TMA Europe News

TMA Europe

Friday 28 February 2014 | TMA Europe | www.tma-europe.org

Book by 15 March for an early bird discount for TMA Europe's Annual Conference

Secure your place at the leading event for Europe's turnaround professionals in the next two weeks and save up to €65 on your booking. The early bird discount for TMA Europe's seventh annual conference ends on 15 March.

The conference, which will once again bring together some of the foremost experts in the fields of turnaround and restructuring, is being held at the Hotel Bayerischer Hof, Munich, on 12 and 13 June.

Last year's event in London was attended by more than 170 delegates from 11 different countries. The conference enabled colleagues from across the continent to get together and share ideas and best practices, as well as get up-to-date with key developments in the industry.

The theme for this year is "After the Banks: Alternative Capital Providers and Their Impact on Restructurings in Europe," with a programme that features focused education sessions and a host of expert speakers, as well as plenty of networking opportunities.

For more information and to book please see

www.tma-europe.org.

First speakers announced for TMA Europe's inaugural East European event

Restructuring in the Central and Eastern Europe banking sector will be debated at TMA Europe's inaugural East European event this summer.

Hosted by TMA Romania, "After the Apocalypse - Rebuilding Strong Financial Platforms for the Upturn in Central Europe" is being held at the National Bank of Romania in Bucharest on 15 May.

Leading professionals from manufacturing, banking, and the investor sectors are being lined up to discuss how the CEE can emerge fit for the challenges of the changing financial and economic scenes.

The event will feature two panel sessions, including one on restructuring in the banking sector.

Panellists already announced for this debate include Luigi Passamonti, Coordinator, World Bank (Austria); George Poulopoulos, Chief Financial Officer, Piraeus Bank (Greece); Christophe Galand, Deputy Head of Financial Crisis Task Force, European Commission (Greece); and Lukas Fecker, Partner, Innovation Brain (UK).

This event is FREE OF CHARGE, but, pre-registration is essential.

Book now.

Entries being sought for Turnaround Awards

Entries have opened for TMA Europe's prestigious annual Turnaround of the Year Awards.

The awards, which are now in their third year, aim to celebrate the achievements of the individual or team of TMA turnaround professionals who have orchestrated the most successful recovery of a struggling company.

There are two categories, one for a small company whose revenue at the onset of the turnaround was less than 100 million Euros, and one for a large company whose revenue at the onset of the turnaround was more than 100 million Euros.

Submissions for the awards are assessed on the main actions taken to bring around the turnaround, the issues that arose and how they were overcome, as well as the eventual outcome.

The winners of the awards will be announced at TMA Europe's annual conference being held this year at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich on 12 and 13 June.

The deadline for entries is Friday, 25 April.

For full details and entry forms please see www.tma-europe.org

Buying an Underperforming Company in The Balkans

By Hugh C. Larratt-Smith, MBA

For the past 20 years, companies in The Balkans have not been on the radar screen of most private equity groups.

It's not that The Balkans lack comparative advantages. The wage rates in the region are up to 75% less than Western European nations. Education levels are high and the workforce is relatively skilled. Many professionals and middle managers have proficiency in numerous languages. It is not uncommon to meet people who speak three to six languages. The Balkans is within 1,000 KM of 170 million consumers. Transportation links are good. Two of the four Balkans nations, Slovenia and Croatia, are in the European Union. Serbia is targeting to join the E.U. in 2020.

Hockey Hall of Fame Event at The TMA Annual in Toronto

The 2014 TMA Annual will be held 29 September -- 1 October at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The conference will feature a networking event at the Hockey Hall of Fame. With interactive shooting and goaltending games, networking, food and drink stations, and more, this event offers something for all attendees.

Mark your calendar and make travel plans for TMA's first internationally located annual conference.

Join INSOL Special Interest Section with TMA Discount

One of the many benefits of being a part of TMA is that you can join the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL) special interest section of TMA for $140 USD a year -- a discount of more than 40% off the individual listing price. INSOL is a worldwide federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers who specialize in turnaround and insolvency. There are currently 40 member associations worldwide with more than 9,000 professionals participating as members of INSOL International. Learn more and sign-up today.

EACTP membership is one of the best promotional tools, says TMA Global CEO

If you are looking to promote yourself as a turnaround professional, there's no better marketing tool than membership of the EACTP, according to the TMA Global CEO, Gregory J. Fine, CAE.

Greg Fine believes that joining the pioneering European body and becoming a Certified Turnaround Professional is one of the best promotional steps you can take. "It's extremely valuable to be able to stand up and say, I am a Certified Turnaround Professional and this designation shows I have demonstrated skills, knowledge, and experience in this profession. If you are looking for a marketing tool, they are the best dollars I think you can spend," said Mr. Fine.