Well, we’ve made it through another year—and what a year it’s been! From major M&A deals to welcoming new faces, 2024 has been packed with highlights. We’ve been busy, we’ve been bold, and yes, we’ve probably consumed more caffeine than is medically advisable. But hey, it’s all been worth it! M&A Activity & Investments 2024 saw significant activity with the team acting as lead adviser on the sales of Wessex Electrical and Qolcom , as well as the MBOs of Just Kampers , Project Venue , and CSA Environmental . We also had a busy year on our PE fund with exits from 23.5 degrees complimented by a new portfolio acquisition in Bournemouth based MyFibre , reinvestments in Stewart Signs and Diametric, and bolt-on acquisitions of Dyball and Auditel (more on this below) both of which joined the TMA family! Team Growth & Development We welcomed Toby Uren to the team and were excited to have Kerry Coomer , Honor Hornsby , and Jake Bowdler join us as secondees from Shoosmiths and Trethowans - It’s a pleasure working with such talented and ambitious people! Awards & Recognition It was an honor to have been named Corporate Finance Team of the Year at the Solent Deal Awards once again. A special shout-out also goes to Prabin Sunar , who won Young Dealmaker of the Year for the second time - a well-deserved recognition of his dedication and hard work. Team Building & Client Engagement From thrilling rally events to memorable Goodwood experiences, boat trips, and client dinners, we’ve cherished every opportunity to strengthen our relationships and celebrate our collective success with so many clients and professionals in the Solent region. Charity We’re proud to uphold our commitment to supporting meaningful charitable causes. This year, we’ve continued our partnership with the Children’s Heart Foundation, MNDA , and Tree of Hope , raising both funds and awareness for their vital work. A highlight was the special auction lunch at Mirabelle’s, which brought people together for a wonderful cause. Looking ahead, we’re excited to once again be supporting and organising the Solent Professionals Annual Charity Event (SPACE) Valentine’s Ball in February 2025 alongside other dedicated professionals within our local community! ESG and Sustainability Our portfolio Company, TMA Data Management Ltd, acquired Hampshire based Auditel UK Ltd, which helps organisations make effective and informed decisions around energy procurement as well as having a national network of over 100 energy procurement and carbon consultants. It is one of the UK’s leading carbon footprint and carbon reduction specialists and Meridian are excited to be working with the team in making an enormous impact on companies that are on the journey to carbon neutral. With such a strong foundation in 2024, we are eager to continue delivering value, driving growth, and creating lasting partnerships in the year ahead. Thank you to all the professionals we have worked with this year, and here's to even more milestones, learning, and success in 2025! 🥂 #2024Highlights #TeamSuccess #MergersAndAcquisitions #Investment #CorporateFinance #Awards #TeamBuilding #ClientEngagement #Growth #BusinessSuccess #nextstepthinking

We are thrilled to welcome Jake to the Meridian team on a three-month placement from National Law Firm Shoosmiths. As a talented trainee solicitor, Jake brings extensive experience in corporate transactions, having acted for private equity firms, founders, and institutions on disposals. With several years of expertise as a paralegal and trainee solicitor, Jake has developed a deep understanding of managing transactions efficiently while aligning with clients' commercial objectives. His resilience and ability to navigate complex transactions have earned him glowing client feedback. At Meridian, we are not only committed to supporting Jake's development but also eager to learn from his wealth of experience. Jake joins us as part of Meridian's secondment programme, which began in 2008, and we are delighted to welcome him as our 31st secondee. His placement will run until March 2025, and we believe he will be a fantastic addition to the team.

What does the budget mean for business owners?

Transaction: Company Sale Sector: TMT Completed: October 2024

We are delighted and proud to celebrate a milestone of 30 successful secondment placements over the past 16 years! Since our very first secondee, Lisa Sigalet in 2008, Meridian has had a rolling programme of secondees from local law firms as well as members of key management from the Goodwood Estate. Our secondment scheme was designed to give a fresh perspective on how transactions are formulated from the other side of the table. This unique approach fosters a new style of collaboration and trust between everyone involved, ensuring that lawyers, accountants, bankers, and clients work together seamlessly as one trusted, knowledgeable team to achieve successful outcomes. A huge thank you to our clients and legal partners, Shoosmiths, Trethowans and Moore Barlow, for their continued trust and to each of our secondees who has shown great commitment, resilience, and excellence during their time with us and for trusting us with their career development. Each secondee has added great value to Meridian and returned to their chosen discipline with a wealth of understanding about the world of business, strategy and seeing the bigger picture in terms of deal making. Without exception every secondee has gone on to achieve great things. On that note, we also extend a warm welcome to Honor Hornsby who joins us from law firm Trethowans, who brings with her a strong academic background and a positive, diligent approach to problem-solving. Over the next six months, Honor will gain hands-on experience in corporate finance and investments, working on a wide range of projects. We are very proud to offer this opportunity to the rising stars in the Solent region, to help develop local talent and shape the next generation of professionals. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of our awesome journey, and we look forward to continuing the programme!

Transaction: Company Sale Sector: Services Completed: August 2024 

Transaction: Management Buy-Out Sector: Wholesale Trader Completed: August 2024

Meridian’s portfolio company, TMA Data Management, has acquired Dyball Associates, forming a new powerhouse in the energy market. For years, TMA and Dyball have collaborated to deliver comprehensive, end-to-end data management solutions to energy suppliers. Now, as a united force, they are set to drive even greater power through data. We look forward to seeing the incredible innovation and value this partnership will bring to the energy sector!

A little overdue, but please join me in welcoming Toby Uren who is Meridian’s newest full time Team member.

Huge congratulations to Prabin Sunar on winning Young Deal Maker of the Year for the second year in a row at The Business Magazine’s Solent Deals Awards. Prabin is an integral member of the Meridian Team and this award is a true testament to his capabilities of building relationships with clients and intermediaries alike. In addition to his deal-making expertise, Prabin is a dedicated mentor who generously shares his knowledge, guiding and supporting his colleagues as they grow in their careers. We couldn’t be more proud of his achievements and the positive impact he has on our team. Commenting on his win, Prabin says, “Working as both a financial adviser and managing investments gives me extra added perspective on deals, particularly from a long-term strategy viewpoint. I also sit on the Boards of companies, which is another long-term role. You don’t see the immediate results of what you do but it is nice watching things come to fruition later on. It helps you to be patient and appreciate the journey your clients are on. I think I’m proudest of the relationships I have built with people in the firm who have mentored me and with dealmakers in the region.”

The Meridian Team is absolutely over the moon to have been crowned Corporate Finance Team of the Year at the Business Magazine's Solent Deals Awards 2024. This award truly reflects the hard work and collaboration of our entire team, and we couldn’t be prouder of this recognition. It is a true testament to the collective efforts of our talented professionals and the strong relationships we’ve built with such valued partners. We are privileged to work alongside some of the best law firms, banking teams, accountancy practices in the Solent Region, whose expertise and support are integral to the level of service we are proud to provide to each of our clients. We have been incredibly fortunate over the years to have been able to support a diverse range of businesses across the region, helping them navigate their individual paths to success. Whether it’s guiding a start up through its first acquisition or assisting established companies with complex transactions, our clients are always at the heart of what we do and our goal has always been to deliver exceptional results tailored to their needs. Michael Barcia, Meridian Director commented: “Our local presence based in Southampton has always been important to us – it’s why we have never opened another office. We want to stay focused on the Solent region, with most of our deals coming from the area’s business owners and entrepreneurs. We are committed to bringing on our people and training them. Prabin Sunar, who won Young Dealmaker of the Year, is a great example of this. We also benefit from taking lawyers on six-month secondments, which helps us build our relationships with local law firms.” A big thank you to all our clients, colleagues and everyone involved in making this achievement possible. Here’s to many more successful collaborations and continued growth.