10 Year Anniversary at PEM Corporate Finance

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PEM Corporate Finance LLP Salisbury House, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2LA 01223 728 222 | www.pemcf.com | info@pemcf.com

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~ EXIT STRATEGY ~ R AIS ONS IN ATI G LU FIN VA A SS NC NE

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R A B TING E L E C

TIMELINE

PEM Corporate Finance first opened its doors 10 years ago. Since then we’ve advised on many interesting deals, with clients from a wide range of sectors. We’ve worked on transactions as close as Trumpington and as far as Tokyo! This timeline plots out some of the most important and enjoyable moments in our history.

Taking the stage

A highly “palletable” deal Established

Having led advisory services as a Director at PEM, Tony joined Lake to establish PEMCF in 2004. Lake started his career in venture capital with 3i plc, before working at Ernst & Young and as a manager in industry.

All aboard!

In 2006 PEMCF sold Crofton Pallets, one of the largest pallet manufacturers in the country, to The Scott Group.

In 2007 we held our first Business Exit Strategies Seminar.

By 2014 we will have had more than 1,050 attendees.

A friendship is “Bourn”

Bright future

Acquisition of Heffers Arts and Graphics by Tindalls the Stationers

The team expands

In 2008 PEMCF advised on the sale of inkjet tech company Xennia. Deal activity dropped sharply during the recession, yet PEMCF was able to help many businesses to secure their future.

Lake with the Bourn Hall management buyout team after completing the first of several deals with the business.

Identity

International reach Taking a punt to celebrate the successful raising of finance for The Chalkface Project. How very Cantabrigian!

2004

Lake and Tony are joined by Nehal and Hannah.

2005

In 2007 PEMCF became a member of Kreston. The 13th largest accounting network in the world, it has 186 member firms in 108 countries.

2006

Sale of Essex Medical and Forensic Services to FTSE 100 company GSL

PEMCF advised on the succession buyout of Wilkinson Eyre Architects

2007

PEMCF partnered with Mobas to launch its distinctive brand identity.

2008

REFLECTION

Where we’ve been, Where we’re going

LAKE FALCONER, PARTNER AT PEMCF What challenges has PEMCF faced over the past 10 years?

Our first challenge was getting established as a new corporate finance advisory firm in a crowded market. PEM (Peters Elworthy & Moore) was an ideal backer and we were able to do some early work with its existing clients. However, due to the nature and life cycle of our services it was important to work with non-PEM clients and businesses outside Cambridge.

So we established our Business Exit Strategies Seminar programme in order to reach out to owner managed businesses beyond our immediate base.

Surviving through the recession was a real challenge, but with PEM’s support we were able to continue our marketing activity throughout this period, which has paid off in our presence and deal flow today.

Our key achievement has been to be competitive as a small team against larger players. We’ve been able to offer our clients intense support, a pragmatic approach and a very “hands on” style of advice, and as such we’ve been a welcome alternative to the larger players for many interesting businesses.

What makes you most proud of PEMCF? I’m very pleased that feedback from our clients consistently shows that our strength lies in providing an “intensity of support” and delivering deals in their best interests. We’ve always taken care to listen to our clients and tailor our advice, and we’ve never had a “stack them high” attitude. So I’d say that our personal approach is what I’m most proud of, and is what differentiates us from our competitors.

What have been the highlights of 2014? And what’s coming up?

We’ve won two awards – ‘Deal Maker of the Month’ and ‘Sustained Excellence in Exit Strategy Planning Services’ – it’s always nice to get recognition.

We’ve also had a good run of deal completions, averaging one a month over eight months. Of course, the timing of such deals is not entirely within our control! But it does provide further proof that the market has come back strongly with owner managers showing real appetite to do deals – be they acquisitions, buyouts or sales. With this in mind, and with several deals in the pipeline, we’re adding to our team this Autumn.

...THE FUTURE. ..