Livingbridge, one of the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investors, today announces its investment in specialist financial markets consultancy Catalyst Development (“Catalyst”).
Founded in 1994, Catalyst provides regulatory-driven change, organisational improvement and talent development programmes to global financial markets companies. Catalyst has worked with more than 70 clients in over 30 financial centres worldwide, including nine out of the world’s top 12 investment banks, and has mentored more than 250 of the most senior figures in financial markets. Catalyst holds the UK’s highest business accolade, the Queen’s Award for Enterprise, in recognition of the firm’s global impact.
Global banks spent about $30bn on consultancy fees in 2016, up from $17bn in 2008. Client demand for Catalyst’s specialist services is significant, driven by far-reaching G20 commitments to making markets safer in the wake of the financial crisis. Catalyst’s clients are now increasingly requiring ‘specialism at scale’ to tackle large, complex programmes of transformational change.
Livingbridge’s investment will enable Catalyst to address the escalating requirements of the financial sector and grow its client base by accelerating its service development, strengthening its infrastructure, and expanding its talent development and acquisition strategy with the aim of trebling headcount.
Catalyst also intends to increase its international presence, and Livingbridge has committed to provide additional capital to pursue strategic acquisitions.
Livingbridge has supported many consultancy businesses and the investment in Catalyst follows investments in clinical service consultancy Four Eyes Insight, recruitment consultants such as Up Group and procurement consultancy Efficio.
Commenting on the investment, Andrew Middleton, CEO at Catalyst, said:
“Since the financial crisis, there has been a growing need for expert, trusted advisors to help financial institutions navigate change. We have long-standing relationships with many of the world’s largest financial institutions and a strong reputation for excellence. Our ambition is to become Europe’s leading financial markets specialists. Working with such a respected investor as Livingbridge will enable us to build on the momentum we have already generated and accelerate our growth to establish Catalyst as the unrivalled choice for specialist financial markets consultancy.”
Paul Landsman at Livingbridge, said:
“Andrew and his team have been very successful in establishing Catalyst as a premier speciality consultancy for the financial markets and we are delighted to be working with them to help them realise the next stage in their development both through organic growth and acquisitions. We have experience of working with high growth consultancy firms and will be looking to bring some of this experience to Catalyst as the business looks to expand its product offering and grow its team.”
Notes to editors:
Advisors
- Livingstone Partners: Alex John, Jeremy Furniss, Nick Manning, Will Evans
- Eversheds Sutherland: Mark Beardmore, Dan Shilvcock, Charlotte Singh
- Alvarez & Marsal: Adrian Balcombe, Rachel Copley
- Osborne Clarke: Mark Spinner, Tom Try, Tim Birt
- CIL Management Consultants: Alex Marshall, Tom Stevens, Toby Fisher
- BDO UK LLP: Jamie Austin, Sapna Sandher
- Stratton HR: Anna Cornwallis
- Avendris: Mike Robb
Livingbridge are an independent, specialist asset management firm of over 80 people in the UK and Australia with over £1bn to invest in fast growing companies over the next five years.
Our team have been backing growing businesses together for twenty years, investing anything from £2m to £70m in businesses valued up to £150m. We’ve done it over a hundred times, turning many into household names both at home and abroad. We get growth.
We understand the people behind growing companies in consumer markets; healthcare and education; technology, media and telecommunications; financial services and business services, and help them achieve what’s right for them and their business.
We invest on behalf of both institutional and retail investors. We are actively investing funds on behalf of Livingbridge 6 LP, Livingbridge Enterprise 2 LP and the two Baronsmead Ventures Trusts. Livingbridge also manage Livingbridge CF UK Micro Cap Fund and Livingbridge CF UK Multi Cap Income Fund.
You can also read this story on the Livingbridge website.
Note: This news article was first published by Catalyst prior to the Davies merger