Monday 24th April 2023, 5pm – 8pm
Programme
5.00 pm Mello welcome and company presentation from Frenkel Topping Group
5.35 pm Company presentation from S&U plc
6.15 pm Amati Global Investor Fund Managers Mikhail Zverev & Graeme Bencke present ChatGPT and the new chapter in Artificial Intelligence technology: opportunities and implications
6.45 pm Company presentation from The Property Franchise Group
7.15 pm De-listing from the market can be de-energising (IBPO horror story)
7.25 pm Mello BASH
Company Presentation – Frenkel Topping Group (LON: FEN)
Frenkel Topping Group is a long-established family of businesses who are tried, tested and trusted. Always available to provide advice and technical support to our legal clients and those they represent. We support lawyers and their clients with a concierge approach to anything they may need throughout the litigation journey. Our services include expert witness reports, advice from our specialists on welfare benefit entitlement and personnel injury trusts, cost management, holistic financial planning, fund management, accountancy advice, care & case management, talent planning and training. Our approach is bespoke and delivered with care, compassion, and integrity.
Richard Fraser, CEO
I have been a part of Frenkel Topping for 28 years having joined as a director in 1991. I am currently chief executive officer for the company, and my main role is managing the strategy of the group and the innovation, development and profile of the business.
The most rewarding part about working at Frenkel Topping for me is being able to both help our clients and build strong relationships with the staff.
My brother broke his back falling out of a window at university in 1986, when he was only 18. He has been paralysed from the waist down ever since. To this day my mum cannot look at a photograph of Andy pre-accident. This has given me a good insight into the effect a catastrophic injury can have on an individual and their family. This gave me the drive to make sure Frenkel Topping delivers the best, most transparent service possible to our clients.
Company Presentation – The Property Franchise Group PLC
The Property Franchise Group PLC (AIM: TPFG) is the largest property franchisor in the UK and manages the second largest estate agency network and portfolio of lettings properties in the UK. The Company was founded in 1986 and has since grown to a diverse portfolio of nine brands operating throughout the UK, comprising longstanding high-street focused brands and a hybrid, no sale no fee agency. The Property Franchise Group’s brands are Martin & Co, EweMove, Hunters, CJ Hole, Ellis & Co, Parkers, Whitegates, Mullucks & Country Properties. Headquartered in Bournemouth, UK, the Company was listed on AIM on the London Stock Exchange in 2013.
Gareth Samples, CEO
With 30 years’ industry experience, Gareth brings a wealth of Estate Agency, Financial Services and digital marketing knowledge to the Group.
In his 21 year career at LSL Gareth was appointed Managing Director of the Your Move brand, which was the largest single brand estate agency in the UK at the time. In this role he was responsible for Your Move’s franchise operation as well as having overall control of Financial Services and Lettings and the strategy of the brand.
Following his successful career at LSL, Gareth became Managing Director of Briefyourmarket.com where he gained significant digital marketing experience and knowledge and since 2014 he has served as Chairman of Legalforlandlords. Gareth formally joined the Group as CEO on 30 April 2020.
David Raggett, CFO
Since qualifying with PwC as a Charted Accountant David has spent his whole working life in franchising as franchisor and franchisee. Initially David held financial responsibility for several Ford franchises before, in the mid 90s, moving to Porsche’s UK headquarters. Here he held financial responsibility for its distribution, retails and financial services businesses at various times, as well as being their company secretary and, for several years, Head of Legal.
In 2007 David took up the role Finance Director for the Motability Scooter and Powered Wheelchair Scheme to restore its financial stability, to improve its offering and to expand its customer base. After successfully turning the scheme around and leading it into new ownership, David joined the Group in February 2013.
Amati Global Investor presents ChatGPT and the new chapter in Artificial Intelligence technology: opportunities and implications
Chat GPT has gained rapid popularity and wide publicity since launch. In our opinion, it represents a new chapter in AI and machine learning technology, with far reaching implications. Amati fund managers Mikhail Zverev and Graeme Bencke will discuss the progress so far and consider investment opportunities and risks arising from this technological change.
Graeme Bencke co-manager of TB Amati Strategic Innovation Fund
Graeme Bencke are co-manager of TB Amati Strategic Innovation Fund
Mikhail Zverev and Graeme Bencke are co-managers of TB Amati Strategic Innovation Fund.
Prior to Amati Mikhail was a senior portfolio manager and head of global equities team at Standard Life Investments and Aviva Investors and worked at First State Investments and Citigroup Investment Bank. He holds BSc in Semiconductor Physics and MSc in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics and a CFA designation.
Prior to Amati Graeme was a senior portfolio manager and head of global equities team at PineBridge Investments (previously AIG) and worked at F&C before that. Graeme holds a first-class BSc in Business Management from Royal Holloway University of London and is an associate member of the Society of Investment Professionals (ASIP).
Amati Global Investors was established in Edinburgh in 2010 with the objective of providing our investors with savings vehicles offering exposure to dynamic areas of the market. Amati manage the Amati AIM VCT, Amati AIM IHT Portfolio Service, TB Amati UK Smaller Companies Fund, TB Amati Strategic Metals Fund and the recently launched TB Amati Strategic Innovation Fund.
Company Presentation – S&U PLC
Founded and majority owned by the Coombs family, S&U plc is the holding company for two trading subsidiaries.
Established in 1999, Advantage Finance is one of the most progressive and innovative motor finance companies in the UK. Focussing on the non-prime used car market, Advantage has now provided motor finance for over 250,000 customers and employs over 200 people. Advantage offers loans of up to £15,000 on an HP basis and accesses its market through over 40 internet and dealer introducer brokers, direct to dealers and through re-finance from loyal customers.
Advantage possesses state of the art customer processing systems, an industry leading under-writing system and a reputation for quality as much as for quantity of business. Most of the very experienced management team have been with Advantage since it was founded and it has low staff turnover. Our strong emphasis on reward and recognition has allowed Advantage to achieve excellent growth and profits over the last 24 years.
Aspen Bridging launched in 2017 to cater for the burgeoning short term refurbishment and residential markets. Aspen Bridging lends up to £10m per deal with an average loan of £900,000.
Aspen believe that by combining the best of traditional bridging with state-of-the-art technology and a single-minded focus on service excellence, we can bring a modern and fresh approach to the specialist bridging market. As a result its 23-strong team are earning a growing reputation for speedy service and consistent delivery amongst its broker partners.
Graham brings 40 years experience in motor finance across consumer and business lending, much of it in senior leadership roles. He developed through blue chip Companies like GM, GE Capital, and Volkswagen FS, where he held the post of UK CEO for 11 years. Graham joined the S&U Plc board in September 2020 after a year leading its subsidiary Advantage Finance.
Joined S&U in 1975 and was appointed Managing Director in 1999 and then Chairman in 2008. Between 1987 and 1997 served as a Member of Parliament and was a member of the Government. Serves on the Executive of the Consumer Credit Association and chairs its Public Relations Committee and is a director of a number of companies and charities including chairing the trustees of the National Institute for Conductive Education.
Ed co-founded Aspen in 2017 and prior to that has 30 years’ experience within speciality finance with up to £20 bln under management. This included Director roles at Vanquis Bank, Head of Operations at Barclays Bank and being part of the founding team of Abbey National Direct.
A Chartered accountant with over 10 years business experience in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods, food and travel sectors prior to his appointment as Finance Director of Advantage Finance in 1999. Following a successful start up period for Advantage he was appointed as Group Finance Director with effect from 1 March 2004.
Joined S&U plc after graduating from London Business School in 1976.
The Mello BASH (Buy, Avoid, Sell & Hold)
Mark Simpson Private Investor
Kevin Taylor Private Investor
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