AGENDA

Nicholas Mearing-Smith
Simon Spector
Martin Jones
Ash Mehta.

NICHOLAS MEARING-SMITH, Finance Director, Westminster Group plc.
Nicholas is a chartered accountant, a former partner of a major stockbroking firm and an ex-investment banker. In 1989 he founded a cable television business, which became part of NYNEX CableComms plc, of which he became Chief Financial Officer. When NYNEX CableComms merged into Cable & Wireless Communications plc to form a business with revenues of £2.3 billion, he became Finance Director. Both companies were floated on the London Stock Exchange, in 1995 and 1997 respectively. He left in 1999 to become CEO of an international cable business and has more recently been involved in starting and managing new telecoms and related businesses. He is currently a non-executive director of a private-equity owned business and of a privately owned Chinese software business, and has served as an NXD and Chairman of the Audit Committee on other boards. From September 2007 to June 2008 he served as interim chief executive of Eurocom Cable, a leading cable television operator in Bulgaria. From July 2008 he became full-time finance director of Westminster Group plc, an international security business quoted on the AIM market in London, having been involved at the time of the flotation as part-time FD.
The Westminster Group plc is a British-based highly experienced and internationally acclaimed Fire, Safety, Security and Defence group operating worldwide through an extensive network of over 70 agents and international offices in over 40 countries. The Group's customer base comprises, predominately: governments and government agencies, non governmental organisations (NGO's) and blue chip commercial organisations. The Group has extensive experience gained over many years in the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a wide range of security and defence solutions including a wide range of anti-terrorism equipment & systems, border security systems and homeland security solutions. Market Cap: £5.97m. 2008 Revenues up 100% on year end 2007 to £5.5m.     

SIMON SPECTOR, Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary, Betex Group plc.
Qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1974. His career includes time as a partner in a large accountancy practice based in the City of London and Home Counties. He has had his own consultancy and accountancy practice for the past 20 years specialising in computerised accounting systems and working with growing companies, acting as finance director for a number of them. Simon has been with Betex Group plc since 2005 and was instrumental in its successful move to OFEX.
Betex Group is a London based investment and lottery management Group with established gaming interests in China and the Far East. As the only Western company with an operable involvement in the Sports Lottery in China, Betex Group plc has ensured considerable first-mover advantage in a highly attractive lottery and gaming market, currently worth over US$9 billion and growing annually by over 30%.
The Group prides itself on working with the Chinese government and key Provincial partners to grow collective revenues through the introduction of new gaming and lottery products, better management and improved services.
With offices in London, Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the Group is ideally positioned to build on its operational and investment presence across China and the Far East and become a world leading, Asia focused lottery and gaming business.

MARTIN JONES, Partner, Wingrave Yeats.
Martin has over 20 years’ experience in audit, transaction and advisory services. He provides audit and advisory services to growing businesses and smaller listed companies. He has been involved in the audits of full and AIM listed companies and has provided accounting advice to AIM listed companies both under UK GAAP and IFRS. He has also been involved in the project management of IFRS conversions for listed companies.Prior to joining Wingrave Yeats as a partner in January 2008, Martin was a director of assurance and advisory services at PKF. Before that he worked for KPMG, which included a three year stint in Singapore, having trained with a smaller firm. As a result he has considerable experience of working with businesses with overseas operations. Martin has spoken at IFRS seminars and written articles on the transition to IFRS. He has particular knowledge of the pharmaceutical, travel and leisure and natural resources sectors. More...
Wingrave Yeats: Business Advisors. Chartered Accountants. Registered Auditors. Our Partners all come from big firms; we bring focus, experience and professional expertise. We deliver what we say we will, within agreed deadlines. We remain flexible if circumstances change. Our advice is Partner led.  Uniquely, many of our partners have run their own businesses. We know therefore what it is like to be audited. We know what owner-managers want from their advisers and the common problems that arise in developing an early stage business. We know the answers; we know what happens next. We have many years of experience dealing with the needs of Multinational Groups, Listed Companies and Investment Banks as well as fast growing, entrepreneurial businesses.

ASH MEHTA, Chief Executive, Orchard Growth Partners.
He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG London, and has worked in finance and commercial roles for Eli Lilly, and Parexel International, a NASDAQ-quoted services company. He has also been FD and Stategy Director of growth companies both Full-listed and AIM-listed, including Ultrasis plc and Raft International plc. He currently sits on the Executive Committee of the Quoted Companies Alliance, and on the board of Northbridge, an AIM-listed industrial services company. Ash has extensive experience in commercial finance roles for multinational and growth companies. For three years prior to founding Orchard he worked as an independant financial consultant during which time he built up the Orchard support concept. More...
Orchard Growth Partners: Financial Director Services for Growth Businesses
Demanding top-level financial direction is no longer the exclusive preserve of the larger business. At Orchard Growth Partners we provide growth businesses across the UK with financial expertise, whenever and wherever they need it. We work with clients on a part-time basis, delivering the highest standards of financial director services and expertise according to real needs – and at affordable cost.
Our top level Finance Directors have both financial and commercial acumen. They can steer a company on a strategic course for great business performance and help ensure that a great business performance turns into a great financial return.
The level of knowledge needed to successfully manage finance is vast and challenging, let Orchard Growth take those pains away so you can concentrate on what you do best – running your business.