News

Catalyst Wins BVCA Financial Advice of the Year Award 2008
6th May 2008

Catalyst Corporate Finance, the mid market corporate finance advisory business and UK member of Mergers Alliance, has won the BVCA/Real Deals 2008 Financial Advice of the Year award.

Catalyst Corporate Finance, the mid market corporate finance advisory business and UK member of Mergers Alliance, has won the BVCA/Real Deals 2008 Financial Advice of the Year award.
The award, presented at a ceremony held at the Grosvenor Hotel in London, was in recognition of the work the firm undertook on the growth capital investment for Foster + Partners, the world renowned architectural business.
This transaction had a number of challenges. Catalyst had to identify an appropriate equity backer to support future development plans, and take account of the desire from Lord Foster and the current shareholders to broaden the equity share ownership amongst the senior management team while preserving the philosophy and core values of Foster + Partners.
In order to meet the shareholders objectives, Catalyst introduced 3i plc as a minority investor, put in place an Executive Board and created the new role of Chief Executive with Lord Foster remaining as Chairman. Since the transaction was completed Foster + Partners have gone from strength to strength winning a number of major contracts around the world.
This award recognises Catalyst’s ability to provide bespoke advice and solutions to their clients. They were delighted to win in such a hotly contested category which was dominated by organisations much larger than themselves. Catalyst’s reputation for delivering highly complex deals continues to grow and in the uncertain times we live in today the provision of bespoke advice, rather than the one size fits approach adopted by most advisors, is what will continue to differentiate them and the other members of the Mergers Alliance network.