How does private equity investment support UK business growth? with Claire Madden from Connection Capital
Description: Private equity investors can help businesses with strategic decision-making, from formalising their processes to formulating a succession plan, thereby futureproofing the company against the uncertainties around the corner. The Connection Capital website linked below contains a wealth of resources explaining the industry in greater depth, including videos from CEOs and business chairs backed by the firm, granting insight into various companies’ experiences with a private equity backer. In this episode, we explore the value of a private equity investment. The motivations for seeking private equity backing can vary from generating capital to being able to grow, foreseeing a succession plan and an eventual management buyout. Thus, there are many different flavours to private equity, and dealings with these firms do not necessitate a surrendering of majority control. Quote: “[When securing a private equity investment,] it should be a partnership, and in most cases, it's a partnership that works very well, where you've got various stakeholders in the business, whether it's the shareholders, the management team, the employees, the customers, the suppliers, everyone working together to make a success of that business and to grow it. There are generally bumps along the way, particularly if a business is in a growth phase, you very often get what's called growing pains, but as long as everyone's got that goal ahead of them, which is to build value in the business so that everyone benefits from it, then you should be fine.” Run time: 14.13 Resources: Connection Capital Claire Madden’s LinkedIn Profile Adrian Saunders’ LinkedIn Profile About the Guest: Claire Madden is a Co-founder of Connection Capital, a private equity firm active in the UK SME space, investing between £3-10 million of equity per transaction. They seek to back ambitious management teams looking to grow their businesses. About the Host: Adrian Saunders, Commercial Director at Ecclesiastical, is responsible for delivering Ecclesiastical’s UK intermediated business. Before joining Ecclesiastical, Adrian held senior roles at Marsh, Zurich and Hiscox. Away from insurance, Adrian is a self-confessed cycling addict. Combining his passions for charity giving and cycling, he previously raised funds for charity by completing London Ride100 three times and cycling across Vietnam and Cambodia. Disclaimer This guidance is provided for information purposes and is general and educational in nature and does not constitute legal advice. You are free to choose whether or not to use it and it should not be considered a substitute for seeking professional help in specific circumstances. Accordingly, Ecclesiastical Insurance Office plc and its group companies (“Ecclesiastical”) and Connection Capital, shall not be liable for any losses, damages, charges or expenses, whether direct, indirect, or consequential and howsoever arising, that you or any third party suffer or incur as a result of or in connection with your use or reliance on or action taken (or not taken) by any other party, caused by that or any other person’s use of or reliance on the information provided in this guidance, except for those which cannot be excluded by law. In viewing the guidance, you acknowledge that over time the information provided may become out of date and may not constitute best market practice that it is subject to change and new editions may be issued to incorporate such changes and that Ecclesiastical and Connection Capital, have no duty to provide such changes.
