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Corporate Financier

Analysis and insight from the Corporate Finance Faculty

February 2025

This month we look at the progress women have made in M&A advisory. Plus: utilities are facing challenges, many of their own making, so what does that mean for dealmaking? And EOTs are an increasingly popular exit route – what are the responsibilities of the trustees?

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Long read: women in corporate finance

Around the deal table, female representation among corporate financiers has historically been poor. Retaining women and promoting them into senior M&A advisory roles is a long-term mission – and a journey firms are still on.
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News and views

Faculty news
National Wealth Fund (NWF) CEO John Flint, and British Business Bank CEO Louis Taylor, both appointed CBE
February 2025

Honours for faculty board members; new members of the ICAEW Council, PISCES consultation; plus webinars and events.

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opinion
Jackie Bowie, managing partner and head of European business at Chatham Financial, a member of the Corporate Finance Faculty
Jackie Bowie on interest rates

The outlook is positive for M&A, says Jackie Bowie, but interest rates need to continue on a downward trajectory.

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opinion
Jon Moulton ICAEW Corporate Financier
Jon Moulton on the stock market decline

Genuinely re-empowering shareholders is key to rejuvenating investor enthusiasm for UK public markets, says Jon Moulton.

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Global investment and M&A

Trendwatch: utilities and resources M&A

From water to energy, there’s a perfect storm driving M&A in the utilities and resources sector. Jason Sinclair looks at what’s in the pipeline.
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Insight: warranty and indemnity insurance

M&A inherently has risks that investors want to mitigate through a deal process. It’s no surprise that warranty and indemnity insurance uptake is seeing an uptick.
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Innovation and sustainable growth

Insight: employee ownership trusts

Employee ownership is often seen as an appealing exit route for business owners. But the sale itself is not the end. Price Bailey corporate finance partner Simon Blake explains the role of trustees post-sale.
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Insider dealing: Alpine Fire Engineers MBO

What happens when an MBO hits targets well ahead of schedule? Jason Sinclair speaks to WestBridge about how Alpine Fire Engineers went back to the drawing board and added M&A to its plan.
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Future advisory professionals

career paths
Lana Baker-Cowling, sustainable ûnance and ESG strategy consultant at Anthesis
Changing behaviours

Lana Baker-Cowling, sustainable finance and ESG strategy consultant at Anthesis, is optimistic that finance can drive environmental change.

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On my CV
Alexandra Richardson is an M&A and venture capital partner at Taylor Wessing
Deel process

Alexandra Richardson from Taylor Wessing says strong relationships, alignment and communication are key to a smooth sale process.

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Connections

molecule blue bubbles ICAEW Corporate Financier Connections
Corporate finance advisory

Promotions and those on the move in corporate finance advisory.

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Legal advisory

Who’s on the move or been promoted in legal advisory.

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Private equity

Recruitment and promotions in private equity.

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The archives

Browse Corporate Financier content from June 2025 and earlier.

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