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May 2025

In this month’s Corporate Financier, we reveal the mid-market firms busiest in buyouts, take the temperature of debt markets and look at M&A in the fashion sector. We also examine the latest investment in a British institution - amplifier business Marshall Group - by Chinese private equity.

looking through a periscope view of sea ocean water horizon

Long read: Debt markets

The good news for business, and businesses looking to grow through M&A, is that the lending environment has turned the tide and moved back to a borrowers’ market. David Prosser talks to the debt advisers overseeing the shift.
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News and views

Faculty news
Sci-Tech is hosting this year’s summit at its laboratory in Daresbury, near Warrington
May 2025

A summit on funding for scale-ups and high tech, information about the faculty AGM, tax questions and answers, and diary dates.

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opinion
Jon Moulton ICAEW Corporate Financier
Jon Moulton on the US tariffs

How to deal with the US tariffs is a tough question to answer, says Jon Moulton, particularly as their logic is hard to fathom.

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Global investment and M&A

Trendwatch: M&A in the fashion sector

Fashion may not be the easiest of markets to stitch up, even when shopping for luxury brands, but M&A in the apparel sector is picking up. Jason Sinclair reports.
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Various high heel womens shoes piled on shoe boxes

Analysis: The business of buy-outs

Amid current uncertainty, management teams want expert investors and there’s no shortage of private equity in the UK mid-market looking for good returns.
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Business of buy-outs in ICAEW Corporate Financier May 2025 analysis

Innovation and sustainable growth

Roadshow: East of England

The East of England provides a bountiful supply of deals across many sectors. Jo Russell speaks to M&A advisers in Cambridge and around the region.
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On Scroby Sands beach, near Great Yarmouth, Norfolk UK, kayaks wind turbines

Insider dealing: Marshall

Amplifier designer and manufacturer Marshall must be one of the loudest brands globally, which explains why it’s getting a lot of international attention.
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Marshall Awake speaker held under a boy's arm standing in front of the Unisphere globe, Queens, New York

Future advisory professionals

career paths
Buzzacott corporate ûnance manager Sriram Ainkaran
New role model

Sriram Ainkaran, Buzzacott corporate finance manager, says role models helped his career and now he wants to assist others.

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On my CV
Calvin Bond is a Glasgow-based corporate finance director at Quantuma
Care and trust

Building trust early can help overcome obstacles later down the line, says Quantuma corporate finance director Calvin Bond.

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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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molecule teal bubbles ICAEW Corporate Financier Connections
Legal advisory

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

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molecule purple bubbles ICAEW Corporate Financier Connections
Private equity

Recruitment and promotions in private equity.

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The archives

Browse Corporate Financier content from September 2025 and earlier.

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