Join us for an exclusive panel discussion featuring Malta’s top M&A experts. Uncover the nuances of the local industry, from valuation considerations to deal structuring and what acquirers seek.

Key Topics:

• Local M&A Insights
• Valuation and Deal Structuring
• Acquirer’s Perspective
• Tailored Insights for Business Owners

Meet the Panelists:

Moderated by Thomas Cremona, Founder of idisav, our panel includes JJ Miceli Demajo (CEO, M. Demajo Group), Simon Schembri (Partner, Ganado Advocates), David Pace (Partner and Head of Advisory, KPMG in Malta), Joyce Grech (Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c) and Louis de Gabriele (Managing Partner at Camilleri Preziosi Advocates).

Event Details:

• Date: 19th February 2024
• Time: 6:00 pm CET
• Venue: OKA’s at The Villa

Thomas Cremona, Founder of idisav

Upon gaining his ACCA certification, Thomas joined a Big Four firm’s Advisory team in Malta.

In 2014, Thomas founded Casa Rooms Limited, a property management firm focused on earnings maximisation on behalf of various property owners. The managed real-estate portfolio was valued at circa €30,000,000. Casa Rooms was subsequently sold in early 2021 to VBL plc. In addition to Casa Rooms, in 2018, Thomas co-founded Casa Boutiques, a hotel management firm providing management services for 15- to 30-room boutique hotels.

Thomas has undertaken a number of sports pursuits throughout the years, with some memorable mentions being: IronMan triathlon, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika in recognition of fundraising for Puttinu Cares by establishing multiple world records by rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, completing LifeCycle Challenge, and in May 2021 he learnt how to sail and sailed from Malta to the Caribbean.

JJ Miceli Demajo, recently appointed CEO at M. Demajo Group, has been an integral part of the group for the past 20 years.

He has formed part of the group for the past 20 years, having most recently served as Managing Director of a number of firms within the group, including Newtech Malta Ltd, Tethys Oil Supplies and Services Ltd, IoT Solutions Malta, and Exigy. He was also part of the group’s Executive Committee.

His prior experience also includes five years as IT Manager and over two years as IT Project Manager at the group. Mr Miceli Demajo was also Account Manager at Computer Solutions Ltd for just under three years.

He holds a Master of Business Administration and Management from Henley Business School, together with a Bachelor of Science in Computers & Information Systems from London Metropolitan University. Mr Miceli Demajo describes himself as being particularly skilled in business transformation and strategic planning, among other qualities.

Simon Schembri is a Partner within Ganado Advocates’ corporate team. He is an experienced M&A lawyer with a proven track record of success in guiding clients through complex transactions. With over 20 years of experience in the field, he has developed a deep understanding of the legal, financial, and strategic aspects of M&A deals.

Simon has represented a wide range of clients, including public and private companies, in both domestic and cross-border transactions. He has advised on deals across a variety of industries, including gaming, telecommunications, technology, transportation, healthcare, education, energy and food and beverage.

Simon serves as general counsel to a number of leading local organisations providing advice on matters of a corporate and commercial nature and has on numerous occasions assisted clients in tendering bids of major projects in Malta.

Joyce Grech has occupied the role of Head of Commercial Banking, HSBC Bank Malta p.l.c. for the past 4 years. She leads a team of 80 individuals who handle relationships with the Bank’s commercial customers, with a strong focus on meeting customer needs.

Throughout her 27 year career with HSBC, Joyce has worked in various other areas of the organisation, predominantly in Risk where she was Chief Risk Officer for 7 years and in Personal Banking where she led the Customer Value Management team. She also spent some time working at the London Head Office of the HSBC Group.

A strong supporter of diversity and inclusion in its various forms, she is the chairperson of the bank’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. She is particularly involved in gender diversity and aims to support female colleagues through mentoring and other initiatives and activities.

David joined KPMG in 2002 and has worked on numerous advisory assignments, both locally and overseas. He currently heads the firm’s Advisory function, one of the broadest multi-disciplinary teams on the island.

Throughout his career he has assisted clients in successfully raising debt and equity finance and in valuing shares and businesses. He is actively involved in numerous business negotiations and has a lead role in the firm’s Merger and Acquisition service offering. He has also participated on vendor and buy-side due diligence assignments for which he has worked within the local and foreign practices of KPMG.

His engagement portfolio has led him to work at the heart of strategy within a number of businesses, helping them throughout the process of considering strategic options, articulation of plans and their subsequent implementation and monitoring. David has provided various training sessions on corporate finance, accounting and business related topics to clients and at public seminars. He is an active promoter of entrepreneurship, supports early stage companies, and is a Past Chairperson of the JAYE Malta Foundation (previously Young Enterprise) Board.

Louis acts for a number of corporate clients, banks and financial institutions in relation to the larger or more complex domestic and cross-border transactions; and also covers a broad spectrum of complex commercial litigation, particularly in the corporate and finance area.

 He has advised and advises on an on-going basis on on significant M&A transactions in both the domestic market as well as transactions with an international dimension.  He is a recognised market leader in capital markets, having been an active contributor to the development of Maltese capital markets since the 1990’s, and subsequently handled most of the large privatisations of public enterprises in Malta.

His depth of knowledge and experience in his areas of expertise has consistently earned him a Band 1 Lawyer ranking in both the Corporate & Commercial and Financial Services sectors of the Chambers Europe and Chambers Global .  He has been included in the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Commercial, Corporate and M&A sectors, and as leading individual in Banking, Finance & Capital Markets; and investment Funds.  He is also considered as a highly regarded lawyer in Capital Markets, Banking and M&A by the IFLR 1000.