Gambit celebrates 30 years

LEADING corporate advisory firm Gambit is celebrating 30 years in business during which time it has acted on deals with a value of more than £3bn.

Set up in Cardiff in 1992, the UK’s oldest independent corporate finance boutique, aimed to break the mould of a corporate advisory market dominated by the four big accountancy firms.

Early deals it orchestrated included the acquisition of Peters Foods out of the ownership of Grand Metropolitan, IQE’s exit from Shell Ventures and Newport Wafer Fab from Apax Partners. It has also advised some of the leading firms in Wales including Bluestone, Cardiff City Football Club, Orangebox, Wheelies/Tredz, ACT, Premier Forest, SET and Veezu.

Its extensive deal flow has also included orchestrating nine transactions in Europe, USA and Australia for Biotrace International, as well as multiple disposals to overseas acquirers.

Partner Geraint Rowe said: “We are very much looking forward to building on the impressive history and foundations of the firm. Our client-centric values and focus on assisting clients with the creation, enhancement and ultimately realisation of shareholder value is embedded in the core DNA of

Gambit.”

While the past 10 years have been buoyant in fundraising, mergers and acquisitions despite prevailing economic headwinds, there is still significant appetite for private equity, overseas investors and corporate buyers on an acquisition trail.

Founding partner Frank Holmes said: “It has been an amazing journey, full of many exciting highs, some scary lows on the back of world events and the great recession, but the deal-making buzz and ‘winning is a habit’ spirit is very captivating and binds us and our clients tightly together, which makes the difference.”

In recent years the firm has established a debt advisory service headed by partner Jason Evans. He said: “The debt markets have fundamentally changed since the financial crisis, with a huge array of funding partners and options available to support ambitious businesses. It’s been great to pick up a number of national debt advisory awards, which is testament to the team here and the ability to work with fantastic clients, be that locally with the likes of Veezu and Creo Medical or further afield in the shape of The British & Irish Lions and The Rider Firm, amongst others.”