Liverpool dealmakers signal ‘unprecedented activity’ in city region’s private equity market

Dealmakers in Liverpool have shed light on the increasing appetite for private equity (PE) investment across the city region.

The level of completed transactions in Merseyside during the last 12 months is on the up as investors increasingly look to the area for new opportunities, according to discussions held at the recent Access to Alternative Finance Seminar.

Speaking at the event, which was hosted by Professional Liverpool’s Corporate Finance Group, Matt Noon, partner at law firm Hill Dickinson, said: “Dare I say it, but in recent years it has been said that Liverpool lags behind Manchester when it comes to private equity investment.

“It wasn’t too long ago when deals such as the Business Growth Fund’s investment into Hobs Repro and Palatine’s investment into MJ Quinn were seen as the exception rather than the rule for Liverpool but I’m pleased to say things are changing.”

Over the last 12 months, Matt explained, the city has witnessed “unprecedented activity” in the private equity market with multiple deals taking place.

Speaking further, he said: “It’s important that this continues. We need to raise awareness of the options that are out there from crowdsourcing for smaller ventures, to local funds such as MSIF to the bigger funds evidenced by NorthEdge and LDC.”

In recent months, NorthEdge has been involved in three high-profile investments; with tanker services provider Abbey Logistics, waste management business Future Industrial Services and holiday business ITC Luxury Travel.

Other big transactions included LDC’s deal with manufacturer ChargePoint Technology, Paine Schwartz Partners’ (formerly Paine & Partners) with dairy group Meadow Foods and HgCapital’s with insurance tech firm Vast Visibility.

Limerston Capital’s acquisition of human resources technology company AdviserPlus was another transaction during the period.

Hill Dickinson’s Matt Noon continued: “It isn’t just the new investments that demonstrate the health of the market either.

“The PE exits from B&M, Clarke Energy and Wealth at Work show that investors can make money here too.”

Other finance sector representatives at the event included Matt Pomroy, investment manager from Foresight Group; Chris Rea, senior campaigns associate at Seedrs; Michael Dimelow, Accelerated Digital Ventures’ co-founder and head of investment; Barclays relationship director David Parr; and Steve Allen, head of sales and marketing with Bibby Financial Services.

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