UK investment bank commits to strong regional presence
Panmure Gordon has opened a new office in Leeds to provide investment banking services to high-growth potential companies and institutional clients across the North of England. The UK investment bank has appointed managing director Simon J French as head of office. He will be supported by newly appointed senior advisor Stuart Watson, formerly a managing partner at accountancy firm EY and head of its Entrepreneur of the Year programme in the UK.
The new office is at Northspring | Park Row, a prime address in central Leeds.
Panmure Gordon delivers a full range of investment banking services including corporate advisory, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings, private capital solutions, research, sales and marketing, investment funds and market making. It is led by chief executive Rich Ricci, former CEO of Barclays corporate and investment bank, and owned by Atlas Merchant Capital, the specialist investor founded by Bob Diamond, former CEO of Barclays. Non-executive directors include James Lambert, the award-winning Yorkshire entrepreneur.
Panmure Gordon specialises in helping fast-growing corporate and institutional clients to achieve their ambitions. Recent activities include acting as joint broker and book-runner on Urban Logistics REIT plc’s £250m share issue; nominated advisor, joint broker and book-runner on sustainable fuels technology company Velocys plc’s £25m placing; nomad and joint book-runner on the £350m IPO of Life Science REIT plc; nomad, broker and sole book-runner on the £30m IPO of Marks Electrical Group and nomad and sole broker on the £9m IPO of clean power tech firm Libertine.
Simon J French, head of office and managing director, private capital solutions, (investment banking division) said: “We have opened our new office in the North of England because we want to be close to our clients and we believe in building strong, long-term relationships at a local level. There is huge appetite for growth capital and with our expertise, experience and networks in the public and private markets, we are extremely well placed to provide market-leading investment banking services to high-growth potential companies and institutional clients across the North of England.”
Rich Ricci, chief executive, said: “Panmure Gordon fully understands the power of having a regional presence and is committed to all corners of the wider northern region from our new base in Leeds. We are bullish about the North of England and its many entrepreneurs and enterprises and we look forward to supporting the success of companies and clients of all shapes and sizes with our extensive advisory and capital-raising capabilities.
“We are delighted to welcome Stuart Watson to our investment bank. As one of the region’s most trusted advisors, he has an outstanding track record in helping mid-market listed, private equity-backed and private companies to achieve their growth ambitions.”
Panmure Gordon has invested significantly in expanding its services under its new senior management team and committed long-term shareholders. It employs 25 research analysts covering 270 companies and trusts with sector expertise in consumer and leisure, financial services, healthcare, digital, media and technology, real estate, support services, new energy and clean tech, investment funds and natural resources.
Northspring | Park Row in Leeds has been fully refurbished to provide premium workspace alongside luxury amenities, including business lounge, fitness suite and roof terrace, and will launch this spring.
