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Professional & Business Services

PEM Corporate Finance has extensive experience of advising knowledge-led businesses in the Professional and Business Services sector. Please get in touch for an informal and confidential chat about your plans.

A diverse and dynamic part of the economy

The Professional and Business Services sector in the UK is comprised of hundreds of thousands of businesses, operating in areas such as legal services, accountancy, marketing, management consultancy, architecture, and recruitment. Knowledge-led businesses, 99% of which are SMEs, are focused on supporting other businesses (B2B) by utilising their skilled workforce to deliver a tradable service, advise on regulatory matters, or introduce innovative solutions.

Transaction trends

The number of ‘knowledge’ deals completed in Europe has increased by 7%. This has been driven by large amounts of available capital and a lack of “consulting talent”. However, the UK has been particularly strong seeing the number of transactions increase by 20%. Cross-border activity has also remained a significant part of M&A; in Europe, over 30% of deals are cross-border.

Our recent transaction experience

At PEM Corporate Finance, we have done numerous deals involving consulting firms or "people businesses" in industry segments such as the sale of ATP to RSK Group, the management buyout at CPL, the sale of Pope Woodhead to Huron, the sale of MDU to UL, and the management buyout at Bailey Fisher Executive Search. This experience has helped inform our greater understanding of these types of business i.e. the trends, challenges faced, and multiples paid in the market they operate in. Below, are some of the Professional & Business Services deals we have advised:

Related deals

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Sale of Medical Device Usability

PEMCF acted as lead adviser on the sale of Medical Device Usability Limited to UL, an international safety science leader.

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Succession planning at Wilkinson Eyre

We acted as advisers to the majority shareholders on a restructuring transaction that ensured continuity and management succession.

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MBO at Incident Management Solutions

We advised on the MBO at IMS which allowed the retiring Vendors to realise the value of their investment and also secure the future of the company.

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Sale of Pope Woodhead & Associates

We advised Andrew Hobbs and management team on the sale of Pope Woodhead to Huron, an international professional services firm.

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MBO at Cambridge Insitu

We acted as lead adviser on this MBO which saw the founding shareholders transfer ownership to second tier management.

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Raising finance for Nexus Strategic Partnerships

We advised on the financing of the start up of Nexus Strategic Partnerships.

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MBO at Element Energy

PEMCF advised the existing shareholders and directors on the formation of an expanded new management team.

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MBO at Cambridge Publishers Ltd

We advised CPL throughout the management buyout process which provides a robust, long-term leadership succession strategy.

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MBO at Stobbs IP

We acted as advisers to an MBO at leading trade mark consultancy firm, Stobbs IP.

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MBO at Bailey Fisher Executive Search

PEMCF acted as lead adviser on this MBO which saw the Founder Partners become minority shareholders.

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MBO at 42 Technology

We advised 42 Technology, a technology and product design consultancy, on the successful management buyout of the company. 

"PEM Corporate Finance has all the capabilities one might need and they're very down to earth people."
Julius Stobbs, Principal, Stobbs IP Ltd
"When talking to other people about PEMCF, one of the things I would say to them is you don't necessarily need to go to a big city firm in London to get really high quality advice and that is available on your doorstep in Cambridge."
Mike Sewell, Managing Director, CPL
"They brought three or four buyers to the table for us, which helped us get a good price. Lake and Tony are not stuffy accountants, far from it! They are very commercial."
Steve Roberts, Commercial Director, Essex Medical + Forensic Ltd
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