Birmingham’s Alantra reports record deal activity

Birmingham’s Alantra has reported record levels of activity in the UK, with the firm advising on 36 deals in the first nine months of 2021.

Globally, Alantra has completed 138 deals worth £13bn, also a record for the firm.

It says the Midlands has been a significant contributor to a record year for the UK with notable deals including the £45m sale of Ashby-de-la-Zouch-headquartered H.K. Wentworth to NYSE-listed Element Solutions Inc.; the fund raising from Primary Capital for the leading premium omni-channel retailer of cycling equipment, Sigma Sports; Five Arrows’ investment in Nottingham-based clinical research organisation Sygnature Discovery; and the sale of Silicone Engineering to NYSE-listed Rogers Corporation.

Over the last nine months, the team has supported founder-entrepreneurs, mid-market management teams and raised £3bn from private equity investors to invest in leading UK businesses.

To support its clients and this high level of deal activity, Alantra is continuing to invest in its team, adding 21 dealmakers across its Birmingham and London offices this year, including a third UK partner in its global technology team. Further appointments will be announced during November.

Richard Sanders, partner at Alantra UK Corporate Finance and senior partner of the Midlands office, said: “We have experienced unprecedented activity levels during the first nine months of 2021 and Alantra is ranked as one of the most active independent advisors in the UK and Europe. If anything, activity has picked up further as markets look towards a post-pandemic environment. M&A and fundraising activity this year is pointing toward one of the best deal markets in over a decade. Buyers, investors and funders continue to have access to record levels of capital and their confidence is high, which is feeding through to deal volumes and valuations.”

Simon Peacock, partner in the Midlands office, added, “Whilst deal activity in late 2020 was focused on a narrow range of sectors led by technology and healthcare, other sectors have been catching up throughout this year. The fourth quarter has got off to a busy start and our pipeline going into 2022 is healthy and diversified as we combine the benefits of our geographic reach, sector coverage, broad range of advisory services and investment in our people.”