Former KPMG Leeds professional launches a new fund

Will Stamp and Albert Farrant founders Inspirit Capital

A new investment fund has launched today with a focus on acquiring and transforming small and medium-sized businesses that are experiencing strategic, operational or financial complexities.

Inspirit Capital, which has been co-founded by Will Stamp is a former member of the Restructuring Team at KPMG in Leeds, expects to be active in a range of markets including Yorkshire which it believes will be a key centre for deals.

The firm launches after it successfully raised £50 million hard capital within a number of months and attracted committed capital from a select group of blue-chip institutional investors for investment in UK headquartered businesses.

According to the firm, ongoing volatility in the pound and Brexit uncertainty could lead to compelling buyout opportunities. There also remains a high number of so-called ‘zombie companies’ that continue to stagger on unchallenged due to cheap borrowing costs. Inspirit believes these businesses will need revitalising as interest rates continue to rise and stakeholder fatigue sets in from perennial underperformance.

Will Stamp, founding Partner at Inspirit Capital said: “We aim to use our capital and expertise to reinvigorate small and medium-sized businesses that are no longer core to a parent company’s strategic objectives or require a different ownership structure and skillset to achieve their full potential. We expect Yorkshire to be a key centre for originating deal flow and will therefore be highly engaged with the professional and business communities in the region.”

Mr Stamp and his co-founding partner, Albert Farrant, bring 25 years of experience in corporate carve-outs and other complex investments. Together under Inspirit Capital they plan to make control investments in UK-headquartered businesses with revenues greater than £20m and enterprise values of up to £50m.

Albert Farrant, founding Partner at Inspirit Capital, said: “We are not deterred by market headwinds, balance sheet stress, incomplete management teams or operational challenges – providing we can stabilise the business and create a platform for sustainable growth.”

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