Despite the turbulence of recent years there is no doubt that the UK remains a major hub of international finance and will do so for the foreseeable future.

The regulatory agenda in the aftermath of the GFC looks to have been reasonably successfully addressed, with most banks now better capitalised, although 2020 still leaves an important Brexit hurdle with implications particularly for those with activity in continental Europe.

The overall FS landscape remains one of shifting dynamics, with opportunities continuing to present themselves for those who can offer better customer acquisition and retention and/or improved cost control and efficiency. By focusing on innovation or specialist expertise, niche operators are still able to penetrate consumer and SME markets, once almost exclusively the domain of the larger incumbents.

Cavendish has a strong record in selling a whole range of entrepreneurial FS businesses including those dedicated to consumer finance, specialist lending, FX and debt collection. Our team is in regular contact with major UK and overseas FS companies as well as private equity houses which focus on the FS sector. We understand well their acquisition aspirations and, in the case of corporates, their future strategic plans.