| (12
June 2008)
 With
business growth, income, entrepreneurship levels
all being much higher within the Asian community
than the population as a whole; how will the current
down turn affect Asian businesses? Are Asian businesses
well placed to take advantage of the opportunities
that arise during a downturn? These were among
the topics debated at the INAB 'Strategies for
Success' business event on 12 June 2008 in London.
A panel of entrepreneurs
including Mahesh Shah - CEO of Nucare, Rickie
Sehgal - CEO of Transputec Computers Ltd, Anita
Samtani - Marketing Director of Geeta's Foods
and Atul Amin of Hugh Cartwright & Amin, hosted
an open panel debate on many of the issues pertinent
to medium-sized business owners.
The INAB organisation which
currently restricts membership to owners of a
business with a turnover greater than £1
million per annum, organises events specifically
designed to appeal to business owners on a growth
path, to assist with the process and expand personal
networks as well as provide an interesting forum
in which to discuss hurdles that face the business
community.
HOW TO MAKE A SUCCESS OF SELLING
YOUR BUSINESS
 Anuj
Chande, Partner and Head of South Asia Group,
For Grant Thornton UK LLP discussed the various
options for a success sale of a business. Anuj
is a corporate finance partner at Grant Thornton
with over 29 years professional and commercial
experience. At Grant Thornton Anuj leads the South
Asia Group, set up by him in 1991, to serve Asian
owned businesses both in the UK and those investing
from the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere. His
clients include those in food, drink, media, hotels,
technology and property. Over the years he has
advised on both debt and equity fund raisings
for his Asian clients.
Anuj highlighted the various
methods for valuing companies and highlighted
that "management structures were of paramount
importance for the successful sale of Asian family
businesses".
THE PROPERTY MARKET IN A "CREDIT
CRUNCH"
 Peter
Stilliard, Head of Asian Markets, Lloyds TSB gave
an overview of the property market during the
current "credit crunch". Peter Stilliard
heads up the Asian Markets Team for Lloyd's TSB's
Business Development arm across the UK. He has
gained considerable business experience from his
30 years with the Bank in London and the South
East. His team cover all aspects of growing businesses
and specialise in a number of key sectors including
retail, hotels, care homes, healthcare and property.
Peter outlined how "global
liquidity means that funding is still available
for investment in the property sector but most
lenders are 'cherry picking' applications based
on previous client relationships and trading history".
He emphasised that "location, location, location"
was the mantra for buy-to-let residental landlords
and that lenders were now requiring deposits that
matched the rental yield. For commercial lending
he said that most lenders preferred owner-occupiers
over buy-to-let landlords.
He did highlight that in
the current "credit crunch" valuations
were "generally heading downwards".
ART AS AN ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT
STRATEGY
 Dr
Amin Jaffer, International Director of Asian Art,
Christies International discussed the option of
Art as an alternative investment strategy. Dr
Jaffer has responsibility for developing Christie's
brand and business in India. For thirteen years
a curator at the V&A museum, he specialises
in Indian art in the age of European influence.
Dr Jaffer co-curated the V&A's blockbuster
2004 exhibition 'Encounters: the Meeting of Asian
& Europe, 1500-1800' which explored the artistic
and cultural encounter between Europe and Asia
following the discovery of the sea route to India
by Vasco da Gama in 1498. Dr Jaffer is the author
of several books and is the co-curator of the
V&A exhibition about princely life in India.
Click below to download a
copy of the speakers' presentations:
INAB
'Strategies for Success' 12 June 2008 event
( ,
360kb)
ABOUT INAB
INAB is an independent network
that organises activities and provides educational
and networking opportunities for Asian family
businesses, with the help of academics and service
providers, in order to create and distribute knowledge,
exchange experiences and build relationships.
For further information, visit www.inab.biz
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