Hampshire: BCMS launches in Middle East with first-ever seminar in Israel

As part of its ongoing international growth strategy, Kingsclere-based M&A adviser BCMS has launched in the Middle East, hosting its first-ever seminar in Tel Aviv, Israel.

The seminar, presented by David Rebbettes, founding director, and Mike Sweeting, director of international development, was well received with over 200 SME business owners in attendance.

Ahead of the February 24 launch event, Rebbettes had visited Israel on a number of occasions during 2014, working closely with local colleagues Doron Ephrati and Hilit Ben-Zvi, who are joint heads of the BCMS operation. BCMS will operate from an office in the Vita Towers complex in Tel Aviv’s business district.

Rebbettes commented: “The Middle East is an attractive market for deal makers – I continue to be delighted by the positive response BCMS has received ever since announcing the first seminar date here in Israel.

“With a third of our deals in 2014 being cross-border, BCMS is no stranger to international deal making and our new presence in Israel will undoubtedly enhance the services we provide to our UK and international clients alike.”

Ephrati added: “There is a great deal of appreciation internationally for Israeli companies, and particularly among investors. This is what led BCMS to extend its operations into Israel.”

“The Israeli market is small, and up until now, most M&A deals have involved two or three potential players. Typically the pool of possible acquirers generated by BCMS is greater, and potentially up to 30 parties will go on to more advanced stages in the process.”

Originally established at Kingsclere in Hampshire, BCMS now has offices in 25 countries around the world and currently employs circa 260 employees worldwide. In 2014 BCMS ranked as the top international sell-side adviser by deal volume to privately-owned companies [source: BVD].