Manchester firm Altium enters £250m merger with Japanese investment bank

Manchester-based financial advisory firm Altium is on the verge of a multi-million pound merger with Japanese investment bank GCA Savvian Corporation.

The agreement, reportedly worth in excess of £250m, will see the two companies operate as GCA Altium in Europe and GCA in the US and Asia.

Upon completion of the merger, GCA Altium will become the seventh biggest listed M&A advisory company in the world, employing 370 people and boasting around $200m (£139m) in advisory revenues.

Altium CEO Phil Adams commented: “Our merger with GCA Savvian marks a key and exciting step in our growth strategy.

“Now, more than ever before, our clients are looking for integrated international coverage and this merger will enable us to provide the best possible service to our clients.”

Together, the two firms will operate from 14 offices across 10 countries.

GCA Savvian Corporation’s representative director, Aki Watanabe, said: “We are pleased to announce our merger with Altium. By bringing together these two established companies, we are creating a new global leader in our field.

“This combination will increase the scale and geographic reach of the firm – positioning GCA as the pre-eminent global investment bank focused on growth companies with a particular strength in technology.”

Subject to regulatory approval, the merger is due for completion during H2 2016.