Finalist - Small Deal of the Year

Meridian has had a strong year completing a number of transactions within the qualifying period, with Computer Network Consultants (CNC), being shortlisted for the Small Deal of the Year award.

Meridian advised the CNC shareholders on a strategic sale to FluidOne, a PE-backed IT provider, establishing a new division on the South coast of the UK. The transaction exceeded initial valuation expectations through a competitive process led by Meridian.

Graham Lind, Founder and Managing Director of CNC, said of the transaction, "Meridian helped CNC with the whole process, allowing us to select the right acquirer and driving a better return for the shareholders. They were supportive throughout the process and put in the extra effort when needed, so we would highly recommend them. The strong growth CNC had experienced over the previous years was recognised as an excellent fit by FluidOne and has given us the ambition to accelerate our growth and deliver quality services to even more local businesses. The FluidOne team saw a great opportunity to continue to build CNC as the trusted local IT provider whilst benefiting from expert overlay in connectivity, mobile, Unified Communications and Cyber from the wider FluidOne group.”

The transaction was led by Philip Mettam, Director and Prabin Sunar, Associate Director at Meridian. Legal support was provided by Jeremy Over, Partner at Moore Barlow. Accounting support was provided by Costas Avraam and Chris Piccos of Avraam Associates. Tax support was provided by Cathy Revis, Partner at Fiander Tovell.

This transaction demonstrates Meridian’s expertise in facilitating complex transactions involving a range of stakeholders and professionals, incorporating and leveraging the skills of local professionals for seamless execution. Meridian’s ability to consistently deliver outstanding results, combined with their collaborative and strategic approach, cements their reputation as the leading Corporate Finance team in the Solent region.