Business Owners Forum

 

Although the recession is behind us, many industries are still struggling.

But the Business Owners Forum crew thought we’d end the year on a more positive note than that!  So the final event for the year will feature the topic “How my Business Thrived in the Recession”.

Join us to hear some powerful lessons and stories from a panel who have bucked the trend and thrived during this difficult period.   

 

Where and When?

Tuesday 7 December – 5:30pm to 7:00pm at the BNZ Partners Centre >>>  61 Constelletion Drive, North Harbour.

Thursday 9 December in Whangarei – click here >>> for full details of this event.

 

Who’s on the Panel?

Grant Hewson, General Manager of Accomplish Global.  Grant has succesfully led the growth of the Accomplish brand internationally during a time when business to business growth has been tough to say the least.

Judy McGrath, owner of Flying Flowers.  Business in the retail space has been challenging over the past two years – and there is not a lot of light at the end of the tunnel.  Join us to hear Judy’s story.

Ngaio Merrick, Business Development Manager of Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development – or better known pre-super-city as Enterprise North Shore.  Ngaio has worked with businesses of all ilks during the tough times – and she knows first hand what has separated the successes from the rest.    

 

As always, Business Owners Forum events are targeted to owners of businesses in the $1 million plus turnover bracket – although all business owners are very welcome.  

These events are free of charge to attend – supported by BNZ Partners, Waterstone Insolvency, The Bottom Line Expense Reduction, Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development – and Elevate CA.  There is never a sell from the supporters – BOFs are just a way to give something back to the business communities that allow us all to thrive. 

If you’d like to join us – or to be included on the invite list for future BOF events, just email Fraser Hurrell by Monday at fraser@elevateCA.co.nz.

 

 

The mechanics of passing the baton to new shareholders is a process that will concern most business owners at some point of their journey.  The outcome will be better for all if the process is carried out in a planned and orderly manner.

This Business Owners Forum event is entitled “Admitting New Shareholders with an Eye to Succession” – and will be held for the first time in the new BNZ Partners venue >>> on Constellation Drive, Albany.

Business Owners Forums have been a popular event in Whangarei and in Auckland ‘South of the bridge’ since June 2009.  They will now also be a regular bi-monthly event on the North Shore – supported on the Shore by BNZ Partners, Waterstone Insolvency, The Bottom Line Expense Reduction Limited – and Elevate CA Limited. 

Format for the 21 October event will be a panel discussion, and the content will cover:

 

Some of the issues and fish-hooks in admitting new shareholders to a business as a way to bring in new blood and pave the way towards succession.

Ways the purchase of shares by an incoming shareholder can be structured to protect the interests of both parties.

Some of the issues that can result in a mismatch of expectations and agendas between the parties – and ways these can be mitigated.

Ways the purchase of shares by an incoming shareholder can be financed where that person has the desired attributes but not necessarily the means to purchase outright.

 

On the panel for this event will be

 

Richard Blamey.  Richard is a Senior Partner at the BNZ in Constellation Drive, Albany.   One of the big challenges with dealing with incoming shareholders is often that the new shareholder finding the means to fund the purchase and to contribute to working capital.  Richard will discuss some of the ways incoming shareholders can be financed so the deal works for all parties.

 

Fraser Hurrell.  Fraser is a director of Elevate CA Limited.  He has worked through the process of succession and admitting new shareholders with many clients large and small.  He has seen first hand what works and what doesn’t work – and will share some enlightening war stories along with best practice on how to plan well ahead to make sure the process stands the best possible chance of success.

 

Damien Grant.  Damien is a director of Waterstone Insolvency Limited, and he sees every day the results of getting major business purchases wrong.  He will share some of his insights on managing the share sale and purchase process in a way that minimses the risk of the company later coming to his attention in a professional capacity.

 

As always, Business Owners Forum events are targeted to owners of businesses in the $1 million plus turnover bracket – although all business owners are very welcome.  These events are free of charge to attend – and along with the other supporters, we also put on liquid refreshments and pizzas to lubricate quality discussion.

If you’d like to be invited to this – or any other Business Owners Forum event, just contact Fraser Hurrell by email.

 

 

Every business owner will need to pass the reigns over some day.  This can either be in a planned and orderly process – or not.

This Business Owners Forum event will be held at Elevate CA from 5:30pm to 7:00pm on Thursday 16 September.

Format will be a panel discussion covering:

Some of the issues and fish-hooks in admitting new shareholders to a business as a way to bring in new blood and pave the way towards succession.

Ways the purchase of shares by an incoming shareholder can be structured to protect the interests of both parties.

Some of the issues that can result in a mismatch of expectations and agendas between the parties – and ways these can be mitigated.

Ways the purchase of shares by an incoming shareholder can be financed where that person has the desired attributes but not necessarily the means to purchase outright.

 

As always, Business Owners Forum events are targeted to owners of businesses in the $1 million plus turnover bracket – although all business owners are very welcome.  These events are free of charge to attend – and along with the other Whangarei BOF supporters (BNZ, The Bottom Line Expense Reduction and Webb Ross Lawyers), we also put on liquid refreshments and pizzas to lubricate quality discussion.

On the panel will be:

 

Stuart Spicer, Partner at Webb Ross Lawyers.  Stuart is experienced in dealing with the issues of succession and structuring the admittance of new shareholders from a legal perspective.  He will give some valuable insights from some of the deals he has been involved in – and discuss some of the issues that you should consider in this situation.

Geoff Grigg, Business Banking Partner at BNZ.  One of the big challenges with dealing with incoming shareholders is often that the new shareholder struggles to fund the purchase and to contribute to working capital.  The established shareholders may be unwilling to allow the company assets to be used to guarantee debt, and the deal can fall over because of financing issues.  Geoff will discuss some of the ways these deals can be financed so they work for all parties.

Fraser Hurrell, a director of Elevate CA Limited.  Fraser has worked through the process of succession and admitting new shareholders with many clients large and small.  He has seen first hand what works and what doesn’t work – and will share some enlightening war stories along with best practice on how to plan well ahead to make sure the process stands the best possible chance of success.

 

If you’d like to be invited to this – or any other Business Owners Forum event, just contact Fraser Hurrell by email.

 

 

 

 

 

What are Advisory Boards and do you need one?  This very good question will be answered by a panel at this Business Owners Forum event on 19 August.

This event will be held at The Conference Centre, Penrose, Auckland from 5:30pm for a 6:00pm start – and will run through to 7:30pm on the night.

We have a great panel on the night, each of whom will each come at this topic from a different angle.  On the panel is …

Bruce Sheppard. Bruce formed the NZ Shareholders Association in 2001.  Nine years on it has 1,000 members, 5 branches, a CEO, a large number of substantial corporate backers – and has won considerable respect in the business community, the media and with government. Bruce sits on a number of New Zealand boards and has helped transition these from advisory to a more formal board.  Look forward to a knowledgeable and entertaining presence on the panel from Bruce!

Mike Ashby is an advisor and mentor to SME owners.  He has been educating, motivating and supporting business owners through his development programmes since 2003.  Mike has considerable experience in helping companies put together advisory boards and will share some of his experiences of the pitfalls and success stories from that journey.

Jacqui Bensemann is Managing Director of Argus Fire Protection Services Limited – a company with 100 Staff reporting to an external Chairman and Board of Directors.  Jacqui has made full use both advisory and formal boards in her role and will discuss the pitfalls and benefits of working with boards from the point of view of a business manager or owner.

This will be a must attend session for any business owner who is interested in introducing some good governance, high level advice and external accountability into their business.

For a one page pdf containing details of the venue for this event – including map, driving directions and parking details, click here >>>.

And if you’re using Foursquare, The Conference Centre is venue / 7427718.

As always for Business Owners Forum events, this session will be free of charge and completely free of sales pitches from the supporters or the panelists.  And there will be pizza, beer and wine to lubricate quality discussion.

Business Owners Forums are held monthly on the third Thursday of the month – alternating between Auckland and Whangarei venues.

If you’d like to attend this event – or to be included on the invite list for future Business Owners Forum events, just contact Fraser Hurrell >>>.