Italian investment bank Mediobanca buys boutique London advisory Arma to increase ties with top UK tech firms
Arma has advised on more than $85 billion worth of deals in the past five years
Arma’s main office is in the Shard (Dominic Lipinski/PA)
/ PA Wiretalian investment bank Mediobanca has agreed to buy boutique advisory firm Arma Partners, which is based in The Shard, as it hopes to get closer to London’s top tech companies.
Arma, which employs 86 people, has advised on a number of major tech deals, including Atos’ acquisition of Cloudreach and EQT’s purchase of Suse. In the last five years, it has advised on more than $85 billion worth of deals and its revenue last year was more than $100 million.
Mediobanca is among the largest investment banks in Italy, making a profit of €907 million last year. CEO Alberto Nagel said he wanted to deepen ties with top tech firms, and buying Arma was the best way to do so.
“Mediobanca has significant experience in partnering with independent financial advisory firms characterized by solid fundamentals, strong management leadership, renowned brands and scalable platforms,” he said. “We are convinced that the unique expertise, complementary business and geographic footprint of Arma Partners is a perfect fit for our common growth strategy and will position Mediobanca Group as a primary advisory house to entrepreneurs, investors, business professionals, CEOs and founders to benefit from the digital economy revolution”
Arma was founded in 2003 by Paul-Noël Guély, who will remain in charge post-acquisition.
“Like us, Mediobanca boasts a distinguished track record of strategic and independent advice, as well as European roots coupled with global ambitions,” he said. “Our new strategic partners are also very respectful of our independence and relentless focus on the digital economy.”
Last month Deutsche Bank made a similar deal, purchasing City-based boutique investment bank Numis in order to increase its own ties with the UK’s biggest companies.