Corbett Keeling in tech advisory JV

Corporate finance advisory firm Corbett Keeling and Cambridge-based electronics design consultancy Plextek have entered into a joint trading agreement to advise on corporate finance transactions in the software and technology sectors. The two businesses have had a professional relationship since 1997. Graham Maile, director of strategic consulting at Plextek, has become an associate of Corbett Keeling.

Under the joint trading agreement, the two firms will carry out regulated corporate finance activities including advising on fund raisings, for example, in relation to buyouts, buy-ins and projects requiring development or buy-and-build capital; sector-based due diligence and related bid support work; sales of businesses and transactions governed by the Takeover Code.

Corbett Keeling was set up in 1993 and focuses on transactions where funds raised for clients, or the value of assets bought or sold, are up to £150m. Most of its clients are or have been businesses in technology development or software.

Plextek is situated 10 miles south of Cambridge and is an independent consultancy in Europe. It was established in 1989 and now has close to 100 staff. Plextek specialises in product and systems design for communications, aerospace, defence, automotive and medical applications. Venture capital firms and investment banks use Plextek to evaluate technologies and companies prior to making an investment. Plextek has also assisted corporate investors during M&A activities.

Simon Keeling said: “This builds significantly on Corbett Keeling’s existing experience in the technology sector. We will now be able to operate in that sector in the same way as we have been doing successfully in our four other areas of specialisation: health/pharma, insurance/financial services, engineering/industrial and property. We find that owners of businesses, particularly in the private equity community, very much like the combination of sector and corporate finance expertise.”