Driving growth and innovation. Our credentials in the media sector

Transcription

1 Driving growth and innovation Our credentials in the media sector

2 Mazars is a global accountancy and business advisory firm. We are unique in operating an integrated, international partnership where sharing profits promotes a close spirit of co-operation and pro-activity. At the heart of our success is our passion for technical excellence and providing real value to our clients. Our services Audit and assurance Governance and risk Financial reporting advisory Due diligence and transaction support Restructuring Forensic investigations and litigation support Tax advisory and compliance Internal audit Transaction services Outsourcing Corporate finance Licensing and royalty services

3 Mazars in the UK Over 100 partners and 1200 staff Top 10 auditor to quoted companies Advisers to listed, AIM and large corporates 17 offices mazars mazar azars mazar ars mazars zars mazar mazars maz mazars maza azars rs mazars m ars mazars maza zars mazars mazars mazars m rs mazars mazars mazars maz azars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars zars mazars mazars m rs mazars mazars maz mazars mazars mazars zars mazars mazars m azars mazars mazars m rs mazars maza ar mazars mazars maz rs m zars mazars mazars m mazars mazars mazars rs mazars mazars maza azars mazars mazars maza ars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazar ars mazars mazars maz rs mazars maza azars mazars maza s mazars mazars ma rs mazars mazars maza r zars mazars mazars mazars mazars maz ars mazars mazars maza s mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars maz rs rs mazars mazars maza mazars mazars mazars maz mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars rs mazars mazars mazars mazars maz az rs mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars ma rs mazar zars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars ma mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars ma azars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars zars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars m mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars maz zars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazar zars mazars maz rs mazars mazars mazars maz maza mazars mazars mazars mazars azars mazars mazars maza mazars mazars mazars mazar azars zars mazars mazars mazars mazars maz mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars m mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars mazars maza zars mazars mazars mazars mazar mazars mazars mazars mzars maz m ar az ma Mazars globally Ranked in the top 5 to 10 largest national audit firm An integrated organisation in 69 countries 13,000 professionals An ability to assist our clients in a further 15 countries* Directly or through partnerships with more than 33,000 professionals* *including correspondents offices and joint ventures

4 Case studies Publicis Group is the second largest media agency in the world incorporating well known businesses such as Saatchi & Saatchi. The group has operations in 104 countries and is listed in Paris. Mazars are the joint auditors at group level. We were appointed as auditors to the UK creative entities for the year ending 31 December The challenge: 11 creative agencies with combined revenue of 160m Appointed in November deadline of 25 January 2010 Different locations, different management teams, different business processes How did we deliver? The results: All key risk areas relevant to the advertising industry addressed in line with the timetable Positive feedback from the client on the smooth transition from the previous auditors and the industry knowledge demonstrated at all levels within the audit team In depth understanding of the business we were able to apply our existing knowledge of the industry to identify key audit risk areas, to design testing which ensured these risks were addressed and to reach appropriate conclusions in these areas with management and with the group auditors. This included comparing treatment applied to other similar clients and best industry practice. Teams with industry expertise the teams allocated to work on the various parts of the audit were chosen as a result of their experience and knowledge of the industry. Briefing sessions were held to ensure the teams were fully aware of the key audit risks and industry terminology. This resulted in questions to the client being relevant and tailored towards the business, and gave a strong impression of the team. Positive feedback was received from all of the different management teams in terms of the industry knowledge and understanding of the on site teams. Adding value using our knowledge of topical sector issues we were able to raise relevant points for consideration to management during closing meetings and in our final reports. Effective communication with management due to the short timescale involved, communication and coordination was key. This included meetings with management at each key phase of the audit and regular communication such as document request lists. Smooth transition from the previous auditors shortly after our appointment we arranged to meet the previous auditors and performed a detailed review of their files. As such we were able to benefit from the detailed background information accumulated by the previous auditors about each entity. This included access to half year, planning and interim work for the 2009 audit already performed by the previous auditors. This approach ensured that accumulated knowledge was not lost, and minimised the time and cost of the transition for Publicis.

5 CRM tax enquiries for media clients The UK tax authorities appointed a new Customer Relationship Manager (CRM) to one of our leading media clients in the UK. Whilst reviewing the group s accounting systems, the CRM challenged the corporate tax treatment of a number of provisions specific to the industry sector, including in areas such as royalties and distribution. Our corporate tax team managed all communication between the CRM and the client, played a key role during meetings with the CRM and investigated the various issues raised, all of which spanned over two years. It resulted in the UK tax authorities accepting in early 2011 that these provisions had been accounted correctly for tax. Due to the relationship built up between Mazars and the CRM, our client has been able to obtain valuable pre transaction tax clearances which gives the client certainty of the tax implications arising from its proposed transactions. This relationship between the CRM, the client and Mazars has resulted in the group being considered as low risk from the perspective of the UK tax authorities. Our credentials in the media sector

6 Your contacts Claire Larquetoux Director, Media team Claire has significant experience in the media sector with a current client base including Publicis Group and Hachette Group. She has experience of large international due diligence assignments including Lagardere s $537m acquisition of Time Warner Book Group in 2006, Hachette s acquisition of Hodder Headline from WH Smith in 2004 and the acquisition of Gyro International by a private equity firm. Claire is currently responsible for leading and coordinating a number of large and complex assignments involving reporting to the US and France. She is also a committee member for the ICAEW Media and Entertainment Group. Tel: E: claire.larquetoux@mazars.co.uk Steve Govey Partner, Media team Steve has a particular focus on Advertising and Marketing Services businesses and has also worked within the TV production sector. He has dealt with clients at all stages of development, from breakaway from large agencies, through the growth stage and on to eventual IPO or trade sale. He has also gained considerable experience in helping overseas companies establish a viable presence in the UK. Steve has advised on a broad range of services relevant to people businesses such as share schemes and remuneration planning. Tel: E: steve.govey@mazars.co.uk Dominic Pickard Partner, Head of International Tax Dominic is lead partner for UK and International tax advisory services. With over 20 years experience, Dominic advises on all aspects of international tax. He provides tax structuring advice, including transfer pricing, to a large number of corporate clients based in the UK, France and the USA. Dominic is bi-lingual, co-leader of the Mazars UK / France Integrated Tax Solutions Group and is a regular contributor of articles to specialist tax journals. Tel: E: dominic.pickard@mazars.co.uk

7 Jessica Howard Senior Manager, Financial Reporting Advisory Jessica has considerable experience in the media sector with clients including the Hachette Group, the Adventis Group, Handmade Films and Motive Television. As a Senior Manager in the Financial Reporting Advisory team, Jessica provides financial reporting and accounting technical advice to large UK and European corporate clients as well as smaller owner-managed businesses. She specialises in International Financial Reporting Standards and the IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities as well as providing advice under UK GAAP. Tel: E: jessica.howard@mazars.co.uk Simon Fitzsimmons Senior Manager, Corporate Finance Simon has significant experience in the media sector, having worked on a selection of clients including three of the largest global film distributors and leading European media groups. His role as Senior Manager in the corporate finance team has involved various M&A transactions for both owner-managed businesses and large listed clients in the sector, most recently including the sourcing of pre-revenue funding for SeeReal Technologies S.A., advising on the owner/shareholder divestment for Masternaut and the Rule 3 advisor role for the management buyout and take private of AIM listed WorkPlace Systems International plc. Tel: E: simon.fitzsimmons@mazars.co.uk

8 Please get in touch For further information, please contact: Claire Larquetoux Director and Head of UK Media T: E: Bruno Balaire Partner and Head of International Media T: E: Mazars LLP Mazars LLP is the UK firm of Mazars, an international advisory and accountancy organisation, and is a limited liability partnership registered in England with registered number OC A list of partners names is available for inspection at the firm s registered office, Tower Bridge House, St Katharine s Way, London E1W 1DD. Registered by The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales to carry out company audit work.