Deep Dive into...valuations

Matt Willmott is a Director in the Corporate Finance team specialising in M&A.

Matt is a leading M&A advisor in the South West having been one of the most active advisors in the region in terms of completed transactions over the last 10 years. He has extensive experience in advising owner managed business and SME’s through company sales, management buy outs, acquisitions and raising finance (debt and equity).

Matt has a particular interest in advising family-owned businesses and their shareholders to achieve their strategic goals; whether this is raising finance to implement growth plans, making acquisitions, advising on succession options or achieving a sale/exit event.

Matt has a breadth of expertise across sectors including manufacturing, wholesale, media, e-commerce, technology and health. Recent transactions include:

MBO of TVG Media Limited
Trade sale of ERS Transition Limited to Ezec Medical / Cairngorm Capital
MBO of Rotamic Engineering Limited
Trade sale of Nuts & Bolts Limited to Troy Group
International trade sale of Golden Coast to the Pollet Group.
Matt is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) and holds the Institute of Chartered Accountant’s Corporate Finance (CF) qualification.

Nicola Manclark is a partner in our tax advisory team, based in the Bristol office.

Nicola works with a wide range of clients to advise them on the tax implications of business related issues, with a particular emphasis on guiding clients through transactions such as the sale of companies and real estate. She has expertise in a number of different areas including corporation tax, capital gains tax, stamp taxes, employee incentives and venture capital reliefs.

Nicola is a qualified lawyer, chartered tax adviser and a member of the Stamp Taxes Practitioners’ Group. She has over 20 years’ experience of advising businesses and individuals on structuring and transactional work and enjoys working with clients, other professionals and advisors to achieve excellent results together as smoothly and efficiently as possible. Nicola particularly enjoys the challenge of advising on complex matters in a way which is straightforward and easy to understand.

Outside work, Nicola enjoys outdoor activities with her young family and playing the piano.

Adam specialises in forensic accounting and valuations, with an ambition to help people and businesses and provide real value to clients. Adam has a wide range of relevant experience across various services lines to apply to forensic accounting and valuation instructions, to deliver an efficient and effective service to clients.

Adam’s recent forensic accounting and valuations experience includes:

Valuations in the context of disputes (e.g. shareholder disputes, single joint expert (SJE) etc.) and for probate and tax purposes;
Commercial valuations including company/share valuations in the context of potential and ongoing transactions / succession and future planning, utilising cost / income / market valuation approaches and techniques;
Purchase price disputes;
Completion accounts and earn out disputes;
Financial reporting and accuracy investigations;
Independent financial reviews;
Fraud and related work;
Internal controls / systems reviews;

Adam's broader experience, which supplements his forensic and valuations skillset, includes:

Transaction services including buy-side and sell-side financial due diligence;
Mergers & acquisitions and wider corporate finance work including sales mandates, general market and industry research, completion accounts reviews;
Audit, including time spent at Deloitte in Bristol which involved auditing industry-leading businesses in sectors such as veterinarian care and aerospace & defence, as well as national / international travel to places such as California;
Business services, including statutory accounts preparation, bookkeeping, taxation work and general business advisory work.

Prior to joining the accountancy profession, Adam completed a graduate business scheme with a national electrical wholesaler, gaining exposure to all facets of the business. Adam then spent time as a sales representative for the company, focussing on the renewable energy arm of the business.

Adam qualified as a chartered accountant in 2020. His academic achievements include a masters degree with distinction in accounting and finance and a bachelors degree with first class honours in history.