Benchmark International’s
Credentials
Benchmark International is an independent, globally recognised and respected specialist in the sales, acquisitions and mergers of companies in the mid-market. Benchmark handles deals across all sectors, with transactions typically falling within the £1m to £250m range.
We have a simple goal: to help business owners establish clear exit or growth strategies to maximise their companies’ value.
Dealmaker
Profiles
Nick Hulme
Managing Director
Nick Hulme has been the Managing Director at Benchmark International’s Manchester office since 2011 and is responsible for all transactions personnel in this location. As a Chartered Accountant and experienced in banking, Nick brought a wealth of financial experience to his role. With this and his business acumen, Nick has been inspirational in the development of a full client-service approach, developing and implementing appropriate protocols and training a team of highly-focused Transaction Leaders. Nick has a hand in many of Benchmark International’s UK and European deals, guiding relationships between sellers and worldwide buyers.
Pieter Joubert
Managing Director
Pieter Joubert is the Managing Director at Benchmark International’s Cork office. He has been there since its inception, quickly building up, and now managing, a Transaction Team comprising a Transaction Leader, Transaction Executive, Researchers and Copywriters. Pieter’s financial expertise and qualification as a Chartered Accountant has meant he has worked for many prestigious firms, providing technical advice and research, as well as fine-tuning the art of negotiation.
Paul Wilson
Managing Director
Paul Wilson is a Director at Benchmark International’s Oxford office, responsible for all southern transactions personnel, and providing guidance and support to ensure sellers and buyers successfully conclude transactions.
Paul is both financially acute as a Chartered Accountant and extremely experienced in M&A with an impressive back catalogue of completed deals. Paul was once part of a management team (as Finance Director) that completed an MBO of a very well-known printing company, which he grew and subsequently sold after successfully negotiating his and his fellow shareholder’s exit.
Paul is both financially acute as a Chartered Accountant and extremely experienced in M&A with an impressive back catalogue of completed deals. Paul was once part of a management team (as Finance Director) that completed an MBO of a very well-known printing company, which he grew and subsequently sold after successfully negotiating his and his fellow shareholder’s exit.
Dustin Graham
Managing Director
Dustin Graham is one of the founding members of Benchmark International South Africa and brings more than 10 years’ corporate finance and M&A experience. He has been instrumental in the conclusion of a number of high-profile transactions and, today, heads up the South African division alongside his business partner, Andre Bresler. His role as a key driver in the development of his own group of companies means he brings a great deal of both technical and first-hand experience in all aspects of a corporate transaction.
Andre Bresler
Managing Director
Andre Bresler is one of the founding members of Benchmark International South Africa. He has a wealth of M&A knowledge and plenty of industry experience. Andre acts as joint MD of South Africa with his business partner, Dustin Graham, both of which operate across two offices, one in Cape Town and the other in Johannesburg. Andre has many strengths but his natural dealmaking and relationship skills are paramount to the success to Benchmark International in the South African region.
Clinton Johnston
Managing Director
Clinton is one of a very few M&A professionals who has worked on transactions across a wide spectrum, which makes him uniquely qualified to provide workable solutions to any issue that may arise in a deal. Each of the 200 plus deals Clinton has been a part of closing has added a tool to his kit, ensuring we always have a novel way to get the client the result they want. The combined experience of all these deals and roles allows Clinton to see five steps down the road, well past the counterparty’s focal point, to ensure Benchmark International’s client gets the best possible deal.
Dara Shareef
Managing Director
Dara Shareef runs the Tampa office and the two transaction teams therein. He also holds the rare distinction of having served in every one of their roles over the course of his career. Dara has authored dozens of business plans and pitch decks in an effort to mobilize capital and negotiated and closed dozens of deals. In addition to serving as a buyer of businesses, an operator of businesses and board member of companies contemplating an exit, he has played virtually every role in the execution of the sale of businesses.
Kendall Stafford
Managing Director
Kendall is a Partner for the Southwest Region and runs the Austin office, charged with leading merger and acquisition activity in the lower middle market throughout the Southwest United States. She began as a Director at Benchmark International’s US headquarters in Tampa, Florida, managing a portfolio of client companies while leading a team of analysts and deal negotiators. Kendall has led some of the largest deals in the region, and is considered a valued member of the Major Transaction Team. These deals are typically over $50 million in transaction value, which require complex transaction knowledge in which she excels.
Tyrus O'Neill
Managing Director
Tyrus is a Partner and runs the Nashville office. He leads the team in a number of areas as he oversees the comprehensive acquisition process. Through his leadership, our transaction teams constantly monitor markets both locally and on a global scale, develop multifaceted business intelligence and comprehensive marketing strategies, and successfully negotiate terms with buyers to create value for our clients. Tyrus’ expertise and team leadership have led to numerous executed deals and successful transactions for our clients.
Oxfordshire, UK
Manchester, UK
Cork, Ireland
Austin, TX
Tampa, FL
Nashville, TN
Cape Town, Africa
Johannesburg, Africa
Global
Events
Showcasing deals on an international stage is a key factor in the success of many deals, and Benchmark International is the ONLY advisory firm in the M&A space actively promoting acquisition opportunities in this way.
Combined with our robust marketing and outreach efforts in the domestic market, this global reach has been instrumental in elevating Benchmark International’s status as the ‘go-to’ adviser for international buyers.
We are firm of the view that nothing beats face-to-face discussion with buyers and their advisers.
A Selection of
Completed Deals
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Award
Recognition
Benchmark International
In The News
Benchmark International Provides a Closer Look at Enterprise Resource Planning
Benchmark International stays on top of industry trends to bring their clients the most up-to-date information about the state of mergers and acquisitions. This is their latest review of the ERP industry and its trends.
Record Year for Benchmark International
The company sales specialist has achieved growth and international expansion.
Thomson Reuters Ranks Benchmark International as one of the Worlds Top 50 M&A Companies
Benchmark International is pleased to be listed in the top 50, worldwide, for M&A deals valued up to $500 million.
Benchmark plans to double Austin staff, move to bigger offices
Benchmark International's Austin office is riding the wave of the strong economy in Central Texas, and plans to double staff and move to a bigger space.
Benchmark International Showered in Recognition
2018 has proven to be a year of great activity for Benchmark International. Benchmark International won awards from Corporate LiveWire, ACQ5, International Advisory Experts, and the M&A Advisors.
Benefits of Choice in Formal M&A Process: Partnership Essentials
In all partnerships, be they personal or professional, the ability to achieve the outcomes and aspirations sought relies to some degree upon the compatibility of the individuals.
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Benchmark International expands into South Africa
The country counts among the top 10 with the highest M&A growth predicted over the next two years.
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Benchmark International opens up shop in Cape Town
Benchmark International opens up shop in Cape Town
Benchmark International Expands Tennessee Territory
Benchmark International is delighted to announce office expansions into Nashville, Tennessee. Nashville has become a hotbed of mergers and acquisitions activity, and it is one of the fastest growing cities in the US.
Benchmark International Advises on Coronation Street Storyline
The Bolton office of company sales specialist Benchmark International has advised Coronation Street’s researchers on a recent storyline.
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