ABC Business Sales dominates awards

Andrew Wright, Rising Star winner.

ABC Business Sales (ABC) was named Best Large Broking Agency of the Year for the fourth consecutive year at the recent 2015 Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) Awards for Excellence.

In addition Andrew Wright won the the 2015 Rising Star award and Anthony Gilbert took home the Business Broker of the Year.

ABC managing director, Steve Smith, said the awards were judged by an independent panel made up of three industry experts with selected entries based on multiple criteria including the quality of customer service, level of industry expertise and commitment to professional ethical standards. "These awards are indicative of the importance that we, as a business, place on celebrating the many success stories with our vendors," Smith said.

Steve Smith, ABC managing director, accepts the 2015 Business Brokerage of the Year award.

"A number of notable transactions helped us win these awards and our success in part is due to the creation of specialist, dedicated teams in areas such as childcare, hospitality, transport and manufacturing, with a strong regional focus in each of its eight branches across the country."

Smith pointed out that since its inception in 2010 ABC has been awarded Rising Star, Broker of the Year and Business Brokerage of the Year consecutively at the REINZ Awards for Excellence.

He says Gilbert's Business Broker of the Year award after 20 years in business has established him as one of the most highly successful brokers in the market.

"Anthony takes home the award for the fourth consecutive year," Smith says. "While his range of expertise over the years has included a number of business sectors, for the last 15 years Anthony has specialised in the childcare sector in which he is now an acknowledged expert. This level of expertise and success has established credibility in the industry as a result of which owners approach him again and again when looking to expand or sell their businesses, or move into other market sectors.

Anthony Gilbert with his 2015 Broker of the Year award.

"Anthony brings with him a background in the role of an owner operator himself combined with 15 years' experience as a chartered accountant. In many instances he has suggested alternatives to improve the operational efficiency of businesses for sale and he is well practised at analysing financial information to crystalise the fullest potential of businesses under new ownership."

Wright, a business broker in Tauranga who accepted the Rising Star award, says his award was a recognition for how rapidly the Bay of Plenty area was growing as a business centre.