Surviving or acquiring: strategies for business success in uncertain times

The coming months are expected to bring a wave of economic challenges. Large numbers of jobs and businesses will be under serious threat while fragile confidence and structural changes in the economy will hasten tough decisions. Businesses may have to restructure but, done properly, can emerge into the new economy rightsized and refocused. For others there will be the opportunity to grow by acquisition, as distressed companies become available.

In November this year, TheBusinessDesk.com and Quantuma hosted a webinar which focused on strategies for business success in uncertain times:

• Being resilient: the strategies businesses must put in place now to best position them for what lies ahead
• Being rightsized and refocused: having the right structure and focus for how the world now looks
• Being ready: how to be prepared to seize the opportunities that can transform your business

The panellists were: Chris Yates, an experienced turnaround chief executive with a track record of success, which includes a highly-successful restructuring and turnaround of Kiddicare after Endless bought the retailer from Morrisons, and a complex turnaround and business and assets sale at footwear retailer Moda in Pelle.

Dr John Ashcroft specialises in economics and strategy. He is the author of the respected The Saturday Economist, and is an advisor and consultant to a range of businesses. He spent nine years as the chief executive of Pro-Manchester and was the founding chairman of the NW Business Leadership Team.

Quantuma director Frank Ofonagoro delivers lead advisory and business restructuring mandates for SMEs. He has 20 years’ experience undertaking financial and operational restructuring advisory mandates for lenders, distressed/special situation funds, SMEs and FTSE 100s.

Ian Barton is an MD in Quantuma’s corporate finance team and his work over the last 20 years has focused on advising shareholders on merger and acquisition plans, sourcing funding and planning shareholder restructuring.