Shropshire accountant helps search for a star

Mark Bramall, from Dyke Yaxley Chartered Accountants, in Shrewsbury, is working on The Dealmaker – a brand new series that will follow three companies as they acquire their first business.

He is part of a team from The Corporate Finance Network who will advise the firms involved right through from the very early stages, to identifying target businesses, and through to legal completion.

The programme is the brainchild of Kirsty McGregor, founder and chairman of the CFN, which is a national network of accountancy firms specialising in corporate finance for small and medium-sized businesses.

Mark said: “In our view, there has never been a better time to buy a business, and with so many struggling companies in our current economy, and ageing business owners with no exit plans, it is definitely a buyer’s market.

“There are some bargains to be had, but we need more entrepreneurs to look at purchasing as part of their overall growth strategy.

“We hope this television programme will demystify the process of buying a business, so that business owners and employees of smaller businesses might be encouraged to consider a merger or the acquisition of another operation.”

In return for the process being filmed, the businesses who take part will receive all corporate finance, accountancy and legal advice relating to the transaction free of charge.

Any companies who would like to become purchasers and who would be interested in taking part must be a UK Limited Company, have been trading for at least three years, have sales turnover of at least £500,000 and must not have purchased any business previously.

To apply to take part, businesses should send an email, together with their full accounts, in confidence to Dealmaker@TheCFN.org.uk