Oliver Ives

#Hargreaves_Lansdown Hargreaves Lansdown backed the £5.4 billion bid for the FTSE 100 fund manager today from a private equity consortium, a deal that will end its time as a listed company. The Bristol-based finance firm has been listed in London since 2007. It said today that the final offer valued its shares at 1140p in cash and would include a 30p per share dividend for the financial year which ended on 30 June. Compared to the Hargreaves Lansdown share price before the approach was first made in April, the price is at a premium of over 54%. The consortium is made up of CVC, Nordic Capital and ADIA. Hargreaves Lansdown is named after its founders – Peter Hargreaves and Stephen Lansdown – who set it up as an investment tip sheet. It now runs a state-of-the-art trading platform from which clients can run their own portfolios and pensions. https://lnkd.in/dKpizupy

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Great webinar with FT Live on the Global M&A Outlook in the EMEA Region. There is a feel of the optimism in EMEA’s M&A landscape, with private equity leading the charge and valuations on the rise. Geopolitical certaintly, growth agenda, and interest rates certainly will provide confidence in the market, therefore, the future is looking really good. #wheredealsaremade #privateequity #mergers

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Anoop - I agree with you - preparation is key to getting a #deal done and if the preparation focusses on data then that definitely helps buyers. #PrivateEquity and businesses they back are particularly keen to see the data supporting the growth story for the business. CP Deals works with businesses, frequently alongside Anoop and his team, to find the right #buyers and #investors and we know that having great systems in place is an important factor in a successful deal.

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The next instalment of “A Word in Private” is out. Watch our latest vodcast to hear from our panel on exit readiness: - Identify and evidence your equity story - Collection of data should prove the equity story beyond the last 12 months - Start early. Preparation is key to a successful exit. Use KPMG’s proprietary Exit Readiness tool 18-24 months pre-exit to make sure you’re ready. - Maintain business as usual. Create an effective process that gives management enough bandwidth to run the business and deliver on the deal by getting advisors involved early. Watch the latest instalment of A Word in Private, now! Chris Stott, Claire Elcock Matthew Linehan Naveen Sharma #KPMGdealadvisory; #privateequity; #exitreadiness #valuecreation #deals #data

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Capitalmind Investec 2024 IT SERVICES M&A REPORT We’re pleased to release our 2024 IT Services M&A report today. This report, based on over 3,900 transactions, examines market evolution over the past five years and offers clear insights into potential buyers, platforms and valuations in the IT market. 💡 Keywords and dynamics in the market include: • Digital transformation demands • Growth of IT as a Service (ITaaS) • Heightened security needs • AI/ML advancements and low/no-code • Rising IT costs • Acceleration of (hybrid) cloud migrations • Integration decisions (back-end and front-end) 🚀 Buyers & valuations: - Many new private equity-backed IT platforms have emerged in Europe in recent years. For the IT Managed Services sector (remote workplace solutions, cloud, security, network), there are now 30+ private equity-backed platforms in the Benelux market alone. - We are closely monitoring these companies and noticing a growing international interest from outside the Benelux. In the Benelux, 8 MSP platforms are already backed by international Private Equity funds. Examples include HSO by The Carlyle Group (US), Ilionx by FSN Capital (Norway), hallo by KLAR (UK) and Nomios by Keensight Capital (FR). - Platforms outside the Benelux are also expanding, such as Focus Group (UK) by Hg Capital (also owners of Visma) and Wavenet (also UK) by Macquarie Group, and are looking to further internationalize, including into the Benelux. 🔎 Interested in our M&A report and learning about (international) potential buyers and valuation drivers in the IT market? Please comment below to receive the report. Ron Belt Maurits Odekerken Sebastian Markowsky Arne Laarveld Jean-Arthur Dattée Grace Baiju Maxim Zwaan Henry Barnes Kira Fowle

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This is exactly what we hear from the VCs that we back. In the UK, there is no shortage of capital for world-class founders. There is a shortage of world-class founders. We need to create the conditions where the very best founders choose the UK as the place to build their companies. If we do this, then the capital will follow. Strong-arming UK pension funds to invest in UK VC funds or, even worse, directly into UK companies, is not the answer. For a more detailed view on this, please see the white paper we published last year on the Mansion House initiative. https://lnkd.in/e86HSxrY

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Let’s hope the budget tomorrow doesn’t undermine the recovery in deal activity we started to see in Q3. Taking the high volume of deals in October aside, getting rid of the uncertainty and (hopefully) still having a tax regime that broadly supports M&A activity, should prove to be the gateway to a more sustainable and less erratic deal doing environment. Stability is what is needed to allow business owners to be able to plan over the medium term their investment or exit strategy - not knee jerk reactions based on guesstimating government polices. The forecast interest rate cuts will also be supportive but let’s see what tomorrow brings…

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Lots of talk about semi liquid funds… Duncan Hale and I discuss some of their characteristics and considerations. Such as allowing investors to access the #energytransition in a simple and flexible way. Schroders Greencoat LLP Schroders Capital

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Really enjoyed being on the panel at Private Equity Insights conference in London last week discussing best sectors for Private Equity going forward. PE investments are long term and it’s important for PE to invest in sectors with long term positive trends. Operational improvement is key for PE managers to deliver best returns and hence specialization is a key trend we can observe in the industry. In our selection of managers, Cubera Private Equity focuses on their sector expertise and ability to improve businesses.   #privateequity

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Whilst corporates continue to pursue transformational deals, overall deal volume was down 6% in Q1 2024, with private equity showing the biggest fall in deal volume. However, more recent activity and market noise suggests momentum is building, which provides increased confidence for Q2 and beyond. Read our Q1 Industrials M&A review for an overview of industrials deal activity and trends. Thanks to Utsav Patel, Murray Smyth and Darian S.. #AlixPartnersindustrialsMandA

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This one’s a big edition for you medtechies out there. We’re seeing the transaction market turnaround. Also a few special items in here about the transplant market, women’s health (which we’ve started coverage on), election impact considerations, care-based AI and our biomaterials deal.

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A deal process need not be daunting one. In our latest vodcast, the panel talks about how having a clear equity story backed by data, and with plenty of preparation led to a successful and even fun exit for one business. Watch the latest instalment of A Word in Private, now! Chris Stott, Claire Elcock and Matthew Linehan talk to Naveen Sharma #kpmgdealadvisory #privateequity #exitreadiness #valuecreation #deals #data

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Landsec’s data shows that, on average, companies are giving each employee 145 sq ft of office space, compared with 115 sq ft in 2019, a 25% increase.

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💂‍♂️ 💂‍♀️ #UKEQUITIES - some numbers. 🛎 At #investec, looking at the FTSE 350 index - take out the investment trusts and we have 264 London listed firms in that index. In the last 6 months, on total return, 10 of those 264 firms lost a holder >21.0%... contrast that with 107! of the 264 firms making you >21.0%. Those 107 >21% return firms/big winners had real breadth - Aerospace, Builders, Cap Goods, Distributors, Energy, Financials... the sector winner list goes on. After that 6m index rally (total rtn) of 16.04%, the Bloomberg multiple is 12x after tax profits on the underlying. It #feelsdifferent in London. #Privatefirms looking to list - please get in touch / meet the team. #Investors that have not looked at London for a while - please get in touch. #Londonlisted firms that want to get more out of their listing - we're here. #investec is in good shape and our door is very much open for business. Call me - 00 44 207 597 5577 Email me - [email protected] Data c/o #Bloomberg. Absolutely not investment advice.

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New Deal Alert! Congratulations to all parties involved! Despite the challenging macroeconomic environment, this deal highlights Equiteq's expertise in the knowledge economy, particularly in the recovery management space. If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be delighted to provide insights on this deal or others. Feel free to get in touch! Stay tuned—more successes are on the horizon, with several recently closed deals yet to be announced! #DealSuccess #Equiteq #KnowledgeEconomy #RecoveryManagement #MergersAndAcquisitions #Expertise #PrivateEquity

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Thanks to Paul Clarke Financial News for running an article featuring Continuum Advisory Partners' vision and growth journey. Since our founding less than two years ago, we've grown to a team of close to 40, with ambitious plans to expand across London, Europe and the USA. Our focus remains clear: delivering independent, relationship-driven advice in the financial services sector, including insurance, wealth management, financial technology and professional services. We're taking a different approach from traditional boutiques. Our model, inspired by the classic merchant banks, emphasises long-term relationships and trust over transactional dealings. Sometimes the best advice is to not do a deal at all. As I say in the article, "We're going back to the future" with our culture centred on teamwork and trust. We're proud that 21 of our current team members have worked together for over a decade across multiple organisations. We're growing thoughtfully, focusing on individuals who share our values and vision for client service. We're excited about our future as we continue building our unique financial services mid-market advisory firm. #InvestmentBanking #FinancialServices #MandA #Growth #Leadership Find the link to the article in the first comment below.

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Just wrapped up an incredible day at the PE Insight event, and I'm buzzing with excitement and new insights! 🚀 As an emerging fund manager, I can't overstate how valuable this experience has been. The depth of discussions across all sessions was truly remarkable. From future opportunities and challenges to fundraising strategies, every topic was explored with a level of detail I've rarely encountered elsewhere. 📊💡 What struck me most was the inclusivity of the panels. The questions posed to speakers like Imogen Richards, Ana Maria Harrison, Paul Lamacraft, and Petros Krappas, CFA (among many others) delved into areas often overlooked in typical industry conversations. It was refreshing to hear perspectives that resonated with the challenges and aspirations of emerging managers like myself. 🌟 The session on "Democratisation of Private Equity" particularly hit home. As someone navigating this complex landscape, hearing industry leaders discuss ways to make PE more accessible was both inspiring and reassuring. 🚪✨ I left each talk feeling not just informed, but truly understood and supported. The speakers' willingness to share their experiences – both successes and challenges – created an atmosphere of genuine camaraderie. It's empowering to realise that even the most accomplished professionals were aware of, or have walked in our shoes. 👣💪 To my fellow emerging fund managers: events like these are goldmines of knowledge and networking opportunities. The insights gained here will undoubtedly shape my approach in the coming year. A massive thank you to PE Insight for organising such a comprehensive and inclusive event. The value delivered far exceeded my expectations. I'm already marking my calendar for next year's event 📅🙋‍♂️ Private Equity Insights : https://lnkd.in/e8F8kBFk #PrivateEquity #EmergingManagers #PEInsight #FinancialInclusion #NetworkingInFinance

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Now that the budget has been announced, we can all get back to work and continue to push on getting deals over the line. However, the key takeaways were the notable adjustment to CGT and Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR) impacting those planning business exits going forward. The lower rate of CGT has been increased to 18% and higher rate now at 24%, something that gives us sigh of relief after weeks of rumours, and what many had feared would adversely impact business owners. The BADR of £1 million lifetime limit remains unchanged but this rate will increase to 14% from April 2025 and 18% in 2026. These fiscal changes emphasise careful deal timing and strategy for sellers and will influence the UK M&A dynamics going forward. If you are a business owner and have been thinking about an exit, there still is an opportunity to lock in current rates and here at AMS, we can assist you on structuring deals efficiently.

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Well-deserved congratulations to the latest graduates of the Global Enterprise Engineer (GEE) Programme. GEE is a selective endeavour aimed at accelerating the impact of talented engineers at Deutsche Bank. The brilliant Sarah Weller and I were delighted to reprise our double act for a second year as Senior MD Role Models at your closing event last month. There were some great questions asked and career insights shared that are relevant to all of us. Some top tips from the session:   *Communication*: Learn to compose and digest the ‘Executive Summary’. Communicate enough for someone to connect the dots and be open-minded enough to connect those dots yourself *Support*: Find your network across the Employee Resource Groups; leverage the GEE Programme and Connect! *Discipline*: Balancing all demands takes Discipline. Make a plan, stick to it, revise it as required (The Joy of Lists) *Perspective*: Step back to get a better view to inform your Vision. It’s easy to get lost in the detail when you’re up close to the problem *Impact*: Consistent and high-quality Delivery is fundamental, don’t lose sight of that You: Remember to take good care of yourself, recall what you find most rewarding about your job   Thanks also to our colleagues Richard Kleter and Daniil Azarov for their contributions and well done to Deborah Challinor for her expert facilitation.

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