From nursery buy-and-builds to private school consolidation and university mergers, each education sub-sector is responding to its own specific challenges. Jason Sinclair looks at what’s driving activity in this busy UK market.
The UK sits in pole position for VC investment and global M&A is up in value, if not in volume, with dry powder reserves plentiful. Is the race to invest hotting up?
The healthcare sector has been busy this past decade. Private equity, corporates, and international investors have all been active – each responding to unique market drivers, regulatory challenges, and evolving public sentiment. Jason Sinclair looks at a resilient M&A sector.
Two-and-a-half centuries ago, Liverpool was a driving force behind the industrial revolution; now, it’s at the heart of a new movement. Jo Russell looks at how the city and wider region is spearheading the life sciences and technology revolution.
ICG’s sale of Kee Safety to Inflexion and 65 Equity proves that a high-quality business, polished by successive private equity owners, will always command a good valuation, whatever the market conditions. Nicholas Neveling reports.
The Jon Moulton Charity Trust, which applies investment principles to clinical trials funding, has backed nearly 200 pieces of research. Marc Mullen speaks to Moulton and the trust’s technical specialist, Dr Helen Critchley, to get under the skin of the operation.
There have been positive signs for UK M&A so far this year, but what does the future hold? Marc Mullen gets the views of three Corporate Finance Faculty board members.
Mobeus Equity Partners’ investment in Active Travel Group was rooted in a conviction that active travel is not merely a trend, but a reflection of changing consumer priorities. Jason Sinclair reports.
Investment may have fallen and valuations dropped for early stage companies but, says Beauhurst’s Henry Whorwood, these two things actually offer hope for such businesses.
Addressing the funding gap for small businesses, often women- or ethnic minority-led, has been a perennial problem as they fail to meet banks’ lending risk profiles. We look at community development finance institutions, an initiative with its roots in 1970s Chicago.
Dealmakers have had to cope with uncertainty for several years, but the constantly changing US tariff levels are creating new levels of unpredictability. How is that flowing into M&A valuations?
Resilience and ESG in supply chains have long been a focus for acquirers, but the US tariffs and Middle East troubles have thrust complex issues into the spotlight. David Prosser looks at how firms are mitigating global supply-chain risk in choppy waters.
Agriculture has been thrust into the spotlight with security of food supply and inheritance tax changes fuelling media interest. But what is going on with investment in the sector?
Early-stage investment is slowing. There may be local headwinds, but are we at the right stage of the cycle for VC exits, asks Beauhurst’s Henry Whorwood.
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.
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.
Harnessing the opportunities technology offers M&A is a challenge. David Prosser speaks to advisers and investors about new technology and its impact on the future of dealmaking and execution.
The crypto bubble might have burst, but digital assets are here to stay. Sean Kiernan, founder of Greengage, has high hopes that his innovative approach will boost funding for the UK’s SMEs.
Expert extended reality dealmakers Dave Haynes and Petri Rajahalme have teamed up to form FOV Ventures, a new European VC that will back start-ups in the ‘metaverse’. Nicholas Neveling takes a virtual tour of the creative new initiative
Billions were invested in UK start-ups and scale-ups in 2021. Henry Whorwood, head of research and consultancy at Beauhurst, asks whether this growth is sustainable, though he believes new venture capital investors will continue to enter the market at record pace.
The first quarter of 2021 has seen record investment in early-stage businesses – with tech and green energy standing out and innovation grants playing a big part as public and private capital work together. It’s just what the UK needs, says Henry Whorwood.
The UK government replaced its Industrial Strategy with a Plan for Growth in March 2021. If the UK is to Build Back Better this plan needs long-term, consistent investment into research and innovation, argues Shaun Beaney.
With ambitious net-zero targets across Europe, policymakers are looking to green hydrogen as a solution across several sectors. Oaklins Smith & Williamson’s Philip Barker looks at a technology that’s attracting much interest and investment.
Tapping into a trend for healthier living, Panoramic recently followed the crowdfunders and invested in low-alcohol brewery Big Drop. David Prosser looks at the thirst for a deal.
Sovereign wealth fund Mubadala has injected £800m into a $1bn partnership with the government to invest in the UK life sciences programme – the latest buy-in in the UK as part of its global investment strategy.
Supporting innovative businesses across the nations and regions is crucial for UK growth. Jason Sinclair reveals why the first financial deal by the Scottish government’s investment bank is a significant move for the future.
Training people into the world of work is a fulfilling experience. Satvir Bungar MBE tells of the challenges and rewards of lending his expertise to successful charitable enterprise Miss Macaroon.
If the UK is to become a post-Brexit beacon of innovation, its accelerator networks will play an important part. Jason Sinclair looks at how experience sharing can help build the next phase of businesses that then raise growth capital and get involved in M&A, with a focus on the Accelerator Network.
Electric vehicles are the future, and Panoramic’s investment in Pod Point shows the strong belief in this. Stephen Campbell discusses the sale of Pod Point to EDF Energy, completed in February 2020, in great detail
Creative England has launched a fund to help growing businesses in the £100bn turnover sector. Marc Mullen speaks to its CEO, Caroline Norbury MBE about its history and the future
Having taking over as chairman of the City of London Corporation policy and resources committee in May, Mark Boleat highlights an initiative to encourage enterprise in the deprived boroughs in the shadow of the City.
