Upbeat Catalyst claims best year ever
CATALYST Corporate Finance says more than 20 deals worth £750m made 2010 its most successful year.
The Birmingham-based firm, founded in 1998, which last year handled transactions such as the sales of Minivator and Vision Security Group together with the buy-outs of Synseal and AIM Aviation, said it had a strong pipeline for 2011.
Catalyst managing partner Andy Currie said he was confident of further success, particularly in the Midlands following the opening of a new office in Nottingham.
He said: ““Both Birmingham and Nottingham offices are currently working on some high profile deals that are due to complete in the first quarter of 2011. With an increase in opportunities and demand for UK businesses from overseas I hope to be reporting another record year for Catalyst at the end 2011 as some of our exciting prospects become live mandates and then completed transactions.”
Although the firm bucked the trend somewhat in 2010, Currie said he believed 2011 will be a good year for many funders and advisers.
“M&A volumes in the UK mid-market will increase in 2011 for a number of reasons. There are many well-financed corporates who need to focus on growth rather than cost containment which combined with the need for private equity to put their spending power to use will result in an increase in M& A activity. I also expect to see the UK benefit from overseas investment as Japanese, Indian and US buyers look to the UK as a means of expanding their business.”
