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Oil & Gas Focus - Seizing the Moment |
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BP has been hitting the headlines again in the past month. Thankfully for UK plc reports are more positive this time round with the announcement that Q4 bonuses for many staff will be determined based on safety related measures.
The recent heightened focus on safety and operational standards globally gives indigenous Scottish companies the ideal opportunity to leverage their North Sea experiences, in some of the most challenging conditions in the world, and expand into new regions.
Click here to read why our MD, Paul Yacoubian, believes now is a great time for North Sea operators to look at new geographies. |
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Many businesses are finding it a real challenge to refinance their operations at present, whether it be to suit new circumstances or to give them a stable footing to take advantage of future opportunities.
Our experiences tell us that the following difficulties are the ones most often encountered by businesses in discussions with bankers:
- Lower levels of profitability/cash flow
- Reduced asset values
- Tighter loan-to-value requirements
- Forecasting the future
- Fees
In our view, despite the challenges, banks remain generally supportive, particularly when it comes to their existing customers. By taking some simple steps we’ve helped our clients to maximise their chances of achieving a successful outcome to their refinancing.
Click here to read our straight forward guide to refinancing challenges and their solutions. |
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One of the more interesting results of our survey in the September edition of this newsletter was that 28% of Scottish SMEs had had their succession planning directly affected by the recession. For us this is a telling and worrying statistic. Without the influx of fresh energy and ideas that company succession brings, there is a real danger of stagnation and a drift towards underperformance.
Despite the current climate, there are some genuine advantages in considering succession now, as well as some practical solutions to the challenges faced. Click here to read why we think now is the time for many businesses to address succession. |
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New Tax Implications for Deferred Consideration |
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New tax legislation has always brought with it a raft of seemingly unintended consequences. The emergency budget in June was no exception, with changes to CGT creating what could be a very costly pitfall for transactions utilising deferred consideration, loan notes or Qualifying Corporate Bonds.
Click here to read why we believe CGT changes will have a significant impact on the taxation of deferred consideration, and the options available to mitigate those unintended consequences. |
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In the past month SEP backed Stentys have successfully achieved an IPO on Euronext and Mactaggart & Mickel have been amongst the first in the construction industry to bounce back into profitability:
Stentys
Mactaggart & Mickel |
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