Cole Associates Corporate Finance

What Cole Associates Corporate Finance does

Cole Associates Corporate Finance is a privately held boutique corporate finance advisory firm headquartered at 81 King Street, Manchester (founded 2002 by Jeremy Cole; David Middleton joined 2002 and became partner in 2006). It is regulated through its Chartered Accountant status and focuses exclusively on mid-market and SMB transactions — Management Buy-outs, Management Buy-ins, Acquisitions, Business Sales, Raising Finance, Valuation, Strategic Business Advice, Due Diligence, Rebanking, Business Plans & Financial Projections, Interim Finance Director placement, and Restructure and Rescue. The firm serves ambitious owner-managed businesses and management teams primarily across North West England and the UK, with selected cross-border mandates (e.g., Denca Controls sale to a Swedish buyer), spanning sectors including manufacturing, healthcare software, environmental services, construction, transport and logistics, food and beverage, retail, professional services, and TMT.

The business model is traditional professional-services advisory: bespoke, exclusive, partner-led engagement on a select client roster, with the majority of fees aligned to successful transaction completion, complemented by Cole Capital — an investment arm that deploys the firm's own funds alongside a private-investor network to provide growth capital and structured deals for SMEs. Go-to-market is overwhelmingly relationship-driven — direct partner-led advisory, Pro.Manchester event participation, thought-leadership in Equilibrium Equinox, professional referral networks, and repeat multi-deal client relationships (e.g., IMC Worldwide advised continuously from 2010 through 2022).

The firm has no technology product surface: no proprietary software, no API, no app, no integrations, and no AI capability. Competitive moat rests on the experience and qualifications of its two chartered-accountant partners, long-tenured multi-transaction client relationships, regional reputation as "one of the most respected specialist corporate finance firms in the North West," and the differentiated Cole Capital capital-origination capability. Headcount is 1-10, with no institutional investor, parent company, or external funding; both founders remain active partners, supported by a small team and an open Corporate Finance Manager hire.

Name

Cole Associates Corporate Finance

Legal name

Cole Associates Corporate Finance

Website

https://cole-group.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cole Associates Corporate Finance is a Manchester-based boutique chartered-accountancy advisory firm providing partner-led M&A, MBO/MBI, business-sale, fund-raising, valuation, and due-diligence services primarily to North West England SMEs and mid-market owner-managed businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Corporate Finance Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282)

akta.pro primary industry

Corporate Finance & Capital Advisory (BPAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Corporate Finance Advisory (Strategic Finance, Capital Structure & Recaps) (FSAEAGAE)

Keywords

• Corporate finance advisory
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Management buyouts
• Business valuation services
• Private equity advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate Finance Advisory: Professional services fees for advisory work including MBOs, MBIs, acquisitions, business sales, raising finance, valuation, strategic advice, and due diligence. Fee structure typically aligns majority of fees with successful transaction completion.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cole Associates Corporate Finance is a boutique chartered-accountant corporate finance advisory firm based in Manchester. It advises owner-managed and mid-market businesses across the UK on management buy-outs (MBOs), management buy-ins (MBIs), acquisitions, business sales, raising finance, valuation, due diligence, and strategic advice. It also operates Cole Capital, an investment arm that deploys its own and investor capital into SMEs for growth funding and acquisitions.

Product overview

Cole Associates Corporate Finance operates as a single unified advisory service rather than a platform with modular components. The firm provides specialist corporate finance advisory services including Management Buy-outs (MBOs), Management Buy-ins (MBIs), Acquisitions, Business Sales, Raising Finance, Valuation, Strategic Business Advice, and Due Diligence. Additionally, the firm offers supplementary services such as Rebanking, Business Plans & Financial Projections, Interim Finance Director placement, and Restructure & Rescue advisory. The firm also operates Cole Capital as an investment arm that both funds SMEs and acquires companies, creating a differentiated offering from pure advisory services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cole Capital: Investment arm providing funding to SMEs for organic growth, recruitment, and market expansion. Works with private investors to provide growth capital.

Products and services

• Management Buy-outs (MBOs) Advising and supporting management teams in acquiring their existing companies through leveraged buy-out transactions, including deal structuring, funding, and project management.
• Management Buy-ins (MBIs) Facilitating external management teams to acquire companies by providing advisory support throughout the transaction process, including target identification, funding, and completion.
• Acquisitions Advising companies on strategic acquisitions, including target identification, valuation, negotiation, due diligence coordination, and completion.
• Business Sales Assisting business owners in selling their companies, from preparation and valuation through to finding buyers, negotiating terms, and completing transactions.
• Raising Finance Helping businesses secure funding through bank financing, private equity, alternative lenders, and investor networks, including preparation of funding proposals and negotiations.
• Valuation Providing business and share valuations for transactions, tax planning, shareholder disputes, or strategic decision-making purposes.
• Strategic Business Advice Providing ongoing strategic guidance to business owners and management teams on growth, restructuring, succession planning, and value creation.
• Due Diligence Conducting financial, commercial, and operational due diligence reviews for potential acquisitions or investments.
• Rebanking Advising businesses on restructuring their banking relationships and securing alternative financing arrangements.
• Business Plans & Financial Projections Developing comprehensive business plans and financial projections to support funding applications, strategic planning, and investor communications.
• Interim Finance Director Providing experienced interim finance directors to support businesses during transitions, growth phases, or periods of change.
• Restructure and Rescue Advising companies facing financial difficulties on restructuring options, turnaround strategies, and rescue transactions.
• Cole Capital Proprietary investment vehicle that provides funding to SMEs for organic growth, recruitment, and market expansion, working alongside private investors, and acquires companies with flexible deal structures for business owners seeking exit.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed long-term advisory relationship with IMC Worldwide from 2010 MBO through multiple transactions to 2022 business sale

Named customers17 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pro.ManchestercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive membership and participation in Pro.Manchester, a professional network organization in Manchester. Partner Jeremy Cole regularly participates in panel events and co-hosts the Annual Review of Northwest M&A Funding Market. This partnership provides networking opportunities and thought leadership positioning within the regional business community.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Grant Thornton UK Corporate Finance: Grant Thornton UK's Corporate Finance practice advises mid-market and larger SMEs on M&A, MBOs, MBIs and capital raisings. Comparable on advisory services to Cole Associates but operates at significantly larger scale with international reach and deeper sector specialisation.
• Houlihan Lokey: Houlihan Lokey is a global investment banking firm with strong UK mid-market M&A advisory capabilities, advising on MBOs, disposals and acquisitions. Comparable on core advisory services but operates globally and at materially larger transaction sizes than Cole Associates' regional SME focus.
• BDO UK Corporate Finance: BDO UK's Corporate Finance practice advises UK SMEs and mid-market companies on M&A, MBOs, MBIs, valuations and due diligence across the UK. Overlaps with Cole Associates on service mix and target clients but operates at significantly greater scale and with international reach.
• RSM UK Corporate Finance: RSM UK's Corporate Finance team advises UK mid-market and owner-managed businesses on M&A, MBOs, disposals and fundraising. Comparable service offering to Cole Associates with a similar client base but national coverage and deeper resourcing.
• FRP Advisory Corporate Finance: FRP Advisory is a UK national advisory firm offering corporate finance, restructuring and forensic services, including significant M&A and MBO advisory to UK SMEs and mid-market companies. Comparable on service offering but much larger and broader in scope than Cole Associates' boutique focus.

Direct peers

• KBS Corporate: KBS Corporate (part of K3 Capital Group) specialises in selling UK owner-managed and SME businesses, focusing on lower mid-market M&A transactions. Comparable to Cole Associates on client segment and mandate type, though KBS operates a more volume-driven model with national reach.
• Clearwater Corporate Finance: Clearwater is a UK-focused mid-market corporate finance advisor covering M&A, MBOs, MBIs, debt advisory and valuations across multiple sectors and UK regions. Closely comparable on mandate types and target client profile, though Clearwater has a materially larger team and broader national coverage than Cole Associates.
• Zeus Capital: Zeus Capital is a UK independent corporate finance advisor with offices including Manchester, advising growth and mid-market companies on M&A, IPOs and capital raisings. Directly comparable on UK regional mid-market advisory services, with overlap in the Northwest client base.
• Cavendish Corporate Finance: Cavendish is one of the UK's leading independent mid-market M&A advisory firms, advising on MBOs, MBIs, disposals and fundraising for owner-managed businesses. Directly comparable to Cole Associates on service mix, client size and UK regional mid-market focus, though Cavendish operates from multiple UK offices including a strong Northern presence.
• Dow Schofield Watts: Dow Schofield Watts is a UK mid-market corporate finance advisor with a strong Northern and Northwest footprint advising SMEs on MBOs, MBIs, acquisitions and disposals. Closely comparable to Cole Associates on regional focus and SME owner-managed client base, with similar boutique-style partner-led engagement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/coleassociates
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cole-associates

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cole Associates Corporate Finance