Professional skills to the fore in


region’s ‘hyperactive deals economy’ The future of our vibrant local economy was assured and underlined in the form of two very competent young dealmakers – Mark Metcalfe of Gateley plc and David Wrench of BDO, formerly with Grant Thornton – joint award- winners at the Thames Valley Deals Awards


Both produced dealmaking performances of high quality during the year, said the TVDA judges who assessed them equally as winners of the prized Young Dealmaker of the Year Award at the south’s annual, biggest and most prestigious corporate finance evening.


“This year’s 600-plus TVDA nominations are testament to the hyperactive deals economy in the Thames Valley and the skills of the corporate finance advisers, lawyers, bankers and other funders who get those transactions across the line,” announced David Murray, founder of The Business Magazine, as he welcomed 370 guests to the Royal Berkshire Conference Centre, Reading.


“Ambitious management teams, business founders, corporate boards and investors all


benefit from the wealth of talent here in the room this evening,” he added.


“It’s been a strong year and recent deals have involved some of the Thames Valley’s most successful and highest-profile businesses.


“Strong management teams and profitable companies will always attract interest, of course, but one trend last year was that private-equity investment in UK businesses reached the highest level since 2007. Here in the Thames Valley, they have been very active in the marketplace.


“The demand for high-quality businesses from both trade buyers and private equity is relentless – and few if anyone seems to be put off by Brexit uncertainty,” noted Murray.


Thanking both the judges and the event sponsors – BDO, Coffin Mew, Crowe Clark


Private Equity Firm of the Year WINNER: Connection Capital


‘A firm that has become increasingly visible in the region’ – Judges’ comment.


Last year was record-breaking for this PE house, with five new investments and two exits, including Farnham-based Team Sport Racing, delivering a four-times return, and the recent recruitment of Reading-based Mark Snaith.


Winner’s words


Connection Capital partner Miles Otway: “It’s really rewarding to gain this award. We founded the business in 2010, but it’s in the past few years that we have really taken up a market presence, and that has been reflected today.


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – MAY/JUNE 2018


The other finalists • BGF • LD


• NVM Private Equity businessmag.co.uk 47 • Inflexion • Maven Capital Partners


“We are slightly different than other PE houses, because we are not a fund but a high-net-worth syndicate, which allows us to be a bit more open and flexible.


“The Thames Valley has become a base for really good quality corporate finance advice outside of the London ‘bubble’, underpinned as well by some excellent quality businesses here.”


Whitehill, Deals Update ONLINE, Gateley plc, Grant Thornton, HMT, HSBC, IBB Solicitors, PwC, Shoosmiths, and Vail Williams – he added: “Our 12-strong judging panel had a formidable task in deciding tonight’s finalists and winners and there are many worthy deals and firms that didn’t make the cut.”


Mark Durden-Smith, the highly versatile and amusing journalist, radio and television presenter of news, sports and gameshows, was the celebrity host for the gala awards dinner, now established as the leading corporate finance event in the region outside London.


One certain winner on the night was the event’s chosen charity – Brain Tumour Research – for which TVDA diners showed their generosity with donations totalling £3,436.87.


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