Altium Capital looks to cast its net wider

INVESTMENT bank Altium has been an important part of the North West’s corporate finance capabilities for more than 15 years.

The firm was started by a former Apax Partners team and its Manchester branch was one its its first regional offices, which, for a long time was headed by the group’s current chief executive Phil Adams.

It now has a network of eight offices in seven countries, carrying out broking services for corporate clients as well as advising on buyouts and fundraisings for businesses of all sizes.  In total, it has raised over £1.3bn in institutional fundraisings and completed M&A transactions with a total value of over £14 billion since 2005.

The Manchester office, led by Simon Lord, has been particularly active, especially in the e-commerce sphere where it has completed a number of pre-IPO fundraisings for Northwich-based retailer The Hut Group to allow it to continue its recent spate of acquisitions.

It also advised Wythenshawe-based MyProtein on its sale to The Hut Group, Giles Insurance Brokers on its purchase of CBG Group for £5.1m, Individual Restaurant Company’s board on its acquisition by W2D2 and to SIG on the £14m sale of its interiors manufacturing business to Laidlaw Interiors Group.

Future plans for the business include opening an office in the Middle East, developing strategic alliances in the Far East and India and building on its expertise of high-growth sectors like e-commerce and cleantech & renewables.