Corporate Finance Mid-Year Review

Laura joined YFM’s investment team in 2020, where she is responsible for sourcing and executing new opportunities to provide capital to high growth businesses across the North West. YFM invests in both Series A stage businesses looking to raise growth capital and scale, as well as established, profitable businesses interested in introducing a private equity partner to facilitate a change in ownership. Laura joined YFM from the Transaction Services team at KPMG. Prior to this, she was an Equity Research analyst at Morgan Stanley.

Rebecca is a partner at EY focused on Corporate Finance M&A. She has over 25 years’ experience helping shareholders unlock value by completing transformational transactions with Private Equity and global strategic trade. Born in the North, she spent 15 years with a North American investment bank whilst living in Vancouver, Canada. Rebecca is very passionate about DE&I and actively shares her experiences including her “Work Life Harmony Handguide” and “Confidence Boosting Alphabet” on how to SMASH Imposter Syndrome.  She chairs EY’s Corporate Finance Women’s Network and created the “Redefining MACHO” programme to help encourage male allyship and support a more diverse and inclusive workplace. Rebecca was recognised as a “Changemaker” at the 2022 Yorkshire Rainmakers Awards and was added to the exclusive Northern Power Women POWER list in 2023.  She is CPA, CFA charterholder and former Trustee of Big Sisters and Broughton House charities.

Gavin has over 20 years of experience of gathering and using B2B Data across the whole of the B2B Industry. He has extensive knowledge of Business Information having worked as a Developer, Project Manager and Product Manager with many different types of businesses, large and small

Vic is Finance Director at The Alchemist, a group of premium cocktail bar and restaurants owned by Palatine Private Equity. Since she joined the business two years ago, the company has grown from nine sites to fifteen and has gone through a successful £16m debt fundraising to continue this expansion. Vic started her career at Deloitte then joined the private equity secondaries firm Coller Capital, before moving in to industry, taking roles in private equity backed companies.

Erin is a Director in Saffery’s Corporate Finance team in Manchester, where she advises ambitious SMEs, entrepreneurial businesses and acquisitive corporates on growth, acquisitions and strategic transactions.

Working across a wide range of sectors, Erin leads financial due diligence engagements for acquisitions, investments and disposals, supporting business owners, management teams and investors in making informed commercial decisions. She particularly enjoys working with businesses pursuing buy-and-build strategies, helping them evaluate opportunities, manage transaction risk and deliver successful acquisitions that support long-term growth.

Erin is passionate about the SME market and enjoys working closely with management teams as they navigate key stages of their business journey. She believes successful transactions are built on strong relationships, commercial insight and a clear understanding of the strategic objectives behind every deal.

As an active member of the North West business community, Erin enjoys connecting people, building long-term relationships and supporting businesses that are looking to grow through acquisition, investment or succession.