examples of advisory mandates

The following projects reflect some of the assignments led by our team.


2011
Client Role
Government agency Business planning for 2011, including valuation of certain publishing, tradename and marketing licences and assets
 
Government agency Business development / financial planning support in relation to certain marketing assets
 
Small independent Valuation support in the course of acquisition in the art and illustrated books sector (completed May 2011)
 

2010
Client Role
Professional institute Strategic review of options available with respect to our client's publishing and information divisions. This led to our appointment as the institute's lead financial adviser in an outsourcing process which is currently underway.
 
Government agency Strategy advice relating to operational and financial review of one of our client's core outsourced marketing services and assistance in shaping the tendering process.
 
Professional institute Strategic review of options available with respect to one of our client's key publishing divisions earmarked for outsourcing, and on which negotiations on heads of terms with one potential partner were at an advanced stage; review of proposed heads of terms highlighting key benefits and risks, including assessment of the proposed financial terms, exit mechanisms, and partnership workings.
 
Government agency Risk review of all licences entered into pertaining to outsourced operational management of our client's publishing and information businesses.

Earlier Years
Medium-sized independent Performing commercial contracts due diligence in the course of prospective acquisition.
 
Large independent Comparative enterprise values, comparative performance, and comparative market positions of the company's two main UK divisions prior to their merger; valuation and sale prospects of an overseas subsidiary.
 
Medium-sized independent Valuation and strategic review of each sector of the firm, preparatory to disposal of one major component part.
 
Plc Valuation and strategic advisory support in the course of prospective acquisition in the education sector.
 
Professional institute Advising on market opportunities and alternative development scenarios for the institute's publishing activities.
 
Plc Strategic plan for the group's publishing activities, including acquisition target recommendations; comprehensive assessment of all publishing operations, plans and staff.
 
Plc Fair value comparative valuation of client firm and the firm with whom it was contemplating merger.
 
Plc Identifying acquisition targets and JV prospects in a specified business sector, embracing the USA, Europe and Asian markets, and spanning magazine, e-newsletter, conference and event platforms.
 
Plc Recommending possible diversification strategies into publishing.
 
Plc Recommending complementary acquisition targets.
 
Plc (Europe) Market entry strategy for the UK trade publishing market; forecast of the effects of the abandonment of the Net Book Agreement; fair value internal transfer pricing of a part of the group being sold internally to another part; the present state of, and likely developments in the illustrated book publishing sector; acquisition advice pertaining to specific targets.
 
Plc Prospective acquisition of major reference publisher.
 
Large independent (Europe) Entry strategy into the UK reference information sector.
 
Plc Recommending and profiling acquisition targets; analysing strategic fit of acquisition targets proposed by the company.
 
Small independent (Ireland) Developing the group's strategic plan for book publishing in concert with publishing line management.
 
Large not-for-profit Reviewing the firm's wishlist of acquisition targets and subsequently acting as advisor in the completion of two professional publishing sector acquisitions from that list; reviewing group strategy.
 
Large independent (US) Performing commercial due diligence in the course of prospective UK acquisition.
 
Medium-sized independent Making asset acquisition recommendations within the UK illustrated publishing sector.
 
Plc Recommending market entry steps into one specific European-country trade market prospective acquisition of major independent specialist publisher.
 
Small independent Strategic advice in the proposed acquisition of a competitor.
 
Large independent (US) Commercial due diligence planning in the course of prospective UK acquisition.
 
Plc Forecasting market developments in a particular UK B2B/professional publishing sector, plus their effect on information flows, and making acquisition recommendations from among information-provider firms; research buy/don't buy recommendations on fifteen companies within a second publishing sector in the UK, Germany, France and Italy.
 
Plc (Asia) Performing commercial contracts due diligence in the course of prospective UK acquisition.
 
Strategic consultancy assignments are always led by our key team members, but we have close links with a select group of long-term associate companies and highly skilled professionals with whom we work as appropriate.

In addition we have undertaken:

  • Numerous valuation mandates not directly associated with a change of control, or sale or acquisition on behalf privately-held companies, charities and membership organisations not listed above - for example, where substantial intangible assets such as databases and software are required to be re-valued from time to time by pension fund trustees; or valuation and fairness opinions are needed where a shareholder reorganisation is contemplated.
  • Numerous strategic planning mandates on behalf of clients in anticipation of future sale or licensing transactions including vendor-side due diligence.