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Finance and banking

Business Focus >>

The new manufacturers The new manufacturers

A great British renaissance has been taking place. From Aberdeen to the West Country, the zing is back in manufacturing. It’s about time this spectacular story was told.

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Getting your money's worth

by Catherine Woods - Thursday, 18th October 2007 -

Getting your money's worth

Corporate finance expert David Blair has one thing to say to FDs paying advisers for an upcoming transaction: use the resulting business plan for the next year instead of just for the deal.

“A lot of companies spend much money on advisers on an ad hoc basis. They’re brought in to do one deal,” he says.

“These people make an investment in planning for that one-off transaction and then the resulting business plan goes into the bottom drawer and is forgotten.”

Blair reckons FDs should think about the milestones they want to achieve in the first year after the deal, and write that into the business plan.

“Putting plans into practise requires a lot of thought. They would get a better return on their investment if they take a longer-term operational and strategic view.”

Blair is CEO of DBA Group. He was recently awarded the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales’ corporate finance qualification.

BUSINESS NEWS >>

"Don't let the market be your boss"

By Kate Pritchard - October 06, 2008 5:57pm GMT

Serial entrepreneur and investor Maxwell Packe says private equity-backed firms have an edge over publicly listed companies. “They don’t have to meet targets set by teenage scribblers,” he says.

“Why bother with an IPO?” asks Audio Network founder

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 06, 2008 3:20pm GMT

Robert Hurst raised £600,000 of seed funding from 40 music composers, sound designers and angels to get his online sound and music portal off the ground. Having organised his own private IPO, he’s suspicious of the traditional listing process.

Five ways to avoid redundancies

By Real Business - October 06, 2008 12:31pm GMT

You’re in a pickle. You desperately need to cut your employee wage bill but you’re reluctant to make redundancies. Fear not. We’ve come up with some alternatives to swinging the scythe.

“Always accept a dinner invitation from an Asian client!”

By Rebecca Burn-Callander - October 03, 2008 5:29pm GMT

Kamel Hothi arrived in the UK when she was six. As a girl raised in a traditional Indian family, she was never supposed to work, pursue higher education, or even make eye contact with men. Yet now she’s director of Asian Markets at Lloyds TSB, opening up opportunities for hundreds of women just like her.

Good growth for Ted Baker

By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 10:43am GMT

Ted Baker founder Ray Kelvin says the clothing retailer remains “understandably cautious” about the second half of the year despite posting a 8.2 per cent increase in revenue to £71.6m.

Brochures on Saving and investing

BUSINESS COMMENT >>

Follow the brothel's lead

By Catherine Woods - October 03, 2008 3:58pm GMT

If you’re not an Australian, you may not find the following article as amusing as I have.

Economic downturn headlines

By Catherine Woods - October 02, 2008 2:41pm GMT

There’s more doom and gloom in the news today about the economic downturn.

Deal or no deal

By Kate Pritchard - October 01, 2008 3:43pm GMT

Jon Moulton wasn’t exactly exaggerating when he told us the outlook for the private equity industry was gloomy.

Russell Crowe's big banking idea

By Catherine Woods - October 01, 2008 12:01pm GMT

Russell Crowe tries, and fails, to fix Wall Street.

Eco-preneurs in the US

By Catherine Woods - September 26, 2008 5:14pm GMT

It’s always interesting to hear what’s happening within the entrepreneurial community across the pond and an article published today has revealed the growing eco-preneurial movement within the travel and hospitality sectors.

Business Comment 

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