Managing Director of Park Corporate Finance is delighted to announce that Debbie Clarke is joining Park as a Consultant Corporate Finance Adviser.

Debbie has worked within M&A since 1996 and has a depth of experience having transacted a range of Management Buy Outs, debt fundraising, private equity fundraising, acquisitions and disposals for both corporate businesses and not for profit organisations.

For the past eighteen years she has specialised in advising UK SME’s and their shareholders on a range of corporate finance transactions. Debbie has built an extensive network throughout her career working with clients in a variety of industries including financial services, construction, technology, engineering, distribution, media, recruitment and hospitality.

Starting her career in investment banking with James Capel, Debbie moved into practice with Mazars, Chantrey Vellacott and most recently was head of M&A at Moore Stephens prior to setting up as a consultant.

Debbie is currently a non-executive director for the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investments and Triathlon England allowing her to balance her love of finance and sport.

As a keen amateur athlete Debbie has competed for the GB Age Group Teams at both duathlon and triathlons and is a run leader for A Mile in Her Shoes which organises running fitness groups for women who may be vulnerable to homelessness.

One of Park’s longest standing clients is the UMC Group. UMC’s Managing Director, Nick Moss, explains, “Park have had a significant impact on our growth. They’re experts in dealing with financial institutions. Our main means of expansion is through acquisitions, and they really understand the inner working of these kinds of deals.”

Nick has grown his group of companies over the last 15 years, with the help of Park’s Managing Director, Jason Metcalf. Jason played an instrumental role in the acquisition and fundraising of four businesses for the UMC Group.

The first of these acquisitions was Ripmax Limited, the UK’s largest specialist distributor of remote control products. Park assisted in preparing the finance presentation and refining the business plan. Thanks to Park’s market insight, Jason was able to secure funding for the acquisition from a specialist source. This, along with Par’s expertise in structuring, negotiating and project managing acquisitions, enabled Nick to acquire Ripmax with relative ease.

Nick wanted to expand and acquire similar companies in his market sector. He targeted Amerang, a specialist distributor of collectable movie figurines and die cast cars, which had run into financial difficulties. Nick turned to Park for advice on acquiring distressed companies. Park’s expertise in this area proved invaluable when it came to sourcing finance and performing a successful business turnaround. Following this second acquisition, Park continued to fundraise for working and development capital when it was required.

Nick’s next step was to expand the Group into Europe. He asked Park to evaluate one of Europe’s largest remote control distributors, Robbe GMbH, which had run into financial difficulties. Jason Metcalf negotiated with the German administrator and the company’s key suppliers in Japan and Taiwan. Once again, Park was able to secure funding for the acquisition, meaning that the UMC Group was able to establish a Group presence in Germany.

Having successfully completed the expansion into Europe, Nick set his sights on the HPI Racing Group – a global manufacturer and distributor of radio-controlled hobby vehicles with operations all over the world. This was to be, by far, the most complex turnaround that Park had so far undertaken with Nick. While our primary role in any transaction is fundraising and acquisition advice, the scope of this task required a more hands-on approach.

HPI Racing had fallen into financial distress due to the actions of its principal shareholder. It required a vast amount of restructuring if things were to move forward. HPI Racing’s companies included a UK-based distribution operation, a manufacturing business in China, and a US-based distribution and design business.

Park’s first challenge was to advise on the funding and acquisition of the UK business from the administrator, and the financing and acquisitions of the US and Chinese businesses from the principal shareholder. Once the acquisitions were complete, the companies’ distressed positions presented a significant challenge. Nick therefore asked Jason Metcalf to take on a more intrinsic operational role.

Working alongside Nick, Jason made fundamental changes to the workings of the company, visiting and negotiating with suppliers and manufacturers across the Far East on numerous occasions and implementing major operational restructuring. Park led the setup of a new Chinese factory, overseeing the hiring of staff and working with sub-vendors to ensure a cost-effective operation that would not sacrifice quality. We also advised on the set up of a new Taiwanese supply chain.

To ensure the successful resurrection of HPI Racing, Park not only utilised our skill sets in distressed acquisitions and extensive fundraising – we helped to change the face of the business from the ground up – going beyond our traditional role in corporate finance and seeing the deal through to the end.

HPI Racing is now proving to be a valuable addition to the UMC Group and Nick is considering what’s next for the Group. He’s quick to acknowledge the role Park has played in the Group’s success, “Jason’s a very sharp guy, very intelligent. Without his input, I think life would be very difficult!”

CVR Global continues to go from strength to strength following its management buyout of Chantrey Vellacott’s business recovery division.

When Chantrey Vellacott announced its intention to merge with a larger accounting and advisory company, Kevin Murphy and his associates in the business recovery division took the decision to separate from the business and strike out as a new venture – CVR Global.

The management team knew it would need specialist support during the MBO process, and Park was the obvious choice. Jason Metcalf, Managing Director of Park, is a former partner of Chantrey Vellacott, so has worked with Kevin and the rest of the management team on numerous occasions over the years. Kevin explains, “We’ve always found Jason to be first rate – he was the natural person to turn to for our own fundraising.”

Park set to work assisting the team with its business plan and financial forecast models, before presenting the proposals to Chantrey Vellacott’s management committee.

As with most management buyouts, securing the right finance package was crucial. Jason Metcalf’s 25+ years in corporate finance gives him a distinct advantage when it comes to approaching potential investors. He personally supported the CVR Global team with the investment presentation. Jason then turned to Park’s extensive network of financial contacts, and selected the funders he felt would be the best fit for the MBO. Park was able to negotiate an excellent funding deal, enabling CVR Global to complete the management buyout.

Since the management buyout, CVR Global has made enormous steps forward and established its place as an expert in restructuring insolvency and forensic business services. CVR Global now operates six offices across the UK, along with premises in Gibraltar, The British Virgin Islands and Jersey.

Park continues to support CVR Global on corporate finance issues, and also offers corporate finance and fundraising services to the firm’s clients. In turn, CVR Global is able to offer its services to Park’s clients if they encounter financial distress.

Kevin Murphy states, “When we’re the administrators of a job and need some corporate finance input we go to Jason. He’s our first choice for any corporate finance matters.”