ukwa 2 cover - United Kingdom Warehousing Association

4 Association News
IN THIS ISSUE
8 BUSINESS NEWS
Online fulfilment growth
12 HEALTH & SAFETY
Keeping your workforce
in shape
14 PROPERTY
What is my warehouse
worth Charles
Partridge reflects on
how best to answer this
very frequently asked
question
16 PROPERTY
How to get the right
facility for the new
economic order
18 PROPERTY
The case for portcentric
logistics is a compelling
one argues Peter Jeffery
20 AWARDS FOR
WAREHOUSING
Be a winner in 2010
22 LEGAL
Dealing with extreme
weather
26 RACKING
It is essential that
racking is installed,
used and maintained
correctly to protect
against damage and
injuries
28 MEMBER’S CASE
STUDY
Narrow aisles mean
fater throughputs at
Bowker’s three sites
32 MONEY MATTERS
New client credit checks
are vital, says Julia
Lucas
MEMBER SERVICES
Confidential business
advice from new
honorary adviser
UKWA has appointed
Peter Farmer
Associates Ltd (PFA) as
its new Honorary Adviser
to assist the membership
with company sales,
mergers and acquisitions.
Peter Farmer, who is
the managing director of
PFA, has a long established
reputation in the
industry and PFA offers
buyers and sellers specialist
advice across the logistics,
freight and transport
sectors. PFA has identified
and managed numerous
mergers and acquisitions
projects on behalf of a
client base that ranges
from private individuals to
global corporations. The
company also advises on
management buy-outs
and buy-ins, retirement
exits, valuations, business
recovery and planning.
“Peter Farmer has
extensive knowledge of
the logistics, freight and
transport industries and a
proven track record of
successfully closing deals.
We feel that the broad
range of services that he
is able to offer will be very
useful to some UKWA
members,” says Roger
Williams, chief executive
officer of UKWA.
“We are delighted to
be working with UKWA,”
comments Peter Farmer,
“and look forward to
meeting members at
some of the Association’s
many regional networking
events in the future.”
When it comes to successful
mergers and
acquisitions Peter Farmer
says that confidentiality is a
key aspect for vendors.
“Company owners who
are looking to exit their
business often talk, in the
first instance, to their
accountant or solicitor.
However, many accountants
and lawyers do not
have experience or contacts
in the trade where the
client’s company operates
and, in a lot of cases,
they also fail to appreciate
that a seemingly
innocuous remark can
inadvertently disclose the
identity of a company.”
“If news of the intention
to sell gets out too
early it can worry staff,
become a concern to customers
and competitors
could seek to capitalise by
spreading gloomy
rumours – none of which
is helpful to the seller,”
explains Peter.
When an owner is
seeking an exit from their
business, it is vital to plan
ahead and to achieve the
right result for both buyer
and seller. This takes time
and it is often necessary
to make changes in the
company before going to
market. The effects of a
sale on customers, staff,
suppliers and associated
companies have to be
considered as well as the
share value, the tax and
pension implications and
the most effective way to
realise the consideration.
While the uncertain economic
outlook at the
moment would suggest
that now is not a good
time to sell a business,
Peter Farmer contends that
any profitable company
should still command a
good price. “In theory it’s a
buyer’s market, but we are
continuing to see sellers
achieve the right deal
when introduced to a purchaser
where there is a
good fit.” he says.
UKWA members can contact
Peter Farmer or
Russell Armstrong for a
free and confidential initial
consultation on any of
the services that PFA offers
by telephone on 01376
563377 or by email at
pfa@cavendishhouse.co.uk.
February 2010
www.ukwa.org.uk