used for advertising and film scores) and, of course, publishing are fast becoming the primary sources of income for much of the industry. This requires an intimate knowledge of national and international royalty legislation, methods of monitoring and gathering income regardless of location, contract negotiation, tax implications and a great deal more. Business management is now as important as the music itself.

standing of basic business principles, but they should have advisors around them - who truly understand their industry - to mentor, advise and remove the administrative burden, while helping them to maximise their income in a notoriously rollercoaster and risk-heavy world.

The internet may have segmented audiences, but it has also made life considerably easier to administer. NWN has helped its music clients move into cloud-based accountancy, allowing the opportunity for managers, promoters, musicians and label owners alike to monitor critical financial data anytime, anyplace, anywhere. In many cases it also brings business organisation to an otherwise chaotic lifestyle.

With Directors who have run their own record labels, DJ’d internationally and managed A-list bands, NWN’s track record has brought the music industry flocking to its door.

Now it can also proudly state its advice is “Award-winning”.

NWN Blue Squared Ltd Name: Nick Lawrence Email: expect@nwnbluesquared.com Web: www.nwnbluesquared.com Address: 7 Bourne Court, Southend Road Woodford Green, Essex, IG8 8HD Tel: +44 020 8550 3131

NWN Blue Squared has always taken the view that ‘creatives’ should be allowed the freedom to get on with the creativity.

These days they certainly need more than a passing under-

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44 | 2014 Finance Awards

Banking & Finance Practice of the Year - Nigeria

Olisa Agbakoba & Associates (OA&A) has developed into one of Nigeria’s premier commercial law firms. For the second consecutive year the firm has been named Banking & Finance Practice of the Year – Nigeria.

“Established in 1983 by Dr. Olisa Agbakoba SAN, OON, OA&A has grown to become one of Nigeria’s leading commercial law firms with a strong brand in insolvency, commercial litigation, shipping & maritime law, alternative dispute resolution.

“When we found out we had won this award, our reaction was that of excitement. We are happy that for the second year in a row, our excellence in the Financial Sector is being recognised and acknowledged,” said OA&A’s Victor Nwakasi.

“We make sure that our clients are given the best advice based on our many years of experience as commercial lawyers and that value is added to their businesses.”

“We owe this award to our unique clients, especially the various banks we have worked with in insolvency practice and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).”

As one of the most developed yet complex economies in Africa, a quick response is essential to success. With the economy being largely driven by its petroleum industry and with a prevalence of weak legal and regulatory framework, OA&A is proud of the efforts of its legal team taking a major role in helping with investment at every level.

Best Fund Manager - China

It is clear that OA&A’s clients are impressed and filled with confidence thanks to the firm having its finger on the corporate pulse for over 30 years. Offering more than 60 years’ institutional experience too, Olisa Agbakoba & Associates is also embracing the way technology, the internet and social networking is transforming the business and law practice.

“OA&A is a multi-service law firm offering cutting edge legal services to clients in diverse areas of business. With state of the art offices in three states of Nigeria, we are able to provide legal solutions to our numerous corporate clients including multi-national companies, international and domestic banks, the government, its agencies and parastatals.”

One of the most important projects for the firm is its innovative Speed of Justice concept, which it hopes will improve legal service and gain traction with the Nigerian authorities as it continues to attend to its clients.

Victor takes us through a more detailed explanation of the background of the firm, its specialisms and how, through good teamwork, it delivers its tailored and meaningful services to its growing client base.

Olisa Agbakoba & Associates (OA&A) Web: www.agbakoba-associates.com Address: Maritime Complex, 34 Creek Road P.O. Box 3169, Apapa, Lagos, Nigeria.

Tel: 234 1 279 0915 6, 775 0985, 775 6435 Fax: 234 1 271 6938

Orchid Asia Group Management Ltd is an investment group with offices throughout China. Following his company’s award win, Director and Head of Business Development, Trevor Chan spoke to us about his company, its award win and the Orchid China Master Fund.

Our objectives are not to win awards but more on maintaining our performance and making money for our investors.

But to receive an award is a nice surprise. Any award is a milestone in the recognition of our fund strategy and longterm performance.

We focus on backing experienced operating executives in building franchises with an emphasis in China. We invest in expanding domestic enterprises in high barrier to entry businesses that have good growth prospects, particularly in the consumer product, internet, technology, healthcare, and specialty manufacturing sectors.

We manage a total of six private equity funds in China and one long-biased public equity fund, focusing on China stocks, with an aggregate amount of US$3bn of assets under management. Our clients include over 200 leading institutional investors from the U.S., Europe and Asia.

In the midst of the global recession in 2008, we formed the Orchid China Master Fund. Toward the end of 2011 we began opening up the fund - when it was around US$15 million - to external investors. In a short span of 12-24 months, we received support from investors and the fund’s strategy is currently over US$290m of assets (as of August 2014).

The Orchid China Master Fund enjoys numerous competitive advantages over its competitors, including: • Better performance over peers: We have better NET returns against peers in the Asian long/short hedge fund space. Our full year return for 2013 is +40.1% net,

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In the last 12 months OA&A has recovered N50bn (US$309m) for financial Institutions and AMCON – making it the leading debt recovery agent for the region. “This success impacts on national economic development as a result of instilling liquidity and stability in the financial sector.”

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2012 is +19.7% net and over +134% net return since inception.

No institutional risk: Given our well established private equity business, our public fund will not be at the risk of closing down due to lack of AUM growth. Our team contributed over US$20m or about 10% of the AUM of the public fund.

Simple strategy: The investment strategy is simple to understand – basic fundamental private equity research, picking small-mid cap stocks under the radar, emerging franchises that have high entry barriers, cash generating businesses, and honest and capable management teams.

Less volatility over long-only: We have less volatility than a long only fund. In China, waves of money come in and out of the region at different times in two to three year cycles. Being able to minimise the downside risk is important to many investors.

Avoiding frauds: With our private equity background, we can detect company frauds much easier than other hedge fund managers.

Team culture plays an extremely important part to our success. It is very important to have individuals within our team who function productively with a minimum of supervision. At the same time, individuals are encouraged to work together to leverage our collective strengths to achieve our common goals.

We design our compensation to allow team members to be fully aligned to the results of the funds under which they work.

Orchid Asia Group Management, Limited Name: Trevor Chan, Director, Head of BD Email: tchan@orchidasia.com Web: www.orchidasia.com Address: The Center, Suite 6211, 62nd Floor.

99 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Tel: + (852) 2115 8810

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Commitment to Client Satisfaction - India

With offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, Phoenix Legal has firmly established itself in the Indian legal market and has successfully advised on several complex and prestigious deals, some of which have received wide media coverage.

Asia Law Profiles has quoted one of the firm’s clients as saying: “It’s hard to think of areas where Phoenix Legal can improve. The firm is better than nearly all legal firms…”

Phoenix Legal New Delhi Email: delhi@phoenixlegal.in Address: Second Floor, 254, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III, New Delhi -110020 Tel: +91 (0) 11 4983 0000 Fax: +91 (0) 11 4983 0099

Phoenix Legal is committed to developing strong client relationships, engaging capable and dedicated professionals and continuing its philosophy of investing in new technology.

Enthusiasm, energy and drive for excellence influence the way everybody involved with the firm works and the business strives to invest time in understanding its clients’ businesses, enabling it to provide commercially oriented and innovative legal solutions to achieve clients’ goals.

Phoenix Legal Mumbai Email: mumbai@phoenixlegal.in Address: Vaswani Mansion, Office No.17 & 18, 3rd Floor, 120 Dinshaw Vachha Road, Churchgate, Mumbai - 400 020.

Tel: +91 (0) 22 4340 8500 Fax: +91 (0) 22 4340 8501

Everybody associated with the business believes that its lawyers are its greatest resource and the company’s philosophy is to attract and retain quality professionals. Phoenix Legal encourages entrepreneurship to enable its people to fully realise their potential and subscribes to the belief that its clients will benefit from the success of its people.

A few characteristics which set Phoenix Legal apart from more conventional firms are: • A high degree of partner involvement and availability • Top quality commercially oriented legal advice • Attention to detail • Responsiveness • A flexible billing policy

Best Underwriting Agency - Australia

Based in offices across Australia, Planned Cover has almost 40 years’ experience in managing risks for design and construction professionals.

At Planned Cover, we assist our clients to understand and manage their professional risks through more than just an insurance policy. Our main objective is to provide all professionals with access to a comprehensive package of tailored services including: • Insurance placement – professional indemnity, directors and officers, employment practices, statutory liability and general insurance & personal insurance products • Risk management presentations, newsletters and practice notes • Claims management/assistance We are here for the long term. We’ve been placing insurance for architects, designers and engineers since the 1970s, through good times and bad. We develop and price our products so that they, and we, are sustainable. That’s why we’re still here – and why we have 40 years of industry specific expertise to offer your business.

We are wholly owned by the Australian Institute of Architects, are one of only two brokers on Consult Australia’s ‘PI Pathway’ panel and we are endorsed by Australian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Building Designers Association of Australia, Building Designers Association of Queensland, Built Environment Design Institute, and Planning Institute of Australia (all through our ‘Planned Cover’ trading division).

We include construction specialists on our Board, not just insurance representatives. We have offices in Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, to connect with local practices. We do not report to overseas interests. Our risk management seminars earn CPD points pursuant to the Institute of Architects’ Refuel program.

We don’t just sell insurance. We commit to working for the benefit of the architect, design and engineering professions by: • Making our own submissions to government on key risk issues for architects i.e. proportionate liability law, workplace health and safety law and changes to the state Architects Acts • Working directly with a number of the Practice Committees and Large Practices Forums within the Institute of Architects • Presenting in the PALS course and assisting with the drafting of Acumen notes • Advising on the drafting of agreements like Australian Standard 4122-2010 and the Institute of Architects Client and Architect Agreement - 2009.

Planned Professional Risks Underwriting Agency Name: Sandra Purser Email: sandrap@plannedcover.com.au Web: www.plannedcover.com.au Address: 236 Balaclava Road (P.O. Box 2257) Caulfield Junction North Caulfield, Victoria, 3161 Tel: (03) 8508 5400 Fax: (03) 9500 2274

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46 | 2014 Finance Awards

Most Outstanding Risk & Business Consultancy of the Year - UK

“Protiviti is exceptional in helping clients solve current and future risks. Protiviti helps clients to identify the root causes and drivers of risk by assessing their strategies, IT and operations to improve performance”.

Peter Richardson of Protiviti explains more about the firm: “Our primary services in UK are Risk and Compliance, IT Consulting, Business Performance Improvement and Internal Audit. We have a strong focus on the Financial Services Industry and have relationships with all the major players in the Banking, Insurance and Asset Management sectors. Our parent organisation is Robert Half which gives us a breadth of service delivery capacity which is the envy of many.”

He also tells us more about the past 12 months for the firm and the success and challenges it has faced. “Our major Financial Services Industry relationships have continued to thrive and grow and our footprint in new clients has been significantly extended in the past 12 months. We are particularly proud of our collaboration with our parent organisation Robert Half in enabling the delivery of some large scale risk management and business change projects.

“The improving economy means that more Financial Services organisations are now beginning to invest again in broader based (not only regulatory driven) business transformation initiatives aimed at improving both top and bottom line.

Remaining agile and compliant in delivering these changes will be a significant challenge.”

Recently, Protiviti was awarded Most Outstanding Risk & Business Consultancy of the Year – UK, an award voted for

Actuarial & Investment Adviser of the Year

Punter Southall Transaction Services is the specialist transactions consulting and corporate pensions advice division within the leading actuarial firm Punter Southall, providing ongoing and project-based advice to investment companies, private equity firms and corporate entities.

It is always an honour to be recognised within the industry for our services and we are delighted to accept the Actuarial & Investment Adviser of the Year award in the 2014 International Finance Awards.

Despite the recent depressed economic climate, and subdued deal market the team has continued to grow and provide its expanding base of private equity and corporate clients with innovative and tailored solutions to their pension issues. As the financial and pensions environment have changed so has our business and our approach, introducing new business streams and products, most recently Asset Backed Funding services and cost-effective covenant solutions for corporates and trustees of pension schemes.

During the last year we have appointed a further Principal to the team and have also developed the working relationships with our overseas colleagues (having acquired Palisades Capital Advisors in the US in March 2013) to further extend the reach of our services on a global basis.

The Punter Southall Group was founded in 1988 and provides a unique range of financial services to individuals, pension schemes, corporate entities, private equity firms and other investment companies including actuarial and employ-

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by AI readers. Peter Richardson tells of the firm’s reaction to this accolade, and what he believes are the underlying factors for its success.

“We felt true delight at winning our second award in consecutive years, particularly as it reflects the emphases we are putting on our areas of core strength and capability and more importantly the views of the FS industry. Such awards are very beneficial in confirming our alignment with our clients’ needs and in continuing to underpin the growing Protiviti brand “We have always had a strong focus on regulatory driven change, compliance and risk management. This reflects market demand. However, more recently we have been emphasising how best to drive more business value through regulatory, risk and compliance change programmes. We consider this to be a key differentiator.”

“A good consulting business in the Financial Services Industry is one which is driven by its clients’ real problems, behaves truly globally, provides ideas and thought leadership (not just bodies) and whose people are empowered to deliver integrated solutions.”

Protiviti Name: Peter Richardson, Managing Director Email: peter.richardson@protiviti.co.uk Web: www.protiviti.co.uk Address: One Strand, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5AB Tel: +44.207 024 7527 Fax: +44 207 930 8807

ee benefits consulting, administration, covenant assessment, independent financial advice and investment services.

It is our people and way of working that truly sets us apart from our peers. Our clients are provided with direct access to the specialised team put together for them. We recognised that no two clients are the same and they each require different tailored advice. We take time to understand the business of our clients to appreciate exactly how the pensions issues fit into the current operation and future vision of the client to ensure we focus our advice appropriately.

Rather than simply listing all potential risks, we concentrate on the key issues specific to them to drive shareholder value.

“We have advised over 25% of London-based private equity firms” Punter Southall Transaction Services Name: Sankar Mahalingham Email: sankar.mahalingham@pstransactions.co.uk Web: www.pstransactions.co.uk Address: 11 Strand, London WC2N 5HR Tel: +44 (0)20 3327 5300

2014 Finance Awards | 47

Risk Assurance Practice of the Year - Singapore

Some say the Global Financial Crisis of 2007-2008 (GFC) was worse than ‘The Great Depression’. This may be disputed; however, what we can all agree on is that the GFC has resulted in greater transparency in the way business operates, with customer trust being at an all time low and a significant increase in regulations.

PwC Singapore is very encouraged and proud to have won this award as it acknowledges that we have made the right investment in our people, processes and technology. The insights and independent assurance we bring our clients provide an invaluable safeguard in today’s complex operating environment to ensure current and future growth.

The world is changing, our clients are adapting and so at PwC our commitment is to stay relevant to our clients and address the issues they face.

For further information please contact: Name: Dominic Nixon - Risk Assurance Leader, PwC Singapore Tel: +65 6236 3188 Email: Dominic.Nixon@sg.pwc.com Web: www.pwc.com/sg/risk-assurance

To do this, we are committed to being the leading provider of risk and assurance-related services in the market on a global basis.

Our Risk Assurance Practice helps management to make well-informed decisions. We work with clients in all aspects of their business - from their boardrooms to their back offices. Our credentialled experts deliver business controls to help protect and strengthen businesses from their people to performance, systems to strategy, business plans to business resilience.

We draw proudly on our auditing heritage as well as our commercial experience. Our teams are best in class and work to rigorously evaluate governance procedures, processes, information and controls and where necessary, recommend the best solutions.

Retirement Advisory Firm of the Year - Utah

R & R Group Inc is often considered a ‘financial architect,’ as it builds plans to meet its clients’ goals, needs, and objectives through the use of cutting-edge financial products and strategies. The majority of the firm’s clients are close to retirement age and many have already done some retirement preparation and are just looking to improve or finalize their plans.

“We serve a broad spectrum of clients that require well-designed stratagems that we customize and personalize to meet their specific objectives,” explains Rick Stanzione. “Our approach includes providing “downside protection” while continuing to build their assets. We combine that portfolio growth with tax mitigation strategies and run extensive, longterm, analytics in order to secure their desired standard of living during throughout their retirement years and beyond so they can leave a legacy to their loved ones.”

Mr Stanzione continues to tell us more about what sets the firm aside from its competitors. “Our firm has a very unique model that I believe is one-of-a-kind, not only in Utah and California but throughout the United States. We provide all of the estate planning, wealth transfer, asset protection, money-management systems, and custom strategies required to meet our clients’ objectives and overcome their day-to-day challenges, in addition to long-term planning and even longer-term, multi-generational planning.

our clients with the “exit strategies” necessary to safe-guard the financial interests of our clients.

“I also own several sister companies that offer even more services, so we are truly a one-stop shop for financial needs.

We have a tax company to assist our clients with tax returns and tax advice, as well as other services such as payroll, and quarterly tax filings.

“Our property and casualty company writes all types of personal and commercial insurances lines, including exotic coverage’s such as kidnap and ransom protection for our clients who travel internationally. Our model is designed to provide for our clients all of the financial services they could need, and it has earned us a 97% client retention rate (a validation of our success in which we take great pride). Clients love coming to our office to take care of all their financial needs and it provides us with the opportunity to build truly meaningful relationships with our clients.”

R & R Group, Inc. Name: Rick Stanzione Email: rstanzione@rrgroup.org Web: www.rrgroup.org Address: 5319 South Adams Ave, Ste “A”, Washington Terrace, UT 84405 Tel: +1 801.622.5774

“We have preferred partners that assist us in providing Living Trusts, Asset Protection Trusts, Special Needs Trusts, Wills, Buy-Sell Agreements and other specialized contracts to help

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48 | 2014 Finance Awards

Insurance Consulting Team of the Year - Hong Kong

Winning an award such as this provides external confirmation that PwC’s strategy and operating model is making a difference for our clients.

from strategy through execution. Our focus on building trusted relationships, bringing world-class capabilities to our clients and developing our people is the key to our success.

Our ability to leverage the power of our network of over 184,000 people and bring the right expertise to bear on the most complex problems from strategy through to execution is putting PwC in a category of one.

PricewaterhouseCoopers Name: Jeffrey Boyle, Partner Email: jeffrey.boyle@hk.pwc.com Web: www.pwchk.com Address: 21/F Edinburgh Tower, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong Tel: +852 2289 5005 Fax: +852 2289 5303

This past year PwC has made significant investments in Asia to build our capabilities in areas driving the most significant change in the insurance sector – digital, innovation, data & analytics and customer centricity.

With the addition of Booz & Co, along with our other strategic acquisitions, PwC is in the leading position across the financial services sector for transforming our clients’ business to capitalize on the mega-trends.

PwC’s success is in our ability to deliver on a broad range of capabilities across the consulting value chain. Our services cut across developing market entry or new product strategies, improving operational processes, managing risks and capital, transforming finance from a score keeper model to providing more insights and acting as a business partner, using technology effectively, maximizing the value from people and change management and resolving issues with forensic capabilities.

Our vision is to create sustainable value for our clients by helping them address their most complex business issues

Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - Germany

RAUE LLP is a Berlin-based law firm with international reach.

The company advises its clients, mostly companies and government entities, on investment activities, transactions, regulatory issues, and in litigation. The practice is characterised by a strategic focus on certain industries to which it is a long-standing advisor. Partner, Andreas Nelle spoke to us about his firm’s philosophy and its focus on innovation.

regulated industries (energy, healthcare, media, telecommunications, infrastructure and transport).

Firstly, let me say we are excited that the achievements of our private equity practice have been recognised by a leading finance magazine.

The culture within RAUE is one of exceptional collegiality and cooperation among all members of the team. This has not only won us the coveted ranking as law firm employer of the year among our associates but also translates into excellent client service and efficient high-quality work.

RAUE LLP, established in Berlin in 2010, was founded by a group of 20 partners who had previously worked together for many years in a leading international law firm. The decision to set up the new firm resulted from our conviction that the best and most efficient way to serve our clients’ interests would be through a flexible, medium-sized organization less prone to conflicts of interest. RAUE LLP applies the highest standards of both legal excellence and personal integrity.

Prior to winning this award, we focused consistently on mid-market buyouts where we have built outstanding expertise and strong client relationships.

Over the past year we, have also strengthened our PE practice by winning well-known family offices and mid-cap funds as new clients.

Our lawyers all have an in-depth knowledge of specific industry sectors, such as private equity. We understand the economic and technological factors shaping these sectors and know the relevant market players. Our location in Berlin, Germany’s capital, also reflects our particular focus on

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The key trend in PE is increasing regulation in the wake of the financial crisis and regulatory reactions such as AIFMD. We have established in-depth expertise on the implementing of legislation surrounding AIFMD and how it affects PE firms.

What sets us apart is a relentless focus on quality and innovation, embedded in the exceptional culture of collegiality and cooperation described above. Clients and prospective hires alike recognise the value this enables us to deliver to them.

We believe that specialized mid-sized firms like ours will be the main force driving excellence and efficiency in the mid-market transaction space With our international network of firms we are able to deliver consistent quality and seamless advice on cross-border deals.

RAUE LLP Andreas Nelle Email: andreas.nelle@raue.com Web: www.raue.com Address: Potsdamer Platz 1 10785 Berlin Tel +49 (0)30 818 550 0 Fax +49 (0)30 818 550 100

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Most Outstanding Lead Generation Firm 2014 - UK

Simply Online Leads provides a tailored lead generation service whether clients are buying or selling. Also positioned to quickly supply leads, the firm has won Most Outstanding Lead Generation Firm for the UK in the 2014 Acquisition International Finance Awards.

It is the second year in a row the firm, which was only established in 2011, has taken the honour. Awarded in recognition of the commitment and expertise the firm brings to the lead generation industry, it is testament to the way it operates through building strong and lasting relationships with affiliates, brokers and partners.

“Affiliates and partners are encouraged to develop transparent customer journeys, providing higher quality leads and we are happy to discuss the different commission structures we can offer.“ The company is now part of the Mitchell Farrar Group, which itself brings a diverse mix of financial service firms together.

Empowering better lead generation for the firm, performance at So Online Leads is also underlined by its own aggregation tool.

Celebrating excellence in the corporate finance community, the Acquisition International Finance Awards are designed to reward innovation and performance. As part of Simply Online Media Limited, Simply Online Leads delivers this by focusing on its clients and their precise needs no matter the region, sector or industry.

“We provide high quality leads, through a unique network of partners, affiliates and our own comparison website; www. soswitch.com.

“We are one of the UK’s leading providers with a customer centric focus with quality of leads and service being at the core of our proposition.”

This fast response is critical to the success of the company, with the industry as a whole performing faster and more coherently. As companies are increasingly recognising that a quick lead response will improve contact and qualification rates, Simply Online Leads is well positioned to continue delivering results for the rest of 2014 and into the future.

The firm was created by Dean Jones and Martin Mann - together having more than 20 years’ experience in the financial services and corporate investment industry. Moving from moneysupermarket.com three years ago to start the venture, the Simply Online Leads management team now brings together nearly half a century of experience. This is further underpinned by the continuing efforts of the whole team which continues to gain greater knowledge, experience and industry insight.

No. 1 Offshore Human Resources Consultancy - Isle of Man

“We have built long-term relationships with a number of brokers, based on delivering quality leads through our trading platform.

SmartHR Solutions Limited (‘SmartHR’) provides tailored services and HR expertise to clients covering a wide range of industries– from supporting new business set-ups and SMEs through to global organisations. Recently, the firm was awarded the accolade of No 1 Offshore Human Resources Consultancy.

“It‘s fantastic that SmartHR has once again been recognised by Acquisition International as a leading provider of multi-sector HR consultancy, outsourcing and training solutions,” enthuses Gail Yeowell, Owner & Managing Director. “I am thrilled and very proud, and would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the clients that have used SmartHR’s services over the last four years.”

“Awards like these highlight the market leaders in their industry who have demonstrated excellence in their chosen fields and provide businesses with a differentiating and credible advantage over their competitors.”

“At SmartHR, we pride ourselves on partnering with businesses to help them achieve their people management objectives and outsourcing needs on a flexible basis.”

Gail goes on to explain what sets SmartHR aside from the competition.

“I believe that SmartHR has four key strengths and differentiating factors compared to its competitors: • • • •

flexibility of tailored HR support and outsourcing solutions; service excellence; online E-HR Shop; and wealth of HR expertise.

Our HR expertise gained over 20 years, and flexibility, ensures that clients receive tailored HR solutions bespoke to their needs; supported by a friendly, collaborative, client-focused service.”

“SmartHR’s online ‘E-HR Shop’ is a unique resource for IOM based clients. No other company provides online template employment documents that comply with IOM employment legislation. Our online ‘E-HR Shop’ can be used by IOM and UK employers and is an easy, cost effective way for SMEs to source template documents.

“Leads are supplied in real-time, allowing you to speak to a customer seconds after they have made an enquiry.”

Simply Online Leads Ltd (soleads) Name: Paul Heidenreich Email: Paul.Heidenreich@soswitch.com Address: Poplar House, Park West, Sealand Road, Chester, Cheshire, CH1 4RN Tel: 0844 850 10 10

“In addition, SmartHR’s previous business awards “Small Business of the Year 2013”, “Offshore Human Resources Consultancy of the Year 2013” and “Isle of Man HR Consultancy of the Year 2014” differentiate SmartHR from its competitors and demonstrate business excellence.”

“A good HR consultancy business should have a proven track record of delivering flexible, tailored consultancy services to meet client expectations. It should have professionally qualified and experienced HR consultants who have an in-depth knowledge of employment legislation, and who can partner with clients to deliver value-adding solutions.”

SmartHR’s overriding philosophy is focused firmly on people, as Gail explains. “SmartHR is people-focused. We live by our ‘PEOPLE’ values: • Professional partnerships: understanding our clients’ needs and working with them to achieve results • Expertise: ensuring our clients benefit from our expertise via the delivery of flexible, tailored solutions • Operating with integrity: showing honesty, objectivity and accountability • Providing impartial advice: to organisations and individuals on a range of people management areas • Leadership: leading by example in an ethical and responsible manner • Excellence: delivering excellence in everything we do to exceed client expectations We pride ourselves on our reputation for delivering a professional, knowledgeable and value-adding service to our clients and the excellent testimonials we receive.”

Smart HR Solutions Limited Name: Gail Yeowell Chartered FCIPD FInstAM(Dip) FCMI FIRP, Managing Director Email: gail@smarthr.co.im Tel: +44 01624 619619 Mobile: 07624 478764 Web: www.SmartHR.co.im

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50 | 2014 Finance Awards

Cost Reduction Specialists of the Year - UK

Smith Bellerby is one of the leading cost management consultancies in the UK. Recently, the firm received a finance award for its dedication to the industry.

Steve Bellerby tells us more about Smith Bellerby, its clients and the services it offers.

“For the past 15 years we have provided the “glue” that enables large complex organisations with complex utility management problems to ensure that all stakeholders (finance, ICT, estates, energy managers etc…) are able to manage their utilities estate in the most efficient manner. Our clients have included EasyJet, Biffa Waste Services, GBR Phoenix Beard and Sandwell Council to name but a few.”

“We manage energy, water and telecommunications (fixed line and mobile) for large complex organisations to ensure that their costs are kept to a minimum.”

Certain developments have had an impact on the business, and indeed the industry, with constant challenges and opportunities presenting themselves.

“The continuing focus on energy costs will ensure that we remain busy for the next few years,” says Mr Bellerby. “However, we believe that the rapidly changing face of business telecommunications will be where the major benefits for our clients will be achieved over the next two to three years. Water continues to be the “undiscovered” utility, with significant savings being achieved on a regular basis.”

Wealth Management Team of the Year - Taiwan

Based in Taipei, Taiwan, Taiwan Wealth Management Consultants Ltd has been named Wealth Management Team of the Year - Taiwan.

We are very honoured to receive this award. It represents affirmation of our professional approach and highlights our efforts to research and innovate with regards to investment strategies and helping our customers through providing better financial services.

Our core services include financial diagnosis, retirement plans, a children’s education fund plan, insurance plans, investment plans.

Our firm’s philosophy is to listen carefully to our customers’ financial needs and to provide objective financial advice and constant innovation in order to reduce investment risk and improve profitability.

We pay a great deal of attention to employee learning and career development and currently implement a good staff development platform and internal promotion examination system. This model is based on our employees’ career plans and job performance, which guides future development.

When it comes to investment recommendations, we provide actual data to quantify trading strategy and to give customers a reference allowing them to assess the degree of investment risk. We then give the correct investment advice – something a lot of our peers and competitors cannot do.

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Mr Bellerby continues to describe how it felt to win a prestigious finance award, as voted for by readers of Acquisition International. “Winning one of the Finance Awards helps to establish our credentials when dealing with potential clients and acts as a firm differentiator.”

It is not only awards like this, however, that set Smith Bellerby aside from competitors, it is also the firm’s perseverance when acting on the behalf of its client-base.

“In our industry, a good business is one that deals fairly with both clients and suppliers. Like HMRC, we believe that clients should pay their utility suppliers exactly what they owe them – not a penny more nor a penny less.

“We always treat our clients, our suppliers and our client’s suppliers in a totally ethical manner, and expect the same in return. Our clients tell us that we can be trusted to deliver what we say we will deliver, we go the extra mile on their behalf, and we deliver proven results – all-in-all a safe pair of hands.”

Smith Bellerby Limited Name: Steve Bellerby Email: s.bellerby@smithbellerby.co.uk Web: www.smithbellerby.co.uk

The global investment market is currently seeing more and more money inflows, and we need to ensure that we are always mindful of any changes that this may mean for the industry, our business and our clients.

Taiwan’s wealth management market will, in the future, gradually enter service tariff and more of our competitors will be learning from this, which is one of the challenges we face. However, this is also a good opportunity because the performance of professional investment is the most important thing, and at this point, we hold a major competitive advantage.

Taiwan Wealth Management Consultants Ltd. Name: Chen Yu-Hsien Email: twfc@taiwanfc101.com Web: www.taiwanfc101.com Address: 37th Floor, Taipei 101 Tower No.7, Section 5 Xinyi Road Taipei 110 Taiwan Tel: + 886 (2) 8758 2765 Fax:+ 886 (2) 8758 2999

2014 Finance Awards | 51

Sustained Excellence in Tax Accountancy - UK

The Tax Guys is a successful and growing tax accountancy firm. Recently, the company was awarded by AI readers for its Sustained Excellence in Tax Accountancy.

“Over the years, we’ve continued to lead, innovate and find ways to help reduce the burden of running a successful business,” explains Jonathan about the firm. “Our clients are predominantly privately owned businesses with profits between £50K and £3.7 million. The services we offer include tax planning, accounts preparing and profit improvements.”

the tax guys

TM

CHARTERED TAX ADVISERS | CHARTERED CERTIFIED ACCOUNTANTS

Jonathan goes on to tell of his delight on hearing that the firm had clinched the prestigious title of Sustained Excellence in Tax Accountancy. “The whole team was delighted and proud to have won this incredible award,” he says. “We’re great believers in awards and being the main title sponsors of local awards, it’s certainly rewarding to be winners of awards ourselves.

“These awards are of great importance to businesses and the industry as a whole. To win an award for not just excellence but sustained excellence in tax accountancy is fantastic accolade which helps individual businesses and the industry to raise and sustain their game.

“Certainly for the tax guys, these awards mean we need to continue leading, continue setting standards and continue creating value for our clients.

and principles of enhancing and the changing the lives of clients and our community.

“Areas we’ve specifically focused on are: Creating value, technical competence, client services, ISO9001 business systems, systemisation, leading edge technology and a clear corporate social responsibility.”

It’s no wonder The Tax Guys triumphed with core values and principles centred on their clients. Jonathan explains further about the firm’s overriding philosophy.

“What we do is not just about preparing accounts and tax planning, although we do that very well. Our core value and principle is enhancing and the changing the lives of clients and our community. Here at the tax guys, we really believe that people with passion, purpose and expertise can really change lives for good. And this all started in 2006 when we helped save a business man an awful lot of tax. The direct result being he was able to enrol his daughter in a private education. That is life changing. And that is what we’re about.”

The Tax Guys Name: Jonathan Amponsah Email: jonathan@thetaxguys.co.uk Web: www.thetaxguys.co.uk Address: 13 West Hill, London, SW18 1RB Tel: +44 0208 875 2530 Fax: +44 0845 009 8846

“It would not have been possible to win these awards without their continued support and dedication to our core values

Investment Management Team of the Year - UK

Towry is an established wealth manager employing approximately 750 people in 21 offices across the UK. We help our clients to manage their wealth and make the right decisions about their financial future to achieve their lifetime goals.

Typically we work with private clients, families and trustees with more than £250,000 of investable wealth who want expert advice to help them to achieve their goals. We believe that we can make a real difference to people’s lives.

Our wealth advisers work closely with each client to understand what truly matters to them. They then develop a personal lifetime financial plan which sets out the actions needed to help them achieve the future they want. We review this plan regularly to help ensure that our clients remain on track to achieve their goals.

As you would expect, our in-house expertise is wide-ranging and extensive. All of our Wealth Advisers, Wealth Planners, Advice Policy Specialists and Investment Managers aim to achieve Chartered status, the industry “gold standard” of excellence and integrity. This combined expertise helps us to deliver the best possible financial advice to all our clients.

Our investment philosophy is clear and simple – we aim to minimise the risks of investing for the level of return required.

Our team of investment experts carry out thorough research on investments from around the world, to achieve diverse and well-balanced portfolios for our clients.

In 2014, Towry has added two new advisory investment services to its existing discretionary investment offering.

These are: - an advisory portfolio management service for clients who want to retain some control over the final decisions about their investments - an investment review service, offering regular reviews on clients’ investments.

The highlights for the year to 31 December 2013 include: • Assets under management (AUM) up 14.4% to £5.6bn (2012: £4.8bn) • EBITDA, calculated before business transformation costs, rose to £24.8m (2012: £23.5m) • Operating profit remained healthy at £11.8m (2012: £11.8m) • Towry completed five acquisitions during 2013, including Bluefin Personal Consulting, a high quality business advising 1,500 clients Towry E-mail: info@towry.com Web: www.towry.com Address: Towry House, Western Road, Bracknell, RG12 1TL Tel: 0844 8565003

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52 | 2014 Finance Awards

Due Diligence & Sustainability Services Firm of the Year - UK

Waterman Group is a multi-disciplinary consultancy providing sustainable solutions to meet the planning, engineering design and project delivery needs of the property, infrastructure, environment and energy markets worldwide.

Founded in 1952 and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1988, Waterman has grown into a major consultancy with offices throughout the UK, Australia, Ireland and Poland.

Waterman works with government agencies, local authorities, government-regulated industries and private sector clients to provide innovative, sustainable and economic solutions across a wide spectrum of business activities.

The firm has extensive experience in property and buildings, environmental consultancy, IT enabled services, ports and harbours, power and energy, rapid transit, roads, highways and rail infrastructure, urban and regional planning and water resources.

Award winning teams provide professional services throughout the complete life cycle of the asset starting from initial surveys and concept planning, through to design, delivery, project management, supervision and on-going maintenance.

The same underlying philosophy applies to all Waterman projects - to work closely with the client and other team members to develop the most creative, high quality engineering solution, on time and within the specified budget. The company’s commitment to understanding and meeting client

Owner Managed Businesses Advisory of the Year - North West

Woods Squared are Business Growth Accountants who help their clients to increase their profits, pay less tax and keep more of the money they earn for themselves. The firm focuses on the areas of strategy, accountancy and tax and works with clients across the North West. Director, Alan Woods spoke to us about his company’s award win and explained to us exactly what makes a great accountant.

We were delighted to find out that we had been chosen for this award. We work hard to make sure that we offer more than just basic accounts and tax advice to our clients so being recognised for this award was fantastic.

Our vision is to be the Aston Martin of our industry – we wish to be seen as one of the main innovators within the industry by both our clients and our peers.

We believe we are different because we work with fewer clients per team member. This ability to spend more time with each client allows us to provide a truly bespoke service to each client.

Two areas that we currently specialise in are: • Funding – we offer a funding support service on a success fee basis as we have a 100% record in helping our clients in this area • Auto-Enrolment – we are working with our clients and businesses in the local area to help them deal with their responsibilities as an employer under Auto-Enrolment Within our industry a good business is one that focuses on providing a solution that their clients need rather than

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needs has resulted in strong client relationships, generating high volumes of repeat business.

Waterman is engaged on a diverse range of projects across all main market sectors ranging from urban regeneration to complex healthcare facilities; urban waterfronts to transportation hubs; mixed use development to signature educational buildings.

Our culture and values Culture can be defined as the accepted behavioural standards that we want to encourage in our business at all levels. Having a good company culture has benefits for our company both internally by having common goals and alignment in decision making leading to increased efficiency and cohesion, and externally by providing a consistent experience for our clients.

In order that these benefits can be realised our culture needs to be defined and managed. Our culture can be managed by identifying core values which provide the tools to manage behaviours, and hence our culture.

Waterman Group Name: Penelope La Torre Email: penelope.latorre@watermangroup.com Web: www.watermangroup.com Address: Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, London, SE1 9DG Tel: +44 207 928 7888 Fax: +44 333 344 4501

providing a service that they think the client needs. The traditional accountancy approach is of little or no value to most entrepreneurial business owners.

We have worked hard to develop and nurture a real team culture. The happier our team, the happier our clients will be.

We involve our team in all aspects of our business, including our own strategy, which we hope gives the team a true sense of involvement The biggest trend in our industry is the emergence of online bookkeeping solutions and whilst many businesses adopted these a few years ago, more and more accountants are now starting to take note too.

The two biggest opportunities we believe are with regards to Auto-Enrolment and online bookkeeping. Both of these are being driven by business and the challenge is whether our industry will listen to what they need or ignore them – those that do listen will be the firms that will see a huge impact on their own performances as a result.

Woods Squared Ltd Name: Alan Woods Email: info@woods-squared.co.uk Web: www.woods-squared.co.uk Address: 49 Hamilton Square Birkenhead Wirral CH41 5AR Tel: 0151 649 8456 Fax: 0151 649 8453

2014 Finance Awards | 53

Directory AIP is a privately-held investment firm, which has global reach through its offices and representatives in Toronto, Moscow, Seoul and Dubai.

AIP focuses on emerging growth companies primarily in Financial Services, Technology and Resource sectors with unique assets, strong business model and seasoned management teams with the skills and ability to grow the company quickly to profitability.

AIP provides private equity, private debt, venture capital, special situations investments and shortterm financing as well as technical, board and managerial leadership and guidance through the go-public and M&A process for projects of interest.

Investment size usually falls between $1m and $5m, although larger transactions may be accommodated as required.

AIP TD North Tower 77 King Street West, Suite 4140 Toronto, ON M5K 1E7 CANADA Tel: 416 601 0808 Toll-free: 855 275 0868 Email: info@aipprivatecapital.com

A M P Associates LLP is a proactive and growing tax accountancy firm.

The firm is driven to significantly enhance clients’ lives by delivering enormous value to clients. It underpins everything we do. This principle has enabled the firm to achieve a 37% growth and to exceed challenging objective by providing a “truly practical and insightful” advice to Revenue Authority as well as giving 357 days of access to life changing clean water to people around the world.

Over the years, the firm has continued to lead, innovate and find ways to help reduce the burden of running a successful business. Its clients are predominantly privately owned businesses with profits between £50K and £3.7 million. The services offered include tax planning, accounts preparation and profit improvements.

A M P Associates LLP Name: Jonathan Amponsah Email: jonathan@thetaxguys.co.uk Web: www.thetaxguys.co.uk Address: 13 West Hill, London, SW18 1RB Tel: +44 0208 875 2530 Fax: +44 0845 009 8846

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) is a multi-expert asset management company within the AXA Group, a global leader in financial protection and wealth management. We are one of the largest European-based asset managers with €547 billion in assets under management as at 31.12.13. In a challenging environment, our ability to offer clients a comprehensive range of investment solutions spanning all asset classes, as well as the talent of our fund managers enabled AXA IM to thrive.

In an environment of increasing regulation, AXA IM has continued to leverage its experience of working with the AXA Group to provide institutional investors with new and often bespoke solutions.

AXA IM’s detailed knowledge of bank balance sheets, combined with the excellence of the credit analysis teams, has also enabled AXA IM to develop innovative initiatives with regard to loans, thereby turning the disintermediation of the bank industry into an opportunity for clients.

AXA Investment Managers (AXA IM) www.axa-im.com/en

EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the Arab world, draws on 30 years of experience to serve as the preeminent investment bank in the region, providing a wide spectrum of financial services including Investment Banking, Asset Management, Securities Brokerage, Research and Private Equity. Additionally, EFG Hermes owns a 63.7% majority stake in the Lebanese commercial bank, Credit Libanais.

Combining our strength and expertise in the region we present our clients with best-in-class products and services, tailoring to their needs and aiming to maximise their investment goals in a rapidly changing environment.

Headquartered in Egypt, EFG Hermes operates in eight countries and extends its services to the rest of the region through its local offices and a highly talented workforce of over 800 employees.

EFG Hermes Holding Address: Building No. B129, Phase 3, Smart Village, Km 28 Cairo Alexandria Desert Road, 6 October 12577, Egypt Tel: +20 (0)2 3535 6499 Fax: +20 (0)2 3535 7111 EFG Hermes twitter account: https://twitter.com/efghermes EFG Hermes YouTube account: https://www. youtube.com/user/EFGHermesHolding

Salles Sainz- Grant Thornton, .S.C., can supply a wide range of services to underperforming business and their stakeholders. We focus on identifying and resolving issues affecting profitability, protecting enterprise value and, where necessary, recovering value for stakeholders.

Our assignments vary from financially robust companies seeking to acquire underperforming competitors, to distressed businesses requiring an urgent solution. We offer solutions and advice in the following areas: Accelerated M&A, Financial restructuring, Fraud Insolvency Division, Independent business reviews and strategic performance reviews.

Within the Grant Thornton International organisation, there are over 50 member firms in key business centres authorised to undertake specialist recovery and reorganisation assignments. Firms share best practice and methodologies to meet the legal, commercial and cultural challenges that cross-border projects present.

Whether you are in Mexico, Boston, Bucharest or Beijing (and all points in-between), a team can be built to meet your sector and geographic requirements perfectly.

Salles Sainz - Grant Thornton, S.C. Periférico Sur 4348 Col. Jardines del Pedregal C.P.04500 México. D.F. Tel: +52 55 54 24 65 00 Fax: +52 55 54 24 65 01 Email: Mauro.gonzalez@mx.gt.com

Major corporates and financial institutions depend on the analytical ability and unrivalled deal-structuring experience of Linklaters’ global tax lawyers. The team integrates innovative tax structuring expertise with the highest quality advisory skills to give clients a comprehensive cross-border tax service.

Over 120 Linklaters tax experts worldwide advise on all aspects of cross-border advisory and transactional tax matters. Particular fields of expertise include M&A and joint ventures, capital raising, tax based and structured finance, as well as real estate and investment funds.

Linklaters Web: www.linklaters.com

MUC Consulting Group (MUC) is a business consulting firm supported by more than 200 professionals in Jakarta, Surabaya, Balikpapan, and Bali.

Rothschild’s Global Financial Advisory business is a world leader in the provision of impartial, expert advice and execution services to governments, corporations, institutions and individuals.

MUC is a member firm of MSI Global Alliance, an international association of independent professional firms, based in London, UK. MSI worldwide membership now extends to over 250 member firms in 100 countries.

With approximately 900 advisers in 40 countries around the world, our scale, reach and local knowledge is focused on supporting clients wherever they need us.

MUC provides various tax services, including: Tax Planning, Tax Review, Tax Return Preparation, Tax Audit Assistance, Tax Advisory, Tax Dispute Resolution, Tax Administration, Standard Operational Procedure Designing, International Taxation. We also provides other services such as Accounting, Payroll, Customs, and Legal Services.

MUC Consulting Group Email: iksan@mucglobal.com Web: www.mucglobal.com Address: MUC Building Jl. TB Simatupang 15 Jakarta-Indonesia 12530 Tel: +6221 788 37 111 (Hunting) Fax: +6221 788 37 666

An unparalleled network of global knowledge is at the heart of our business. We use our collective intellectual capital, specialist sector and product expertise, and wealth of experience to deliver the best long-term solutions for our clients.

Having advised on more deals than any other adviser in our core markets, we have an unrivalled track record of advising clients on mergers, acquisitions and disposals, strategy, and corporate governance. We are also the market leader in providing independent advice on debt and equity financing, and on how to restructure a business.

Rothschild’s Global Financial Advisory 1101 Connecticut Avenue NW Seventh floor Washington DC USA 20036 Tel: +1 202 862 1660 Fax: +1 202 862 1699 Web: www.rothschild.com/contactus

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54 | 2014 Finance Awards

and the winners are...

Afghanistan Ghazanfar Bank

Excellence in Islamic Banking - Afghanistan

Africa African Frontier Capital Partners

Best Asset Manager in Africa

Angola Angola Capital Partners

Argentina EY Argentina Raymond James Australia Aon Risk Solutions Gilbert + Tobin Hartleys Limited Instrat Financial Services K&L Gates K&L Gates Katrina Jacobs Estate Law Planned Professional Risks Underwriting Agency PwC PwC Ross Merrick Financial Services Pty Ltd Austria KPMG Saxinger, Chalupsky & Partner Rechtsanwälte GmbH (SCWP Schindhelm) Völkl. Rechtsanwälte Bangladesh Assurance Maritime Bangladesh Limited Shaha & Co Belgium Afschrift Capitalmind Corporate Finance Advisory Latham & Watkins

Best Fund Management Company of the Year - Angola

Best Transfer Pricing Team - Argentina Best Investment Bank 2014 - Argentina

Insurance Risk Management Team of the Year - Australia Australian Law Firm of the Year: Banking & Finance Practice Sustained Excellence in Corporate Finance - Australia Insurance Broker of the Year - Australia Private Equity Legal Practice of the Year - Australia Sustained Excellence in Project Financing - Australia Best Boutique Estate Law Practice - Australia Best Underwriting Agency - Australia Auditors of the Year - Australia No. 1 Transaction Services Team - Australia Rising Stars in Accountancy - Australia

Transfer Pricing Team of the Year - Austria Best Financial Management Team - Austria Best Corporate Law Firm of the Year - Austria

Best Outcome Driven Marine Consulting Firm - Bangladesh Accountancy Firm of the Year - Bangladesh

Corporate Tax Practice of the Year - Belgium Best Corporate Finance Adviser - Belgium Sustained Excellence in Antitrust and Competition - Belgium

No. 1 Trust Provider - Belize

Bermuda Abbott Associates

Best Actuarial Consulting Firm - Bermuda

Canada Agecroft Partners FaithLife Financial Financial House of Canada Frontline Wealth Inside Information Inc. Investors Group Financial Services Inc IPC Investment Corporation

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Sun Life Financial Cayman Islands Solomon Harris

Belize Bay Trust Corporate Services Limited

Brazil Barral M Jorge & Associates Crosara Asset Management Gerson & Grey JP Morgan KPMG Corporate Finance Luciano Teixeira Pinheiro Rafael Ravaglio da Cunha Tobias Maag

Judy Vanden Bos Laidlaw Financial Inc MDW Consulting Inc. Puhl Employee Benefits Rogers Telecommunications Limited Security Financial Services

Trade Remedies Consultancy of the Year - Brazil Asset Management Team of the Year - Brazil Best International Removals Company - Brazil Private Banker of the Year - Brazil Best Corporate Finance Practice - Brazil Most Trusted Financial Planner of the Year - Brazil Commitment to Client Satisfaction - Brazil Rising Stars in Financial Planning - Brazil

Best Hedge Fund Consultants - Canada Insurance & Investment Solutions Team of the Year - Canada Mortgage Advisory Team of the Year - Canada Cash Flow Specialists of the Year - Canada Best Research Service Provider - Canada Best Financial Consultancy Team - British Columbia Personal Wealth Management Strategist of the Year - Ontario

Cyprus Andreas Neocleous & Co LLC Fiduciana Trust (Cyprus) Limited George Z. Georgiou & Associates LLC

Financial Security Advisor of the Year - Quebec Divorce Financial Planner of the Year - Ontario Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year - Canada Best Benefits Program - Canada Best Telecommunications Company - Canada Independent Financial Planning Firm of the Year - Ontario Investment Management Firm of the Year - Canada

Best Offshore Real Estate Finance Legal Firm - Cayman Islands

Montanios & Montanios

Best Commercial Legal Practice - Cyprus Fiduciary Services Team of the Year - Cyprus Banking and Financial Law Advisory of the Year - Cyprus Most Trusted Law Firm of the Year - Cyprus

Czech Republic GURLICH & Co NIELSEN MEINL Law Firm

Best Corporate Law Firm - Czech Republic Best Law Firm - Czech Republic

Denmark Carsted Rosenberg LLP Advokatfirma

Nordea

Cross-Border Banking & Finance Team of the Year - Denmark Life Science Legal Practice of the Year - Denmark Investment Funds Legal Team of the Year - Denmark Nordic Investment Banking Team of the Year

Falkland Islands Nicola Granger

Best Financial Secretary - Falkland Islands

Finland IIZI Firstbrokers Oy

Best Insurance Broker - Finland

Mazanti-Andersen Korsø Jensen Mazanti-Andersen Korsø Jensen

France Bfinance France Gaaps Jasmin Capital Landwell & Associés PwC Germany AC CHRISTES & PARTNER GMBH Arndt Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Best Debt Structure Advisory Firm - France French Pensions & Actuarial Advisory Firm of the Year Best Private Markets Consulting Firm - France Best Tax Law Firm - France Best Transaction Services Team - France

Raue LLP RiskCom GmbH WINHELLER Rechtsanwaltsgesellschaft mbH

Accountancy Firm of the Year - Germany Sustained Excellence in Environmental Law - Germany German Portfolio of the Year Best Financial Planning Firm - Germany Product Sourcing Consultancy of the Year - Germany Private Equity Law Firm of the Year - Germany Best Risk Management Services Firm - Germany Best Business Law Firm - Germany

Ghana AIDEC Holding Limited

Leading Petroleum Retailers of the Year - Ghana

Global ADR International Tommy Pietsch

Best Procurement Consultancy Firm Commitment to Financial Planning

Greece Bahas, Gramatidis & Partners POTAMITISVEKRIS V&P Law Firm

Most Established Law Firm - Greece Best Commercial Legal Practice - Greece Law Firm of the Year - Greece

Guernsey EY

Tax Specialists of the Year - Channel Islands

Hong Kong Linklaters

Best Securities Legal Practice - Hong Kong

AUCTUS Capital Partners AG Guido Küsters Private Office GmbH IBA Global

2014 Finance Awards | 55

Best Fund Manager - China Environmental Risk Advisors of the Year - Hong Kong Insurance Consulting Team of the Year - Hong Kong Fund Management Practice of the Year - Hong Kong Risk Management Consultancy of the Year - Hong Kong

Madagascar FTHM Conseils

Hungary Sándor Szegedi Szent-Ivány Komáromi Eversheds PMX Consulting Group

Best Banking & Finance Legal Practice - Hungary Best Transfer Pricing Team - Hungary

Mexico Muñoz Manzo y Ocampo, S.C.

India Amicus H.S. Rustagi & Company, Chartered Accountants Phoenix Legal

Transfer Pricing Firm of the Year - India Best Accountancy Firm - India Commitment to Client Satisfaction - India

Indonesia Lubis Ganie Surowidjojo

Best in Corporate Law - 2014 - Indonesia

Orchid China Master Fund Pacific Risk Advisors PwC Slaughter and May Total Credit & Risk Management Group

Ireland ASM Chartered Accountants Campion Complete Financial Advice Hegarty Financial Management Ltd Maples and Calder Providence Insolvency Practitioners PwC The Trusted Advisor Group Isle of Man DFK Chancery Trust

Shimmin Wilson

Offshore Financial Services Advisory of the Year - Isle of Man Best Law Firm of 2014 - Isle of Man No. 1 Offshore Human Resources Consultancy - Isle of Man Best Insolvency Practitioners - Isle of Man

Israel Gornitzky & Co.

Leading Israeli Banking & Finance Practice

Mann Benham Advocates Smart HR Solutions Limited

Italy Moroni & Partners Japan Relo Japan Mori Hamada & Matsumoto Kuwait ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners Laos Megha Raj Regmi Latvia Citadele Bank Kronbergs & Cukste Lesotho Mr. Soaile Mochaba Luxembourg Brucher, Thieltgen & Partners LogiConsultant

Macedonia NLB Lizing DOOEL

Malawi EY

Accountancy Team of the Year - Malawi

Malta Exigy Ltd Fenech & Fenech Advocates Sovereign Pension Services Limited

Best IT Software Solutions Provider - Malta Tax Practice of the Year - Malta Pension Services Team of the Year - Malta

TMSourcing

Most Respected Accountancy Firm of the Year - Ireland Insurance Broker of the Year - Ireland Irish Financial Advisory Firm of the Year Best Irish Mezzanine Provider Sustained Excellence in Irish and International Tax Law - Ireland Best Insolvency Practitioners - Ireland Private Company Services Team of the Year - Ireland Irish Financial Communications Team of the Year

Financial Consultancy Firm of the Year - Madagascar

Morocco Lazrak Immobilier

Must Trusted Tax Consultancy Firm of the Year - Mexico Outsourcing Specialists of the Year - Mexico

NERO Boutique Law Firm

Commercial Real Estate Consultancy Firm of the Year - Morocco Commitment to Client Services - Morocco

Mozambique INDICO

Commitment to Insurance Solutions - Mozambique

Nepal ABMS & Associates G.P.Rajbahak & Co

Accountancy Firm of the Year - Nepal Auditors of the Year - Nepal

Netherlands Blacktrace B.V. Egeria BV Gilde Equity Management Benelux GRS Global Relocation Services BV ING KPMG L.L.P. Schaap & Partners

Corporate Finance Team of the Year - Netherlands Best Mid-Sized Company Focused Private Equity Firm - Netherlands Best Private Equity Firm - Netherlands Best Relocation Services Team - Netherlands Best Leveraged Finance Team - Netherlands Cyber Investigations Team of the Year - USA Corporate Litigation Practice of the Year - Netherlands

New Zealand Dermot Ross & Co Kensington Swan

Rising Stars in Corporate Law - New Zealand Corporate Finance Team of the Year - New Zealand

Nigeria Olisa Agbakoba & Associates Vetiva Capital Management Limited

Banking & Finance Practice of the Year - Nigeria Best Fund Managers - Nigeria

Norway Infima

Transaction Services Team of the Year - Norway

Pakistan Student Shelter In Computers

Systems/IT Due Diligence Provider- Pakistan

Peru Banco De Cedito Del Peru

Best Custodian Bank - Peru

Best Renewable Energy Advisory Firm - Italy

Relocation Consultancy of the Year - Japan No. 1 Real Estate Legal Practice - Japan

Banking & Finance Legal Team of the Year - Kuwait

Engineering Excellence Award - Laos

Bank of the Year - Latvia Business Law Firm of the Year - Latvia

Leading Accountant of the Year - Lesotho

Best Corporate Finance Adviser - Luxembourg Trust & Estate Practitioners of the Year - Luxembourg

Philippines Orchard Advisory Partners

Sustained Excellence in Investment Advisory Services - Philippines

Portugal Caiado Guerreiro & Associados Forestfin, Florestas e Afins, Lda. Sérvulo & Associados

Tax Specialists of the Year - Portugal Best Environmental Consultancy - Portugal Best Corporate Legal Practice - Portugal

Romania Nestor Nestor Diculescu Kingston Petersen

Best Finance Practice - Romania

Russia O2 Consulting VTB Capital

Best Boutique Law Firm - Russia Best Investment Banker - Russia

Sierra Leone International Ins Co

Best Insurance Company - Sierra Leone

Leasing Specialists of the Year - Macedonia

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56 | 2014 Finance Awards

Singapore ADVISORS INCORPORATED PTE LTD Asiaciti Trust Singapore Pte Ltd K.G. TAN & Co. PAC PwC Slovakia CLS Čavojský & Partners SEDLACKO & PARTNERS, s.r.o.

South Africa Account IT SA Adams & Adams Bouwers Kori & Associates Marlin Insurance Brokers Morris Group Investments (Pty) Ltd PricewaterhouseCoopers Rand Merchant Bank

Best Boutique Tax Consultancy Firm - Singapore Best Fund Administrator - Singapore Accountancy Firm of the Year - Singapore Risk Assurance Practice of the Year - Singapore

Contractual Legal Practice of the Year - Slovakia Best Law Firm - Slovakia

Best Accountancy Firm of the Year - South Africa Best Legal Team of the Year - South Africa Trademarks Team of the Year - South Africa Most Trusted Accountancy Firm of the Year - South Africa Rising Stars in Insurance Brokerage - South Africa Best Financial Planners - South Africa Transaction Services Team of the Year - South Africa Best Investment Bank - South Africa

UK A.C Mole & Sons AA Accountancy Acclimatise Accounting Direct Plus Ltd Accounting Direct Plus Ltd Adbell International Ltd - Chartered Age Partnership Limited Alexander Dwyer Accountants AlphaBet Capital Advisors Ltd Andrew S Cruickshank Andrew Wright & Co Approved Accounting Limited APT Finance Arthur Croker & Co

Spain CMS Albiñana & Suárez de Lezo Deloitte

Asfb Uk

Matrix International Development Group, S.L. Olswang Sabadell Corporate Finance

Banking & Finance Legal Practice of the Year - Spain Sustained Excellence in Transaction Advisory Services - Spain Best Relocation Consultancy - Spain Tax Practice of the Year - Spain Best Corporate Financier - Spain

Sri Lanka National Development Bank PLC National Development Bank PLC Nithya Partners

Most Trusted Bank - Sri Lanka Bank of the Year - Sri Lanka Project Finance Team of the Year - Sri Lanka

Barker Tatham Investment Consultants Barlow Robbins LLP Benchmark International Capital Partners Limited Benedict Mackenzie Recovery Limited Berrywood Accountants Bfs Accountants Ltd

Sweden PwC WSP

Switzerland Diener Advisory GmbH Eversheds IndexInvestor AG IndexInvestor AG Montreux Capital Management AG TP Services GmbH Taiwan Taiwan Wealth Management Consultant Ltd. Thailand Pacific Risk Advisors (Thailand) Ltd

Trinidad & Tobago J & L Financial and Counselling Services Limited

Best Strategic Due Diligence Provider - Sweden No. 1 Environmental Due Diligence Provider - Sweden

Best Swiss Financial Advisory Firm Best in Insurance Law - Switzerland Asset Manager of The Year - Switzerland Wealth Manager of the Year - Switzerland Swiss Investment Firm of the Year Best Swiss Transfer Pricing Firm

Wealth Management Team of the Year - Taiwan

Best Risk & Insurance Due Diligence Provider - Thailand

Sustained Excellence in Financial Services - Trinidad & Tobago

Turkey KPMG KPMG Raiffeisen Investment Speksa EAM Services ÜNLÜ & Co Verdi Avukatlık Ortakligi

Corporate Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - Turkey Best Financial Advisory Firm – Turkey No. 1 Investment Bank - Turkey Best for Outsourcing Services - Turkey No. 1 Merchant Banking Business - Turkey Capital Markets Legal Practice of the Year - Turkey

UAE Jones Day Sovereign Corporate Services JLT

Project Finance Practice of the Year - UAE Best Private Client Consultants - UAE

Uganda IRA

Insurance Regulators of the Year - Uganda

Aura Healthcare Ltd Ballard Dale Syree Watson LLP Barclays Asset Finance Barclays Asset Finance Ltd

BKR International Bohoruns Bonaccord Ecosse Limited Bookkeepere Bovill Ltd Braant Accountants Bradbury Stell Bray & Krais Bridgebank Capital Burgis & Bullock Corporate Finance Business Finance Plus Ltd Business Works UK Ltd Business Works UK Ltd Calcutt Matthews Ltd Callan Accountancy Callan Accountancy Camden Associates Canopius Capital Bridging Finance Ltd Charterhouse (Accountants) Limited CheapAccounting.co.uk Cherry Mortgage & Finance Ltd CITE Investments Limited Citrus Relocation Services Limited Clarke-Hills Accountancy Clayton ERM Clear Sky Accounting ClearlySo

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Most Outstanding Contribution to the Field of Taxation - UK Corporate Tax Law Team of the Year - Nottinghamshire Business Analyst of the Year - UK Client Lead Services Firm of the Year - London Tax Advisory Team of the Year - London International Tax Team of the Year - UK Most Trusted Retirement Income Specialist of the Year - UK Logistic & Driver Advisory Services Firm of the Year - UK Fund Manager Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Accountant of the Year - Lincolnshire SME Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - West Yorkshire Small Business Accountancy Firm of the Year - South East Most Professional Asset & Trade Finance Firm of the Year - International Company Formations Advisory of the Year - South West Outsourced Bookkeeping Firm of the Year - South West Most Innovative Healthcare IT Solutions Provider of the Year - UK Partner Led Advisory of the Year - West Midlands Best Asset Based Lender - UK Most Outstanding Asset Finance Firm of the Year - UK Risk Management Solutions Team of the Year - UK Banking & Finance Services Team of the Year - UK International Corporate Finance Adviser of the Year Insolvency Practitioners of the Year - South East Commitment to Client Services - South East Business Start Up Advisory of the Year - East Midlands Accounting Association of the Year - EMEA Region Audit Advisory Firm of the Year - West Yorkshire Life Sciences Advisory Firm of the Year - Scotland Bookkeeping Firm of the Year - North East Early-Stage & Growth Finance Advisory Team of the Year - South East Bookkeeping Firm of the Year - London Small Business Accountancy Firm of the Year - Middlesex Media & Entertainment Advisory of the Year - UK Short Term Lender of the Year - Cheshire Corporate Finance Team of the Year - West Midlands Banking & Finance Advisory of the Year - West Midlands Manufacturing Accountancy Team of the Year - UK Business Advisory of the Year - West Yorkshire Business Growth Team of the Year - South East Most Outstanding Specialised Tax Team of the Year - Scotland Most Outstanding Specialised Tax Team of the Year - Scotland Sustained Excellence in Biotech Corporate Finance - UK Global Underwriters 2014 Short-Term Lender of the Year - London Corporate Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - South East Cloud Accounting Innovation Excellence - UK Most Professional Mortgage & Finance Broker of the Year - UK Best Venture Capitalist - UK Relocation Service Provider of the Year - UK Business Support Team of the Year - South East Most Outstanding Financial Information & Services Provider 2014 - UK Wealth Management Team of the Year - North West Social Enterprise Financial Intermediary of the Year - UK

2014 Finance Awards | 57

Clearview Accounting Close Brothers Asset Management CloudOrigin Limited Coller IP Commercial Finance Brokers (UK) ltd Commercial Property Finance Consultancy Ltd Compliant Accountancy & Tax County Asset Finance Limited Coventry Building Society Cummins & Co (Dorchester) Ltd Custom Enterprises Ltd D & D Leasing UK Ltd D&N Financial Ltd Don and Co Limited Elliot Mather LLP Elman Wall EMC Corporate Finance Ltd Enterprise Management Accountancy Ltd ERM Ernst & Young Family Office Management Consulting Ltd Family Office Management Consulting Ltd. Figures Financial Marketing FinaXiom LLP Finegan Gibson Fiscal Reps Limited Fiscal Reps Limited FRAccountants Francis Clark Corporate Finance Goldentree Financial Services Goodwin Malatesta Legal Costs Services Ltd Goringe Accountants Ltd GRAHAM ASSOCIATES (INTERNATIONAL) LTD Green Square Greenhow & Co Hampton Court Capital HGF Ltd. Highwire Consulting HMT LLP HMT LLP Hoare & Company Hodgebakshi HMB Accountants Hudson Conway & Co Huston & Co ifs University College Infosys Interim Assistance Islam & Co Chartered Accountants Jackson Cohen Javelin Group JDC Corporate Finance JHK Accountants Johnson And Co Accountants Joshua Leigh & Co JSA Services Ltd K A Javid & Co

Accountancy Firm of the Year - Cambridgeshire Bespoke Investment Management Team of the Year Best Systems & IT Due Diligence Provider - UK Most Outstanding IP Management Firm 2014 - UK Commercial Finance Brokers of the Year – UK Most Outstanding Commercial Property Finance Consultancy 2014 - UK Commitment to Client Services - London Hire Purchase Finance Firm of the Year - UK Member Owned Building Society of the Year - UK Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - South West Commitment to Client Services - Leicestershire Equipment Financing Solutions Provider of the Year - UK Specialist Tax Services Firm of the Year - South East Book-keeper of the Year - London Funding Law Team of the Year - UK Businesses Growth Advisory Team of the Year - UK Most Outstanding SME Corporate Finance Firm of the Year - UK Tax Consultancy Management Team of the Year Sustainability Consultancy of the Year - UK Islamic Financial Services Team of the Year - UK Family Office Consulting Firm of the Year - UK Family Office Consulting Firm of the Year - UK Accountancy Services Provider of the Year - South East Financial Services Marketing Team of the Year - UK Most Innovative Financial Product of the Year - UK Audit Advisory Firm of the Year - Northern Ireland Most Outstanding Tax Compliance Consultancy 2014 - UK Premium Tax Solutions Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Company Formations Team of the Year - London Complex Debt Raising Team of the Year - UK Development Finance Lender of the Year - North West Legal Costs Services Provider of the Year - UK Independent Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Best Accounting Firm - UK Marcomms Sector Corporate Finance Advisory of the Year - UK Rising Stars in Accounting - Berkshire TMT Corporate Finance Advisory of the Year - UK IP Specialist Firm of the Year - UK Management Assessment Services Provider of the Year - UK Most Respected Independent Advisory of the Year - UK Entrepreneur Focused Corporate Finance Team of the Year - UK Private Bank of the Year - UK Tax Accountancy Team of the Year - Wales Specialist Tax Services Firm of the Year - North East Financial Accountancy Firm of the Year - South East Accountancy Firm of the Year - Northern Ireland Sustainability Policy of the Year - Education Financial Services Management Team of the Year - UK Business Growth Advisory Firm of the Year - South East Sole Practitioner of the Year - North West Short Term Lenders Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Most Outstanding Retail Strategy Consultancy 2014 - UK Best Corporate Finance Adviser - Mining, Energy & Resources - UK Commitment to Client Services - West Midlands Self Assessment Advisory Team of the Year - UK Accountancy Firm of the Year - Hertfordshire Umbrella Company Services Provider of the Year - UK Business Planning Advisory Services Firm of the Year - Scotland

Kendall Accountancy Services L&S Accounting Firm Lamont Pridmore Landmark Quest Leigh Christou Lime Consultancy Lloyds Banking Group Lockharts Solicitors Lyon & Co LLP Marriott Harrison Maven Capital Partners MBL Financial Metis Partners MIAC Acadametrics Modern Accountancy Ltd Monmouthshire Building Society Monmouthshire Building Society Moorfields Corporate Recovery Ltd Mortgage Introducer My Controller Newman & Co Nicholas Cliffe And Co Norwich Accountancy Services Ltd Nrs Accountants NWN Blue Squared Ltd Octempo Receivables Management Ltd Only Bridging.Co.Uk Osprey Capital Overseas Mortgage Broker Ltd Paperchase Business Services Ltd Paybureau Ltd Pearce Accounts Consultancy Services Pennybridge Accounting Ltd Pentlands Accountants & Business Advisors Ltd PQR Financial Planning Limited Praxity Prelude Consulting Limited Pricewaterhousecoopers Protiviti Punter Southall Transaction Services QASR R.W.M & K.M MacKenzie & Co RCi Redress Solutions RH Accounting Rise Partners RW Blears S I Ahmed & Co Select Business Finance Sett & Lucas Shawbrook Bank Simply Accounts & Tax Ltd Simply Online Leads Smart Accounting & Tax Solutions LLP Smith Bellerby Ltd Smith Partnership Spire Accountants Stark Main & Co.Ltd Steven Carey & Co

SME Accountancy Firm of the Year - Humberside Regional Auditors of the Year - Bedfordshire Most Outstanding Family Run Accountancy Firm of the Year - UK Financial Risk Software Provider - UK Bookkeeping Team of the Year - West Midlands Boutique Advisory Firm - UK Mortgage Solutions Provider of the Year - West Midlands Healthcare Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Independent Financial Advisory of the Year - East Midlands Banking and Finance Law Team of the Year - UK UK Private Equity Manager of the Year -Scotland Independent Financial Advisory Firm of the Year - Isle of Man IP Strategists of the Year - Scotland Most Outstanding Trusted Analytical Finance Solutions Provider 2014 - UK Fixed Price Accountancy Service Provider of the Year - UK Building Society of the Year - Wales Fixed Rate Mortgage Product of the Year - UK Most Outstanding Corporate Recovery Firm of the Year - UK Mortgage Intermediary Title of the Year - UK Business Planning & Advisory Services Team of the Year - South East Specialised Taxation Advisory Firm of the Year - East Anglia Financial Planning Team of the Year - East Anglia Tax Returns Firm of the Year - East of England Sustained Excellence in Accounting Services - UK Music Industry Advisory of the Year - UK Commercial Credit Management Team - UK Bridging Loan Broker of the Year - UK Most Outstanding Venture Capital Firm 2014 - UK Specialist Mortgage Broker of the Year - UK SME Focused Accountancy of the Year - UK Sustained Excellence in Payroll Management Services - UK Accountancy Consultant of the Year - Kent Commitment to Client Services - Northern Ireland Corporate Finance Advisory Team of the Year - Warwickshire Financial Planning Firm of the Year - South East Professional Services Group of the Year - UK Due Diligence Consultancy of the Year - UK Asset Finance Advisory Team of the Year Most Outstanding Risk & Business Consultancy of the Year - UK Actuarial & Investment Adviser of the Year Bespoke Business Solutions Provider of the Year - UK VAT Advisory Firm of the Year - Scotland Business Growth Advisory Firm of the Year - UK Most Respected Litigation Funder of the Year - UK Sole Practitioner of the Year - South West Finance Arranger of the Year - South East Venture Capital Trusts Advisory of the Year - UK Tax Advisory Team of the Year - West Midlands Peer to Peer Loans Adviser of the Year - UK Best Cross Border Financial institution - UK Savings & Lending Bank of the Year - UK Commitment to Client Services - East Anglia Most Outstanding Lead Generation Firm 2014 - UK Accounting & Tax Solutions Provider - Surrey Cost Reduction Specialists of the Year - UK Financial Law Firm of the Year - East Midlands Owner Managed Business Advisory of the Year - South West Scottish Independent Accountancy Firm of the Year - UK Strategic Planning Firm of the Year - South West

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58 | 2014 Finance Awards

Strand Hanson Strategic Corporate Finance Ltd Sturgeon Ventures LLP Swinton Accountants Tax Agility Accountants TaxAssist Accountants Taxsimple The Accounting Group The Harold Smith Partnership The MPA Group The Northern Trust The Quinn Partnership Management Consultants Ltd. The Relocation Consultancy The Tax Guys Ltd Towers Watson Towry Turner Parkinson Turner Parkinson UBERIS Capital Universities Superannuation Scheme VARNEY BARFIELD Waterman Group Woods Squared Ltd

Ukraine Dragon Capital Egorov Puginsky Afanasiev & Partners Schoenherr

USA ABN AMRO AFEX Alcentra AlixPartners AM Trust Aon Risk Solutions Aronson LLC BDO Seidman, LLP Convergent Capital Appraisers Cousins Chipman & Brown Cross, Fernandez & Riley, LLP EDG Partners Empire Valuation Consultants, LLC Export-Import Bank of The United States Family Wealth Partners Finesa real estate group Forbes Mergers & Acquisitions FosterThomas Fountainhead Advisors, Inc. Franchise Tax Board, California HJ Wealth Management LLC Hughes Klaiber Humana Inc. Hurtado Zimmerman SC Harral Winner Thompson Sharp Klein, Inc.

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Sovereign Wealth Funds Advisory Team of the Year - UK Technology-Focused Boutique Finance Firm of the Year - UK Most Trusted FCA Regulatory Incubator 2014 - UK Business Development Adviser of the Year - UK SME Taxation Firm of the Year - London Tax Returns Accountancy Firm of the Year - London Self Assessment Advisory of the Year - UK Bookkeeper of the Year - South East Accountancy Firm of the Year - Wales R&D Tax Credits Advisory 2014 - UK Innovative Investment Management Firm of the Year - UK Sustained Excellence in Management Consultancy - UK Relocation Consultancy of the Year - South East Sustained Excellence in Tax Accountancy - UK Best Pensions & Actuarial Advisory Firm - UK Investment Management Team of the Year - UK Commercially Focused Advisory of the Year - UK Public & Private Fundraising Law Firm of the Year - UK Outstanding Commitment to Social Enterprise in Southeast Asia Superannuation Scheme of the Year - UK Tax Advisory Firm of the Year - West Midlands Due Diligence & Sustainability Services Firm of the Year - UK Owner Managed Businesses Advisory of the Year - North West

Best Corporate Finance Adviser - Ukraine Capital Markets Practice of the Year - Ukraine Most Respected Best Banking & Finance Team - Ukraine

Internal Revenue Service Internal Revenue Service John Hancock Financial Services, Inc.

The Gingras Firm, LLC.

Woodfield Fund Administration, LLC

Financial Forensic Accounting Firm of the Year - United States Personal Injury Economic Damages Assessment Testifying Expert of the Year - United States Sustained Excellence in Asset Management - Florida Best Support Services Forensic Accounting Firm - USA Community Loan Fund of the Year - New York Multi-Strategy Funds of Hedge Funds Manager 2014 - USA Risk Consultancy Team of the Year - Oregon Sustained Excellence in M&A Investment Banking - USA Best Investment Banker - USA Medical Financial Strategies Firm of the Year - USA Commitment to Client Services - Illinois Audit Services Advisory of the Year - Illinois Not-for-Profit Advisory Team of the Year - USA Boutique Advisory Firm of the Year - New York Fund of Hedge Funds Adviser of the Year - USA Boutique Investment Bank of the Year - USA Sustained Excellence in Client Satisfaction - USA Auditing Services Team of the Year - California Tax Advisory Team of the Year - New York Transaction Services Team of the Year - New York Financial Risk Advisory Team of the Year - Illinois Retirement and Wealth Management firm of the Year Sustained Excellence in Investment Banking - Florida Insurance & Financial Advisory of the Year - Virginia Technology & Cross Border M&A Investment Banking Team 2014 - USA Mortgage Advisory Firm of the Year - Maryland Property & Casualty Insurance Provider of the Year - USA Health Actuarial Services Provider of the Year - Indiana Loan Consultant of the Year - California Best Valuation Provider - USA Benefit Administration Services Provider of the Year - New York Biotechnology and Life Sciences Legal Team of the Year - USA Best Accounting Firm - USA

Zimbabwe African Development Bank Group

Bank of the Year - Zimbabwe

J.P. Gingras - The Gingras Firm, LLC. Kawa Capital Kessler International Leviticus 25:23 Alternative Fund Magnitude Capital Marsh McLennan Co S Inc McCracken Advisory Partners MCCRACKEN ADVISORY PARTNERS Medical Capital Advisors Michael Silver & Co Miller Cooper & Co P & M Holding Group Pan Reliance Capital Advisors Pan Reliance Capital Advisors Pegasus Intellectual Capital Solutions Plante & Moran, Pllc Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP Pricewaterhousecoopers LLP Protiviti Inc. R & R Group, Inc. Raymond James Sahouri Insurance & Financial

Sustained Excellence in Merchant Banking - USA Best Financial Advisory Firm - USA Commitment to Excellence in Sub-Investment Grade Debt - USA Results Oriented Global Business Advisory Firm of the Year - USA Multinational Property & Casualty Insurance Firm of the Year - USA Best in Casualty Claims - Oregon Most Outstanding Accounting & Consulting Firm 2014 - USA Best for Tax Transaction Advisory Services - Texas Financial Asset Appraisal Firm of the Year - USA Best Law Firm for Commercial Bankruptcy - Delaware Best CPAs - Florida Best Healthcare PE House of the Year - USA Best for Fair Value Measurements in Hedge Funds - USA Commitment to Creating & Sustaining Jobs - USA Best Full-Service Wealth Managers - Florida Best Real Estate PE Firm - USA Best Boutique for M&A Advisory - Colorado HR Outsourcing Solutions Provider of the Year - Maryland Business Valuation Firm of the Year - Georgia Sustained Excellence in Tax administration Services - California Planning Process of the Year Progression Of Wealth - USA Due Diligence Advisory of the Year - New York Commitment to Excellence in the Field of Healthcare & Health Benefits Financial Law Advisory of the Year - Wisconsin Most Outstanding Management Consulting Group for the Transportation Industry 2014 - USA

Sustained Excellence in Job Creation, Investment & Economic Growth - USA Sustained Excellence in Internal Revenue Services - USA Financial Solutions Provider of the Year - Massachusetts

Sett & Lucas Topaz Mortgage Tower Group, Inc. United Health Actuarial Service Inc Unitrust Mortgage Inc. Valuation Research Corporation VantagePoint Benefit Administrators Wiggin and Dana