Keeping options open

Nov 15, 2021 / Blog

Author: Stuart Andrews, Managing Director, finnCap Capital Markets

It has been well documented that this year has seen a boom in IPOs as well as a surge in M&A activity. The IPO market, whilst not red hot right now, is still warm. With some global uncertainty around macro issues such as supply chain challenges and labour shortages, as well as wage inflation and energy price rises, some candidates have put their IPO plans on hold for the time being. Nevertheless we are still seeing a large pipeline in to next year.

What’s particularly interesting though is the fact we are seeing companies come to us for advice at a much earlier stage than normal. Many businesses are unsure which route to take, thinking there is probably a need to do something, but wanting to keep their options open.

Companies are looking for ideas and advice and want to listen. Some management teams may be drawn to the high profile of being a public company. Many however have no pre-determined fixed strategy but want to discuss a path that keeps their options open and receive advice with no conflicts and no hidden agendas.

At finnCap we are uniquely placed to provide such impartial advice. We have no bias towards companies floating, being sold to a trade buyer or private equity firm or taking on debt. We are only interested in doing what’s best for the company and its owners at any given time in its lifecycle and given the prevailing market conditions. 

We are also seeing this at finnCap Cavendish where traditionally companies would have appointed the team with a mandate to sell. Now IPOs are being thrown into the mix as a consideration. Operating together under one roof we are platform agnostic and can pool resources, deploying sector and product expertise, to provide clients with holistic advice.

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