Tony Del Popolo

Director / Chief Operating Officer

Tony Del Popolo is the COO, Director and a Senior Finance Executive with Ledge Finance.

As a Chartered Accountant with substantial public practice and commercial experience encompassing over 30 years. His strong, practical knowledge means he is well-equipped to provide businesses with the most effectively structured commercial finance packages and debt advisory solutions.

Tony is well versed in identifying and mitigating commercial/finance risk for emerging SME businesses and mid-cap public companies.

He is passionate about giving back to the local community through sports and charity engagement.

Phone

Email

tony@ledge.com.au

linkedin

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonydelpopolo

Articles by Tony Del Popolo

View all articles

2 men at a desk discussing business line of credit loans in Australia

Understanding Business Line of Credit Loans

As a business owner, maintaining healthy cash flow can be a constant balancing act. Access to flexible funding can be extremely useful for covering day-to-day operational costs and supporting long-term business growth. One option many business owners turn to is a business line of credit – a revolving facility offering ongoing access to funds when you need them most. Unlike a traditional term loan that provides a single lump sum repayable over a set period, a business line of credit loan functions more like a credit card – but without the high interest rates. You draw funds as required and...

2 businessmen discussing business lending at a desk.

Commercial Asset Finance Trends in Australia: Key Pointers

A calculator and report used for acquisition finance.

What is Acquisition Finance? How to Finance a Business Acquisition & How Banks Assess Viability & Risk

Tips for businesses to survive and thrive in tough economic times

The stronger your business, the less likely it is to feel the effects of an economic downturn – or at least, the less severe those effects will be. In this blog post, we will discuss some tips that should help Australian businesses not only survive but thrive during tough economic times. We will focus on things like the disposal of surplus assets, controlling and measuring debt levels, and reducing debt where applicable. By following these tips, you should be able to keep your business afloat and even grow. The current economic climate Some industries, more than others, continue to endure...

Birds eye view of table with business people and puzzle pieces coming together.

How to grow your business through mergers and acquisitions in 2025

In uncertain times, businesses have learnt to be more agile and opportunistic to survive and thrive. One way to do this is through mergers and acquisitions. By pursuing underperforming competitors or businesses with complementary capabilities, you can quickly build market share and improve your business’s bottom line. In this blog post, we will discuss some of the things you should consider when it comes to mergers and acquisitions – and where to find opportunities. Mergers and acquisitions A study by KPMG found that mergers and acquisitions were the most common form of growth for global businesses, with future results set...

Wind turbines in field against blue sky

Using ESG in future planning for the Crane Industry

Crane hire businesses should position themselves to scale up with a mix of fleet assets to ensure they can service the expected unprecedented demand from the renewables sector. The arrival of the Anthony Albanese Labor government heralds a push towards renewables with a net-zero emissions target by 2050. And the direction Australia’s energy providers are heading is apparent. New wind farms are being constructed across the country, with the construction process made possible by the crane industry. Crane companies need to consider positioning themselves to upscale with the move towards the renewable sector, including a transition plan across fleet to...

A relationship-focused approach sits at the heart of everything we do

For over 40 years, Ledge Finance has specialised in tailoring finance solutions for small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and commercial clients across Western Australia. Ledge strongly emphasises finance and commercial risk management, which is a significant advantage in an uncertain world of fluctuating interest rates and financial markets. Supporting Norwest Crane Hire Earlier this year, Norwest Crane Hire approached Ledge for a debt solution to fund their expanding fleet. We successfully navigated this process with the Norwest management team to build the business’s credit profile. This strategy assisted in securing a spread of equipment finance providers in the broader market,...

Diverse team working around the same desk.

The importance of supporting diversity in the workplace

Diversity is an important part of our society – no matter where you go in the world. Now more than ever, different places are doing what they can to ensure a risk-free and unbiased environment for everyone. This is just as important when it comes to workplace diversity. Plenty of research and discussions have been had in order to determine the best path forward for businesses looking to embrace diversity. This article aims to help with that, by providing you with the information you need to understand the importance of having a diverse workforce that supports each other and...

KEE Group’s involvement in WA infrastructure projects

Western Australia has seen a number of major infrastructure projects take shape over the last ten years and 2021 wasn’t any less disappointing. The extension of Tonkin Highway, the Forrestfield-Airport Link and Claremont Station upgrade are just a few of the local projects in Perth. There is a large pipeline of projects continuing into 2022 and beyond, as the State Budget predicts the WA economy will grow 3.5 percent. View The Pipeline of statewide projects across all regions in WA for full details on projects, their budget and expected tenders dates. The 2021-22 State Budget has delivered a $30.7 billion...

Corporate team strategy meeting in a boardroom.

How to create a robust ESG strategy

With ESG becoming increasingly important for businesses across all industries in Australia and around the world, it is vital to create a robust ESG strategy. As a sequel to our latest blog on ESG: what it is and why it should matter to your business, this blog looks at the benefits a strong ESG proposition can have for your business and how to create and implement your ESG strategy. Benefits of having a strong ESG proposition According to McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, having a strong ESG proposition as a business comes with several benefits that all...

Wind turbines with a sunset in the background.

ESG: What it is & why it should matter to your business

All businesses, whether knowingly or not, are intertwined with the ESG movement. As ESG elements become increasingly visible across the various lenders lending criteria, it will be crucial for businesses to not only understand what ESG is, but also adopt a robust ESG strategy. What is ESG? ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) factors are core to an organisation’s strategy and operations. They are non-financial factors that investors and lenders use to identify material risks and growth opportunities and include the following. Environmental This relates to a business’s commitment to the natural world both in current projects but also how they...

Notebook with a picture of a line graph showing a break even point.

Break-even point analysis & calculation

As a business owner, knowing your breakeven point is so important. It is how you determine whether you’re making profit or not, yet you would be surprised to know that a lot of businesses don’t keep track of all costs involved. In this blog, we explore the importance of understanding your breakeven point, a calculation for businesses to use and the uses and limitations of using a break-even analysis. Key takeaways A breakeven point is the point at which total revenue equals total costs or expenses Fixed and variable costs are used to calculate a break-even point Break even point...

How to value a business in Australia

If you’re planning to sell or buy a business, knowing how to value the business is critical. And although business value comes to mind more often in relation to selling or buying, there are other reasons why you might want to consider a business valuation. Valuing your business can be beneficial to obtain business financing, attract investors, or for the purpose of exiting the business – something we mentioned in our article on succession planning. Of course, the business valuation task might not be something you would undertake yourself, which is precisely why there are business valuers that have extensive...

Corporate team strategy meeting in a boardroom.

The importance of strategic focus when opportunities exceed capacity and capability

Clarity on who a business’s target customers are, their value proposition and their unique key capabilities are the foundations for business success and are especially crucial when facing capacity and capability constraints. A challenge facing many West Australian businesses this year is that current market conditions are presenting many more opportunities than there is the capability and capacity to take advantage of these opportunities. Constraints such as retaining and finding staff, and sourcing equipment and supplies are commonplace across many industries. See below a table that shows where; Opportunities are strong and weak in the economy; and There are forces...

Business Credit Score

How to improve your business’ credit score

Funding growth, expansion, or other working capital requirements are always something business owners think about. If you are seeking a business loan facility, your business credit score will indicate your ability to repay the loan. In this article, we explain a business credit score, why you want it to be a good score, what influences it, and tips to improve it. What is a business credit score? Financial institutions (banks/lenders) use your business credit score as an indicator of your creditworthiness. It is calculated using the information listed on your company credit file. In addition to financial institutions assessing your...

Operating cash flow: The core of your business

What is Operating Cash Flow? Operating Cash Flow (OCF) is cash relating to core business activities over time. Ideally, the money coming into the business generated from your service offering (i.e. sales) should be more than operating costs. OCF is used to evaluate the underlying health of the business and to demonstrate the cash generated from normal operations without taking into account secondary sources of revenue, such as investments, finance or the sale of assets. Operating activities explained The various sources and applications of cash included in your OCF are directly related to providing your goods and services to the...

COVID-19 Industry health check survey: the impact on WA businesses

Ledge recently surveyed a number of Perth small businesses (mostly clients and other stakeholders) to get a better understanding of and to provide clarity around how industries have been impacted by COVID-19 and its knock on effects. We surveyed businesses from various industries, including infrastructure/earthmoving, construction/engineering, manufacturing, agri/food and professional services. Whilst the effects of COVID-19 have been widespread across all industries, some businesses have been able to operate as per usual, whereas others have had to innovate and think of new ways to deliver their services. Changes in Operations As a whole, 48.3% of WA businesses surveyed have made...

10 Tips to lead your business through change

SME’s are the backbone of the Australian economy, and the last few years have especially forced business leaders to think creatively and become more innovative and proactive in the way they deliver their services. Here are 10 practical tips that will help you lead your business through change: 1. Be opportunistic This is a great time to look at your business model and how you’re engaging with your customers. Are there any opportunities within your current product offering to explore new service delivery methods? 2. Balance is key Use your financials to help plan and manage your business cash flow....

Effective business growth strategies for your business

Growing your business doesn’t happen overnight. In fact, there are many factors that come into play when formulating an effective business growth strategy. The success of your strategy is what will drive your business to not only be a dominant player in your market, but to continue growing. Business growth strategies for your business Business growth strategies will vary from business to business, however the main principles remain the same. Igor Ansoff, also known as the “father of strategic management,” defined these principles in 1957, all of which are still used as reference points for many businesses to this day....

Is your business ‘fit’ for finance in 2020?

As changing markets create a new lending environment there continues to be a trend of increased risk aversion by mainstream financial institutions (banks/lenders). In this article we explore how businesses can ensure they are ‘fit’ for finance in 2020 and beyond. Prepare your business’ financial statements It is essential for businesses to have up-to-date financial statements as it provides visibility on the overall performance of the business. Having accurate and timely financial statements can also assist in getting your business ‘fit’ for finance. When applying for finance, financial institutions (banks/lenders) require up-to-date financial statements. Getting these organised can take some...

Growth in the WA mining & resources sector

Australia is starting to see an upturn in the mining and resources sector after ending 2018 with a record-breaking year and continuing this growth into 2019. [1] Western Australia plays a huge part in this success, but there are plenty of discussions around the current skills shortage. Growth in the resources and mining sector The Resources and Energy Quarterly report June 2019, released by the Australian Government, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science reported: “In recent years, we have predicted commodity export earnings would peak in 2018 – 19. As recently as March 2019, we suggested record earnings of $278...

Corporate Scorecard: What it is and how it may affect you

Corporate Scorecard: What it is and how it may affect you Corporate Scorecard is a subsidiary of Equifax that assists with the assessment of the financial capacity of organisations including for pre-qualification, pre-contract award and post contract award monitoring for contracts. This assessment has been around for several years and many of our clients, who are contracted to work for government organisations, are being presented with this as a mandatory procedure to complete (and pass) prior to contract approval. A Corporate Scorecard assessment is mandatory to all Public Authorities in the Perth Region and customers in Regional Areas and other...

Gross Leverage Ratio: How much debt should you have?

Whilst financial markets have been through a lot of changes in recent years (banks in particular) and there is more to come, it is good to know that some things never change. One lending covenant, or financial covenant, which has regained favour in recent years is the old question “how much debt should I have relative to my cash flow?”. This is known as Gross Leverage Ratio. Gross Leverage Ratio formula Total Debt ÷ Rolling 12 months EBITDA Total debt includes all external/bank term debt facilities. EBITDA = earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. As a rule of thumb,...

The KEE Group factors of success

The KEE Group Factors of Success If you had to create a strategy for business success, it would it look something like this formula being used by one rapidly rising West Australian company: Quote philosophers in your conversation with customers Reduce your customers operating costs by providing fuel to them at special rates On tough days at the office, make sure everyone gets an ice cream when Mr Whippy comes around Take the path less worn to ride out WA’s downturn Don’t forget about fun Upgrade your equipment fleet when others are selling off theirs. Credible. Reliable. Professional … and...

View all articles