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YFM Partner Mike Clarke on the prospects for 2021

7 January 2021

YFM Partner Mike Clarke on the prospects for 2021

Mike Clarke, a Partner on the new investment team at YFM, spoke to Insider Media this week about the challenges of 2020 and his predictions for the new year ahead. In the article, Yorkshire Dealmakers Optimistic on 2021 Prospects, he also praised the resilience that YFM portfolio businesses have shown during the Covid-19 crisis.

Mike, who was promoted to Partner in 2020, said:

“We also continued to look for opportunities to partner with dynamic businesses with potential, and were able to build on our track record in earlier stage tech deals. We went on to complete five deals, including a £4.8m investment into Leeds-based marketing automation platform Force24 and a £3.75m investment into energy broker ARRACO.

In such a fast-changing situation, it is vital for businesses not to lose their nerve, but to keep sight of their long-term strategy and ambition. We have been encouraged to see that businesses are finding ways to grow and deals are still happening. Having closed our £80m second Buyout fund in April, we remain optimistic about deploying our fund rapidly as the deal flow gains momentum in 2021.

While the year ahead is likely to be hard, upheaval often leads to new doors opening and it may give nimble, ambitious businesses the opportunity to differentiate themselves – and we’ll be ready to support them.”

The piece also features perspectives from Hannah Kendrick, Head of Corporate in Leeds at Squire Patton Boggs, Simon Kamstra, Head of Addleshaw Goddard‘s Leeds Office, Tony Farmer, Head of Corporate Finance at Yorkshire accountants and business advisory firm Garbutt + Elliott, Richard Moran, Senior Partner at Clarion, and Andy Redman, Director at ABL Business.

Read the full story by Senior Digital Staff Writer, Stephen Farrell on insidermedia.com.

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