Issue 3 2019

Acquisition International - Issue 3 2019 61 1807AI51 IFC Advisory is an innovative financial PR and investor relations agency serving small and mid-cap quoted companies. It was recently awarded the prestigious accolade of Most Innovative Investor Relations Agency 2018 – England in the Global Excellence Awards. eadquartered in London, the IFC team provides a unique combination of skills covering financial PR and corporate finance coupled with investor access at both the institutional, and high net-worth and retail level. IFC was founded in February 2015 by established public company advisers, Tim Metcalfe and Graham Herring, after identifying the need for a more proactive and focused approach to advising small and mid-cap quoted companies from a financial PR and investor relations perspective. The firm’s mission is to provide a first class advisory and bespoke communications service with a direct focus on the investor, supplemented by an appropriate engagement strategy in the wider market and most importantly, a desire to create real results for its clients. IFC delivers specialist advice to over 40 quoted and private companies across all sectors including, technology, industrial, engineering, consumer, mining and oil & gas. The firm’s tailored approach incorporates strategic insight to suit the requirements of clients. It partners closely with the companies it advises to provide an all-inclusive, dynamic communications proposition which addresses all aspects of life as a listed business in an ever-changing and increasingly regulated market place. Co-founder, Tim Metcalfe, is an experienced corporate financier and broker having spent over 20 years working at Robert Fleming & Co, N M Rothschild, Westhouse Securities, Northland Capital Partners and was most recently Joint CEO of Zeus Capital. He left Zeus in November 2014, after having grown it to become one of the leading brokers to AIM companies, to form IFC. Tim has extensive experience in advising small and mid- cap quoted companies on IPOs, fund raisings, M&A, strategy and regulatory matters, including as an AIM Qualified Executive. Co-founder, Graham Herring, has been working as a financial PR consultant for the last twenty years. Graham founded Threadneedle Communications in 2005 which became the leading financial PR agency for companies on AIM receiving numerous industry awards. Threadneedle Communications was acquired by AIM listed Porta Communications in 2011 to become Newgate Threadneedle. His focus has been advising public listed companies and he has extensive M&A, crisis management and IPO experience. Working alongside Tim and Graham, is a team of dedicated professionals, including Heather Armstrong, Miles Nolan, Florence Chandler, Jane Allison, Alex White and Zach Cohen. Financial PR and Investor Relations H Heather came into Financial PR having spent two years as a financial media analyst with an international research firm. Following a brief spell at Hansard and three years at Newgate Capital Markets, Heather joined IFC Advisory. Heather provides strategic corporate and financial communications advice and implementation across a number of sectors. She also provides transaction communications support across Mergers & Acquisitions, IPOs, and fundraisings and has experience in crisis communications. Miles was previously the Smaller Companies Editor at the Investors Chronicle, which he ran for seven years, prior to becoming the Editor of Growth Company Investor magazine. During this period, Miles was responsible for interviewing and writing on hundreds of AIM and Main Market companies. He is a former winner of the ‘Best Research of the Year’ category at the AIM Awards and ‘Journalist of the Year’ by Growth Company Investor. Jane joined IFC on its formation to look after the administrative side of the agency and to provide specific assistance with IT related projects. She has over 25 years experience in a variety of IT and administrative roles, including over 10 years at ESRI UK as a project manager focussed on geographical information systems. She has an MSc in Computer Science. Alex White is a former senior Fleet Street journalist who joined the IFC team from Newgate Threadneedle in February 2016 with a specific focus on supporting clients with their media relations programmes with financial journalists, as well as a wider press audience, including trade press. He has over 50 years’ experience as a journalist and PR adviser, providing support to companies of all shapes and sizes across multiple sectors. Florence joined the IFC team, after graduating with an honours degree from the University of Nottingham. Recent work experience in the fields of finance, PR, sales and the service industry has taught her a variety of transferable skills. Florence is assisting the team with the day-to-day handling of accounts where she can put her analytical and interpersonal skills to best use. Zach is the newest member of the IFC team. Zach has a degree in Accounting and Finance having always had a keen interest in a financially orientated occupation. Recent work experience in the finance and cosmetics industry has allowed him to gain a variety of skills needed to excel in the world of Financial PR. “IFC delivers specialist advice to over 40 quoted and private companies across all sectors...”