A British sporting challenge involving the country’s greatest sailors, including Olympic gold medallists Sir Ben Ainslie and Giles Scott, is being backed by a South West accountancy firm.
PKF Francis Clark is official supplier of accountancy services to INEOS Team UK, for the 36th America’s Cup, the oldest international sporting trophy in the world .
Next series is in Auckland in 2021.
PKF Francis Clark has eight offices, including one in Salisbury, and celebrates its centenary this year. It provides services to the Portsmouth-based team, including payroll, research and development (claims, corporate tax filing and VAT assistance, led by Martin Aldridge, Partner and Head of Marine.
The America’s Cup started in 1851 with a race around the Isle of Wight. It has been won by four nations in its history: USA, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland but never Great Britain. Emirates Team New Zealand are the current holders of the America’s Cup for the third time, after beating Oracle Team USA in Bermuda in 2017.
Team Principal and Skipper, Sir Ben said: “I am delighted to have the PKF Francis Clark team on board again for our forthcoming America’s Cup challenge.
“They have supported me throughout my career and their professional services and expertise have been invaluable to our finance team throughout our America’s Cup programme.”
Martin Aldridge said: “Sir Ben is a long-standing client and we were pleased to support his last campaign for America’s Cup title in 2017.
“This is an incredibly exciting project and with Sir Ben at the helm, we have high hopes for INEOS Team UK’s success in the 36th America’s Cup”
PROUD SUPPORTER: Martin Aldridge, left, PKF Francis Clark Partner and Head of Marine, with Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and Skipper of INEOS TEAM UK, the British team for the 36th America’s Cup, at the team’s headquarters in Portsmouth