Corporate Financier of the Year
Grant Thornton UK
Despite the uncertain climate and tough market conditions, our Deals & Business Consulting team has remained resilient and focussed on key sectors and private equity relationships, resulting in the completion of 252 transactions in the UK with a cumulative value of over £10.8 billion between 1st July 2021 and 30th June 2022.
We have seen some high-profile and innovative deals completed in our key sectors: Healthcare, Business support services, TMT and Consumer:
Healthcare – Sequence Care Group. The sale of Sequence Care to Intriva Capital. Through our strong relationships and buyer knowledge we were able to introduce Intriva to the process, enabling them to make their first investment.
BSS – National Education Group. The sale of a minority stake in National Education Group to Synova. Attracting significant interest with over 70 private equity approaches leading to one of the most competitive processes we have ever seen.
TMT – Forensic Analytics. The investment in Forensic Analytics by Mercia Asset Management. We drove a competitive auction process that safeguarded confidentiality and delivered a successful outcome for the shareholders and business alike.
Consumer – LDC. The investment in Shaken Udder by LDC. We provided comprehensive buy-side advice and project management services to LDC to secure their investment.
Houlihan Lokey
Houlihan Lokey has continued its rapid expansion in Europe, and following the acquisition of GCA Altium, is now the pre-eminent advisor to Mid-Market PE in the UK: last year Houlihan Lokey advised on 47 PE-related transactions, compared with 25 for the prior year.
The acquisition of GCA Altium significantly enhanced the firm’s capabilities:
- Materially enhanced technology coverage and added rainmakers such as Sascha Pfeiffer and Phil Adams
- Expanded geographic footprint in Europe, with new offices in Munich, Zurich, Manchester, Paris and Stockholm
- Expanded existing sector coverage with the addition of senior bankers in sectors such as leisure, IT services and ESG sub-verticals
- Expanded Capital Markets Advisory team to 35, with seven MDs
- We now have over 350 bankers in Europe
Additionally, the firm has strengthened sector expertise with key hires:
- Healthcare: Paul Tomasic (MD, Head of European Healthcare) and Andrew Murray-Lyon (Director) leading team of 20
- Business Services: James Ireland (MD), James Sutch (Director), Guy Mullin-Henderson (Senior Advisor)
- Household, Beauty, Personal Care: Acquisition of Baylor Klein: MD Tim Leach plus team of five
- Oil and Gas: Jeremy Low (MD, Head of European Oil & Gas) plus team of six
Rothschild & Co
We ranked 1st by number of completed deals on UK PE M&A, advising on double the number of deals than the nearest competitor JP Morgan.
Our coverage remains unrivalled - we advised 38 PEHs on UK transactions, with a high level of repeat business - for one PE we advised on our 51st transaction in 18 years.
We were impressive in our breadth of transactions, involving assets in almost every sector and across a range of values, with midmarket leadership, and some of the largest UK deals – 38 between €100m - €500m and 15 €1bn+. Our global scale allows us to connect PE with the full range of international buyers.
Our roles were extremely broad, with UK deals breaking down as 24 sell-side and 7 buy-side for PE clients, 31 transactions for corporates opposite PE, and 24 independent DCM/ECM financing assignments for PE.
In Investor Advisory, we have developed a leading ESG capability advising clients on a dedicated basis and providing the expertise to integrate ESG considerations across our full product range in M&A, Equity Markets Solutions, and Debt Advisory and Restructuring. We prioritise sustainability and sustainable outcomes by unlocking funding or providing required runway to accelerate transition to sustainable growth
Voting is now closed
To find out who won book a table at the British Private Equity Awards on 04 October 2022 by contacting Chris Coe.