Issue 72 March 2016 www.sussexbusinesslunchclubs.co.uk LunchtimeThe News The monthly newsletter of Soaring Seagulls! Footie boss Tony Bloom joins us for lunch All revved up! The Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex is linking up with Cobb PR and Cobb Digital to host an evening of fast cars and great networking. The event, on Thursday April 21, will allow you to view the latest range of new and pre-owned sports cars, saloons and off-road vehicles at their sumptuous centre in Burgess Hill. You will also be able to book a test drive for later in the month and have your photo taken in one of the cars that takes your fancy. Drinks and nibbles should keep you fuelled for the evening. Tony Bloom The Porsche Centre’s links with & Hove The man who has done most to prepare a Sussex sports club for Albion FC mean that we hope to have one or two promotion to football is our star attraction at our May 20 players to chat to at the event, which runs from Brighton & Hove business lunch club. 5.30pm – 7.30pm. Tony Bloom, 45, invested his personal Tony runs a highly successful business There will be a business card draw to “own” a wealth into part-funding the fantastic from offices in Camden in North . Porsche for the weekend and a collection in aid Amex Community football stadium in Starlizard is a betting consultancy that of the Rockinghorse Children’s Charity. Falmer. Tony and his family have been uses complex statistical models to Andrew Crabb, Dealer Principal, said he was life-long supporters of Brighton & Hove generate football odds that are sharper delighted to be showing off the extensive range of Albion Football Club. than those offered by professional cars to a new audience and some familiar faces. The Club is a likely candidate for the bookmakers. He said: “The Centre is a great venue for a end-of-season Play-Offs to compete for He is also a rather good player and promotion. There is a chance of automatic attends tournaments around the world. relaxed networking event. And if you need a promotion, but the competition is tough. break from B2B conversations and deal-making, Business Club host Tim Cobb said he was we have an incredible range of cars to look at, sit As chairman and owner of the club, Tony delighted to bring the club back to the in and book in for a test drive.” will be talking about his love for the club, Amex Stadium and thrilled that Tony his decision to invest significant funds to Bloom had agreed to come and talk. The event is being opened up to all our business contacts, so we anticipate good numbers. Please help turn the Amex stadium from a dream “Tony runs a global business, a football into reality, and his hopes for the future. club with huge ambitions and has a let us know as soon as possible if you would He attends most home games, work young family, so I am delighted that he like to attend. Contact [email protected]. permitting, and travels to away matches is finding time to join us at our May 20 Tel: 01323 416 999. on a regular basis. Tony regularly hosts meeting. I am sure he will prove to be a feedback sessions with fans and is one big attraction, so I would encourage you of the most popular club chairmen in the to book your places early.” Football League. New Sponsors We are delighted to welcome two first-time sponsors to the Brighton & Hove Business Lunch club. Print and design agency Face Media and Brighton & Hove’s leading taxi firm City Cabs have been members of the fastest growing B2B networking club for many years. They have both seen the benefit of promoting their services to other members and were delighted to come on board as sponsors. Face Media has taken over the printing of our monthly newsletter with immediate effect.

Club organisers Issue 72 March 2016

Didn’t They Do Well! Dealmaker Awards are a triumph for business club members EMC and DMH Stallard Lunch Club founder member EMC Corporate Finance and its CEO Nik Askaroff were the big winners of the night when Insider South East handed out its annual Dealmaker of the Year Awards last month (Feb). The firm, which has offices in Hove, Crawley and Eastbourne, walked away with the two top trophies. Its sale of Lewes-based Ivy Press to the world’s leading illustrated books publisher Quarto Group Inc, was named Deal of the Year (under £10m) and Nik Humanising IT – A Askaroff retained the Dealmaker of the Year title he refreshing, personalised won in 2015. approach It’s the third year running that EMC has triumphed Lunch club sponsor Extech is at the Insider awards – widely considered to be the introducing an exciting new business strategy, new brand ‘Oscars’ of the corporate finance industry in and refreshed website. the region. It aims to make IT more human. In 2014 the firm won the Deal of the Year crown for Not Artificial Intelligence or PCs its part in the sale of $100m freight forwarding and growing heads and sprouting logistics company Bellville International Ltd to OIA legs, rather how Extech strives to Global of Portland, Oregon. And last year Nik Askaroff provide IT with a personal touch Nik Askaroff, Daniel Bastide of Thomas Eggar to deliver the best outcomes, was named Dealmaker of the Year for the first time backed by the right technology, to after judges praised his “shrewd eye for successful drive innovation in 2016. dealmaking” and his “ability to bring deals from DMH Stallard also picked up two top awards on the With IT demands constantly London to the regional corporate night. They went home with the Corporate Law increasing in our connected advisory community.” Firm of the Year 2016 and the Deal of the year (for world, it’s vital to select a service This year the judges said that Nik’s “ability to initiate transactions under £10 million) acting on the sale of provider who can adapt to your deals and to see them through to completion, as well Ivy Press to the Quarto Publishing Group. unique requirements, helping The judging panel praised DMH Stallard for having your business drive innovation. as his strength in attracting private equity and foreign investment, make him the outstanding dealmaker in “another stellar year”. Partner Abigail Owen said: “We Extech managing director Andrew were particularly pleased to win Corporate Law Firm Hookway said: “We put our the region.” customers’business first. We take Nik said: “What a night! To win just one of these of the Year 2016, against all our major competitors in time to listen, to understand prestigious awards in a single year is an achievement, the region. These awards reflect a busy year for the and to work together to deliver but to be given two of the top prizes in the same team at DMH Stallard. successful results. year is quite remarkable and is a great reward for “For the year ahead our priority is to work closely “We engage our customers in all the hard work that each member of our highly with our clients as they plan transactions, and to find open, no-nonsense dialogue. No experienced team put into getting deals over the line. ways to continue closing deals successfully,” she said. complex jargon, no ambiguity, no hidden costs. Just a friendly, flexible, customer-focused approach that delivers every time,” Andrew said. He would like all business club members to look at their website and offer feedback. www.extech.co.uk, email [email protected]. • The Extech team is on a high after being nominated as finalists in the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards category Developing People for Business Success. MD Andrew Hookway said: “It is very rewarding for all of the hard work that Extech has put into developing our apprenticeship scheme to be recognised in this way. Fingers and everything else crossed for winning the ultimate accolade at the awards evening on March 17th.” The DMH Stallard team

Sponsors: www.sussexbusinesslunchclubs.co.uk The Lunchtime News

Sussex Business Clubs’ Monthly Business Roundup We have for some time been producing our newsletter, which covers news and views from our members. I know from your feedback that it is enjoyed by all. We are keen to extend our news coverage Local Economic Headlines to pick up other relevant business news and Reported South East Deals snippets across the patch that may affect all 2014 2015 2016 of us in our business lives. Nik Askaroff, one 110 of our club founders from EMC has agreed to manage this page as he firmly has his 83 finger on much of the business activity in the region, but we encourage you to send in any 55 snippets that you think may be of interest to members or relevant to us in our businesses. 28

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South East Headlines UK Headlines • Pound sees biggest fall in a year on • Kent based Plastique Group has • Zoopla Property Group has invested £1m announcement on Brexit referendum been acquired by listed US firm ESCO across four proptech start-ups www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35628733 Technologies representing an exit for BGF www.insidermedia.com/insider/southwest/ • British Airways retains Superbrand title for www.kentonline.co.uk/kent-business/county- zoopla-invests-in-dorset-start-up third year beating Rolex, Lego and Dyson news/plastics-firm-fits-the-mould-70224/ • Premier Farnell has agreed to swell its life- www.theguardian.com/business/2016/ • Private Equity backed Basingstoke- safety products US unit Akron Brass in a feb/22/british-airways-wins-battle-of-the- headquartered cloud security company £154m deal brands-for-third-year-running CensorNet has completed the acquisition of www.digitallook.com/news/ • Buyout activity for SMEs at 5 year high Danish SMS Passcode news-and-announcements/premier-farnell- www.plummer-parsons.co.uk/news-item/ www.censornet.com/censornet-acquires-sms- to-sell-akron-brass-business--1023783.html buyout-activity-smes-5-year-high passcode/ • Maven Capital has funded the £11m MBO • LDC backs the secondary buyout of Redhill of Leicester based interior fit-out contractor Upcoming Events based CitySprint while existing private EE Smith • March 9th in Horsham equity backer, Dunedin, retains an equity www.mavencp.com/about/ Auto Enrolment Seminar hosted by IEP stake, the news comes in the same month latest/384-maven-leads-the-11m-mbo-of- www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/auto-enrolment- that LDC announced plans to increase their interior-fitout-contractor-ee-smith seminar-horsham-tickets-20887677606 investment in the region • March 16th in Brighton www.ldc.co.uk/news/2016/02/ldc- In Other News delivers-with-175m-citysprint-buyout & • Armour Group announce reverse takeover The secrets of successfully selling businesses. http://www.ldc.co.uk/news/2016/02/ plans which, if completed, will lead to the Hosted with Spofforths ldc-pledges-450m-of-growth-capital-for- group’s AIM listing being cancelled emcltd.co.uk/seminars/selling-your-business london-and-south-east-firms www.insidermedia.com/insider/southeast/ * Please note that there is a time lag in the reporting of armour-updates-investors-on-reverse-takeover completed deals so the current monthly figures will be under stated South East Headlines Goodbye to Crawley & Gatwick Business Lunch Club Cobb PR has handed over the reins for the Crawley & Gatwick Business Lunch Club to accountancy firm Kingston Smith. David Montgomery and Paul Samrah, partners with Kingston Smith, presented Tim and Sue with champagne and flowers at the last meeting in February. After six-and-a-half years running the Crawley & Gatwick club, Cobb PR is concentrating on the Brighton & Hove and Eastbourne & District Business Lunch Clubs. The new club will be renamed the Kingston Smith Lunch Club and will continue meeting at the Gatwick Hilton Hotel on a monthly basis. Tim said: “We’re looking forward to attending the new club, but as guests instead of running it. I’d like to thank all the sponsors and members for their support over the years.” Issue 72 March 2016 The Lunchtime News Should I stay… or should I go? The debate over staying in the EU or cashing in our chips rages on, with both sides accusing the other of misinformation, dirty tricks, and lies, Nik Askaroff writes. Each month, we will be inviting airing a few views covering both sides of the debate. This month, Nik Askaroff says the benefits of leaving are clear for all to see. As a committed European who saw the formation of the Union as a natural step forward I am now undecided as to what would be best for the UK and which way to vote. I have therefore decided to have a closer look at the Legal Expansion facts and whether we could survive outside of the EU. Interestingly the demise of London and the UK which is being threatened is Lunch Club sponsors Gaby Hardwicke not supported by history and our ability to survive. The City is seen as key are pleased to announce the to this but it has survived a Great Fire,The Plague, The South Sea Bubble, qualification of three of its members of staff as solicitors. Having the abandonment of the Gold standard pegging in the 1930’s, WW11, the completed their training contracts three day week and even the sterling crash in the 1980’s to still be a world with the firm, Lucy Dennett, Lucy leader which is essential to all of us. Hunting and Nicole Byrne have been European Peace is seen as the major achievement but the ability to bind admitted to the roll of Solicitors in Nik Askaroff England Wales. together 27 countries and economies in political and economic harmony has been an appalling failure. The idea that this will ever be achieved or that even the current challenges Lucy Dennett is a psychology graduate who then studied law facing the EU including Greece can be solved are hard to accept. Only 12 months ago many were at BPP Law School in London. She forecasting the meltdown of the EU and this is still very much on the cards whichever way we vote. joined Gaby Hardwicke in 2010 and Do we really want to be a member of a club that has failed so miserably and has little chance of success? has now joined the Private Client Have we benefited from the EU or them from us? team, where she advises clients on Wills, Trusts, Probate and Estate Business will always find a way and has done so for thousands of years. We have a deficit with Europe so Planning. any sanctions or barriers would arguably hurt them more than us. The USA and China trade happily with Lucy Hunting graduated in law at us , with Europe and with each other so please do not see this as a problem. Southampton University in 2011. Any active exporter will tell you it can be as hard breaking into the German or French market as the US or She joined Gaby Hardwicke in 2012 after moving to Eastbourne from Middle East and the EU makes no difference. The OECD reported on February 19 that it was Europe rather Birmingham. She works in the than the UK whose financial health is at risk. Residential Property department They forecast that UK growth would outstrip Europe and even the USA this year (at 2.1%). We thrive on where she heads up a team of free open markets upon which the city was built and exit could establish our leadership in international executives, dealing with the buying and selling of residential property. trading rather than possible muted anti trading measures being placed upon us by a jealous EU. Nicole Byrne graduated with a Equality across Europe has been a target but unfortunately often at the lowest common denominator as law degree from the University of competitors have tried to drag us down. East London in 2008. She joined The City, from the Square Mile to Canary Wharf, contributes over £95bn of exports whether through Gaby Hardwicke in May 2011 as a Lloyds, the LSE or the Bank of England’s global influence. The same veiled threats were made when conveyancing executive. She is based in the Commercial Department, we failed to join the Single Currency in 1999 and thank heavens we did. Our economy soared after our where she deals with all aspects of expulsion from the European Monetary System in 1992. commercial property. As a country we have continually developed and re-invented ourselves to operate and compete on Managing Partner, David Getty said a global basis and the EU may actually be hindering rather than helping this. Our world leadership in “We are delighted to welcome Lucy, Lucy and Nicole into the firm FinTech is a prime example of a global offering for the next generation of digital finances which we do as qualified solicitors. Each of them not want held back by EU regulation or bureaucracy. has demonstrated excellent legal In summary we have the skills and experience to survive and prosper in a global marketplace. This is knowledge and a high level of not due to the EU and the commendable objectives it had on formation, but due to the history, skills and commitment. As a firm we support our trainees as an investment in both endeavour of our island nation. their futures and in ours. Yes, we would love to continue to do our bit and be members of that club, but maybe the We wish them well for a time has come for reality to set in and suffer some short-term pain for long-term gain. long and happy career with Gaby Hardwicke.” On a political and security level we can continue to have alliances and agreements, but the economic reality is that the EU has never proven itself and now may be the time for us to return to our Sovereignty that has served us so well in the past. Diary dates Eastbourne & District Brighton & Hove March – Friday 11 March – Friday 18 Forthcoming Lunch The Grand Hotel SCCC Club meetings: April – Friday 8 April – Thursday 21 left to right: Lucy Hunting, Nicole Byrne (seated), The Grand Hotel Porsche Centre Mid-Sussex Lucy Dennett

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