by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
In Ernest Hemingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises you will find a dialogue between two characters which goes like this: “How did you go bankrupt?” Bill asked. “Two ways,” Mike said. “Gradually and then suddenly.” Sadly there are parallels with businesses and we have also...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
Rising interest rates that add cost to a debt-heavy business has led to a re-appraisal of the typical model of buying a business and maximising debt. That was a feature of the low interest rate environment of the last ten years, and now the cycle has turned. Many of...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
I have always been conscious that business owners and those in a company charged with financial responsibilities should consider the obvious route to seeking finance. That is…ask your bank. Banks have a duty to support their customers, they have detailed knowledge of...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
Disappearance of banking experience? Last week I was in a room full of ex-bankers, many of whom had 30+ years of experience. Over the last 5 years Lloyds have lost 18% of their workforce – and NatWest 28%… What is going on? The banks have lost good and able...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
The old investment saying “buy stocks so you can dream, buy bonds so you can sleep” does not seem appropriate at a time of market volatility and general downward expectations. What is unchanging is the importance of maximising returns from the associated risk, and it...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
The German finance minister in the late 60’s said “stability is not everything, but without stability, everything is nothing” We all value stability – and for business owners seeking finance this means reliability, consistency and deliverability. So where are...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
Some commentators are remarking that our current economic challenges are reminiscent of the 1970’s…and it is with some trepidation that I share a photo of my brief stint as DJ at a 70’s disco… Certainly we are all learning or re-learning the lessons of...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
Some commentators are remarking that our current economic challenges are reminiscent of the 1970’s…and it is with some trepidation that I share a photo of my brief stint as DJ at a 70’s disco… Certainly we are all learning or re-learning the lessons of...
by Angus Ryall | Mar 28, 2023 | Uncategorised
If you’ve heard the phrase about comparing apples and pears, it was one of the more common sayings from my banking days, warning that we were not comparing like with like. This came back to me in connection with the benefits of competitive exploration, as I sometimes...
by Angus Ryall | Jul 18, 2022 | Uncategorised
How can you judge the intangible aspects of a finance offer? I have been asked this question a couple of times recently, and when everyone is focused on the economics of a transaction, it is often not given as much thought as it should. The softer factors to be...
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