DISCREET INDEPENDENT CORPORATE FINANCE ADVISORY FIRM

We provide sell-side and buy-side M&A advice and support companies looking to raise third-party capital

ABOUT

GHF Advisory specialises in providing high-value, personalised advice to shareholders and management teams of companies pursuing a corporate transaction. Tailored guidance and support throughout the transaction process is key to our approach, built on experience, relationships and market knowledge.

Deep sector focus

Total focus on the human capital sector ensures a comprehensive understanding of the leading trends, attractions and risks, and proprietary knowledge of the leading acquirers, investors and potential target companies

Transaction delivery success

Over 15 years’ experience navigating the challenges of M&A and capital raising underpins a positive approach to delivering successful outcomes

Experienced deal leadership

All our projects are led by individuals who are steeped in sector knowledge and transaction experience, bringing a high level of commitment to each process

Bespoke advice

We recognise that no two situations are the same, taking a refined, personalised approach to each process; understanding the objectives of all stakeholders is key to achieving successful outcomes

SECTORS

GHF Advisory operates solely in its chosen Human Capital sector, where companies are all characterised by people being the principle assets. This brings a multitude of opportunities but also numerous perceived risks, all of which combine to define a company’s true value.

Consulting

Often considered an umbrella term for ‘people businesses’, the consulting sector is one of the most active and important in the UK economy, with consulting firms providing high-value advice and services to public and private clients in areas such as strategy, growth, tech selection, systems integration, HR, environment and many other specialist areas.

Recruitment

Spanning executive search, permanent and interim recruitment, through to high volume staffing, often through an RPO model, the recruitment sector underpins the success of the wider economy and is often seen as an adjacent service to consulting. Due to the high growth and value creation potential of companies in the sector, the recruitment sector attracts active investment interest and a high volume of M&A.

Technology Services

One of the top performing sectors, covering a variety of different industries, Technology and Technology Services sees significant M&A activity and attractive valuation metrics, in particular when companies can demonstrate a high quality of earnings such as recurring revenue.

Business Services

Typically characterised by a range of niche sub-sectors that support companies and organisations by providing external support and advice, one of the key drivers within Business Services companies is outsourcing of non-core services due to cost management, strategic focus, technology development and access to expertise. Business Services encompasses a broad range of specialisms including advertising and marketing, outsourcing, ESG, and other sector-specific services.

Services

GHF Advisory offers a full range of corporate finance advisory services, building on years of relevant experience to support clients through a variety of transaction processes.

SELL-SIDE ADVISORY

There are many reasons why business owners want to explore a sale, for example due to retirement, looking to realise value for years of hard work or pursuing a strategic partnership to drive further growth. You may have already been approached by a potential acquiror.

Whatever the reason and your current circumstances, GHF Advisory can provide tailored, personal advice to ensure your goals are met and you secure the best possible outcome. We can manage the sale process from start to finish, working with you to understand and position the business and the opportunity in the best possible light. We will coordinate discussions with carefully selected buyers, leveraging our deep sector knowledge and focusing on value-enhancing synergies. We will use our transaction experience to drive an efficient process to successful completion. Most importantly, we will be by your side throughout, fully committed to providing you with the insight, project management and personal support that are needed to secure and exceed your objectives.

PRIVATE EQUITY

Often misunderstood, Private Equity comes in all sorts of shapes and sizes and can provide the most flexibility when it comes to fundraising and M&A. Financial investment can provide a realisation of value and a catalyst to drive your business forward.

Funding can be provided to enable growth through acquisitions as well as organic growth. Shareholders can ‘de-risk’ as a team or a PE transaction can facilitate a change of ownership by way of a management buy-out. A private equity solution often combines more than one of these objectives providing companies with a platform for accelerated growth ahead of a medium term sale. GHF Advisory has a track record of delivering successful PE transactions for clients. We are well connected in the private equity market and regular contact and deep relationships ensure we can help find the right partner in each situation. PE transactions require additional preparation such as a comprehensive business plan and financial forecasts – we will work with you to create and refine these as needed. We will also work alongside you to negotiate the best possible terms of the transaction and project manage the process through the due diligence exercise and to a successful completion.

FUNDRAISING

Companies can access funding from a wide range of sources.

GHF Advisory can work alongside you to assess your options and secure the right solution.

Through a network of potential funding partners spanning debt and equity, we are able to access the best profile of capital specific to your requirement. We will work with you to explore the different types of funding available, prepare the information about the company that funders will need to see, introduce you to appropriate lenders and financial investors, and lead the negotiations from start to finish, always with your objectives and best interests at the fore. Our approach ensures an optimal solution to a bespoke situation, setting you and your business up for the next phase of growth.

ACQUISITION SUPPORT

Growth through acquisition is a key tool in driving shareholder value.

GHF Advisory is well-placed to work with companies looking to pursue M&A as part of their growth strategy.

Our sector knowledge provides us with unique insight into trends that drive value and opportunities, as well as the relationships and access to potential target businesses. We also have experience in mapping specific areas of focus in the market for clients and helping to identify potential acquisition targets. We can manage the process of contacting target businesses, establishing relationships with key sellers and management teams and negotiating the deal to ensure the best solution for our clients. Our guidance and project management throughout the due diligence process and completion phase ensure M&A is a positive and successful experience and does not become a distraction from the core business focus.

Consulting

Building on our experience in the sectors we focus on and the numerous transactions we have successfully completed, we have a unique insight into value creation.

Whether you are building your business for investment or a sale or just looking to grow, GHF Advisory can work with you to identify the key areas of focus to drive value. We advise teams on strategic positioning and business plan development, and help develop the people and processes to achieve those goals. We provide management teams with hands-on support in key areas such as financial modelling, and provide adjacent services such as a strategic options review, an assessment of capital requirements and access to funding.

Valuations

Our team is experienced in working on small and large transactions throughout a breadth of industries.

GHF Advisory works with specialists knowledgeable in valuing different asset classes including tangible and intangible assets, ordinary shares and preferred equity, complex securities such as options, warrants and other derivative products, portfolio valuation and purchase price allocations for financial reporting.

TEAM

We are experienced individuals who bring a high level of knowledge, energy and commitment to each engagement.

ED GROOME

Managing Director

ed.groome@ghfadvisory

+44 (0) 7870 582286

Ed founded GHF Advisory in 2020 following a career in corporate finance, spanning large cap M&A through start up capital raising. Prior to establishing GHF Advisory, Ed worked as a managing director at Equiteq, leading numerous transactions, supporting the growth of the team, and developing a specialism in the human capital sector. Ed leads and supports clients through the entire transaction process, providing shareholders and management teams with advice on their strategy, maximising value and optimising outcomes from transactions. Ed has an MA in Politics from Edinburgh University and now lives in Northamptonshire with his wife and three children.

Partners

We take pride in the individuals and partners that we work with, bringing relevant expertise, resources and insight to each transaction.

Bruce Ramsay,
Senior Adviser,
Consulting Sector

Bruce has over 20 years’ experience in delivery and business development roles in management consulting and IT services, followed by 10 years delivering M&A transactions in the sector. Bruce is the Managing Director of Consulting M&A, often working in partnership with GHF Advisory to deliver outcomes for clients in the consulting sector.

Augusto Negrillo,
Senior Advisor,
Growth Advisor

Augusto is a growth specialist for the consulting and technology services sector, with experience having started, scaled, acquired and sold multiple businesses across data, technology, and business transformation. Augusto is Managing Director of Vivero Ltd, a growth consultancy that works with clients to create long term value through an equity value blueprint.

LGG Advisors

With a team of over 60 experienced professionals, LGG Advisors provides Team as a Service (TaaS) solutions in the areas of Finance & Strategy, Risk & Compliance, Digital Transformation, Creative & Design and Administrative & Support.

LGG Advisors provides GHF Advisory with a supportive team to bring additional resource and specialist skills to each transaction as needed.

Pierre Briand,
Senior Advisor,
INTERNATIONAL M&A

Pierre has 25 years’ experience advising entrepreneurs. He has worked on numerous sell-side and buy-side deals, IPOs, mergers, integrations, and consulting projects in both small businesses and large global corporates. Pierre has led transactions in deals across Europe and ANZ, and in 2019 he established SCD Advisory, an independent corporate and M&A advisory boutique in Australia, dedicated to people and IP based businesses.

Neil Inskip,
Senior Advisor,
Private Equity

Neil is an experienced private equity investor. Having qualified as an accountant with PWC, Neil spent a significant amount of his career as an Investor at BGF, heading up the teams across the Midlands and the North West, and sitting on the Investment Committee. Neil has led on a variety of transactions across different sectors and has held a number of board-level directorships, which help him bring a unique perspective to GHF Advisory.