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Business Risk Services
Our Business Risk Services team deliver practical and pragmatic solutions that support clients in growing and protecting the inherent value of their businesses.
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We offer a dedicated team of experienced individuals with a focus on successfully executing transactions for corporates and financial institutions. We offer an integrated approach, with our corporate finance specialists working seamlessly with tax and other specialists to ensure that every angle is covered.
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Economic Advisory
Our all-island Economics Advisory team combines expertise in economics and business with a wealth of experience across the public and private sectors.
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Forensic Accounting
We have a different way of doing business by delivering real insight through a combination of technical rigour, commercial experience and intuitive judgment. We take pride in delivering responsive and tailored solutions to all our clients, capitalising on the wealth of experience housed within our Belfast and wider Forensics team
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People and Change Consulting
The Grant Thornton People & Change Consulting practice works with clients on these issues as well as on all aspects of how they attract, retain, engage develop, deploy and lead their people.
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Restructuring
We work with a wide variety of clients and stakeholders such as high street banks, private equity funds, directors, government agencies and creditors to implement solutions which provide the best possible outcomes.
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Technology Consulting
Motivating and assisting our clients to pursue, maintain and secure the benefits of digital solutions is at the core of our Digital Transformation teams' agenda and goals. We work with business leaders to deliver efficient digital strategies and operating models that provide new or enhanced capabilities.
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Corporate and International Tax
Northern Ireland businesses face further challenges as they operate in the only part of the UK that has a land border with a country offering a lower tax rate.
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Employer Solutions
Our team specialises in remuneration and incentive planning and works closely with employers, shareholders and employees to ensure that business strategies are aligned and goals achieved in the most tax efficient, cost-effective manner.
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Entrepreneur and Private Client Taxes
Our team of experienced advisors are on hand to guide you through any decision or transaction ranging from the establishment of new business ventures, to realising value on exit, to succession planning and providing for loved ones.
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Global Mobility Services
Grant Thornton Ireland offer a different approach to managing global mobility. We have brought together specialists from our tax, global payroll, people and change and financial accounting teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland, while drawing on the knowledge and insights of our global network of over 143 offices of mobility professionals to provide you with a holistic approach to managing global mobility.
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Outsourced Payroll
Our outsourced service provides valued service to over 150 separate PAYE schemes. These ranging from 1 to 1000 employees, working for micro, SME and global employers. The service is supported by the integrated network of tax and global mobility teams and the wider Grant Thornton network delivering a seamless service. Experienced staff deliver a personal service built around your business needs.
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Tax Disputes and Investigations
Our Tax Disputes and Investigation team is made up of tax experts and former HMRC investigators who have years of experience in dealing with a variety of tax investigations. Our expertise and insight can guide you through all interactions, keeping your cost at a minimum while allowing you to continue with the day to day running of your business.
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VAT and Indirect Taxes
At Grant Thornton (NI) LLP, our team helps Northern Ireland businesses manage their UK and global indirect tax risks which, as transactional taxes, can quickly become big liabilities.
There is no doubt that private equity investment has grown significantly in Northern Ireland over the last decade, with a range of private equity firms now having a number of Northern Ireland based companies in their portfolio. However, what will the impact of private equity be in the current crisis?
We know that many transactions have been put on hold or are moving at a much slower pace since lockdown commenced. Having said that, people are adapting and deals are being renegotiated as the impact of the crisis on trading performance and the availability of debt become clearer.
Equally, transaction structuring and valuations will have to be addressed on a fluid basis. The ability to invest alongside senior debt providers and financially engineer optimal returns has somewhat diminished at present, with leveraged finance providers, banks and specialist lenders all relatively inward-looking and prioritising existing customers’ liquidity needs as well as responding to Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) applications.
However, it could be argued that whenever this crisis is over, the most telling impact of private equity will not be judged as being the number of deals completed, rather it will be the financial strength they gave to their portfolio companies to survive and potentially thrive though the crisis.
In a worst case scenario, private equity firms may be required to double down on their investments in order to keep them above water and ensure cash headroom. However, whether they invest more cash or not, in all circumstances, they bring with them financial skills and experience, which are of value to their portfolio companies.
This may be due to driving management to take immediate action to furlough staff, or to assist their portfolio companies to access CBILs loans. Private equity firms are also adept at negotiating with lenders around payment holidays, resetting or renegotiating covenant tests, and exploring how coronavirus interplays with the definition of “exceptional item” under lending agreements.
The financial disciplines and rigour that private equity bring to their portfolio companies can seem daunting to the investee’s management team once a deal is completed. It is ironic that it has possibly taken a crisis of this scale for their value to be fully appreciated. One cannot help but feel, as the pandemic subsides and business starts to recover, that the presence and importance of private equity to the Northern Ireland economy will continue to grow and may even accelerate as they take advantage of those businesses that are inherently sound but lacked the financial skill to navigate the financial crisis - skills that private equity firms have in abundance!