01/06/2020 - Market news
Clearwater International expands Growth Equity team
The balance sheet strength of the majority of UK businesses has been tested to the full recently, with the impact of significant liquidity challenges met in part by welcome short-term government support. As getting back to growth becomes a key objective, many good businesses will have more debt, depleted cash reserves and will therefore not have the platform to take full advantage of the growth opportunities before them. The listed and private equity (PE) portfolio companies who have access to growth capital stand to be able to capitalise on the opportunities created in the current climate ahead of their privately owned peers.
we’ve expanded our dedicated Growth Equity team, that is now headed up in the UK by Carl Houghton and Rob Burden
Clearwater International has a rich and respected heritage in PE and a history of successful outcomes working with privately owned businesses to raise equity capital to accelerate organic and inorganic growth. Our Growth Equity team combines our international sector expertise, strong relationships with equity funders and partner-led service to meet our clients aims and move their business to the next stage of growth. Our deep knowledge of PE is informed by over 475 equity investments in the last 10 years, which coupled with daily engagement with investors, gives us the insight on funds that remain open for investment opportunities in the current environment.
To best support our clients and fulfil the demand for raising growth capital, we’ve expanded our dedicated Growth Equity team, that is now headed up in the UK by Carl Houghton and Rob Burden.
“Our expectation is that forward-thinking entrepreneurial founders, shareholders and management teams will look to raise new equity capital to enable their business to capitalise on growth opportunities and not fall behind their peers. Many leading businesses see this as an opportunity for consolidation and as such we foresee significant capital being deployed for complementary acquisitions as well as organic growth. A war chest for acquisitions is often readily available for businesses with institutional shareholders, and the owner manager may want to level the playing field.”
Rob Burden, UK Partner
“There remains an abundance of dry powder held by UK and European investors and the appetite to invest and back good management teams in fundamentally good markets remains as strong today as it was pre-COVID-19, especially when the use of funds is to seize market opportunity.”
Carl Houghton, UK Partner
An institutional fund and investment professional will complement the Board with incremental skills and invaluable experience
The benefits of growth equity should extend beyond the cash. An institutional fund and investment professional will complement the Board with incremental skills and invaluable experience from a range of sectors, add value through professional networks, assist with search, selection and execution of M&A and share knowledge from across their portfolio companies.
With a long heritage of helping our clients succeed, Clearwater International is committed to advising new and existing clients during these times. Our expanded Growth Equity team is just one part of our offering and is primed to help our clients navigate this market and find appropriate solutions across all sectors and geographies.
