Excellera, a leading corporate affairs consultancy in EMEA, has announced that Alma Strategic Communications, the UK’s foremost independent financial communications firm, has joined the Group. The transaction forms part of Excellera’s international growth strategy, backed by ICG plc, one of the world’s leading alternative asset managers.

London-based Alma advises companies and management teams through defining moments in their corporate journeys, drawing on deep expertise in financial communications and capital markets — from investor and analyst relations to communications around M&A, IPOs and capital raising. The firm also advises on corporate communications, media relations and crisis and issues management. Its team brings together professionals with backgrounds in investment banking, industry and communications, alongside an in-depth understanding of the UK financial markets.

The transaction significantly builds on Excellera’s existing and growing presence in the UK, home to one of the world’s principal financial centres, drawing on the firm’s strong track record as an international adviser across corporate and financial communications, reputation and issues management, and its continued expansion in the market. Alma and Excellera’s UK team will work in close partnership, offering clients an integrated financial and corporate communications proposition, alongside access to the Group’s wider capabilities, from public affairs to data intelligence. The deal further enhances Excellera’s corporate affairs offering across international markets, bringing together complementary capabilities and creating new opportunities for collaboration across the business.

Excellera now reaches approximately €80 million in revenues, with around 400 employees and associates, with a presence in 15 offices worldwide. Alma’s partners will retain their operational and strategic roles within the business, reinvesting a significant portion of their proceeds in the Group.

Paolo Zanetto, CEO of Excellera, commented:

“We are excited to welcome Alma’s professionals to our Group. Financial communications is a business built on relationships, market knowledge and authority earned over time. With Alma, we are strengthening our presence in London — the EMEA hub for capital markets and capital markets communications, and of central importance to our clients — through a team that has advised on some of the most significant transactions of recent years. Together with the capabilities we have already built in London, through this acquisition, we are creating an outstanding corporate affairs offering, giving companies and investors access to complementary expertise and a deep understanding of both the UK and EMEA markets, within an increasingly integrated and AI-enabled Group.”

Josh Royston, Founder of Alma, added:

“Paolo and his team are building an extraordinary business in a clearly defined market with their success due to a relentless focus on client outcomes. We share the same cultural vision and I have no doubt that we have found the right partner to help us realise our ambitions. We have continued to invest in our capital markets advisory team and join the Group with real momentum. Becoming part of Excellera will enable us to invest further, create new opportunities for our colleagues and provide our clients with access to additional areas of expertise. We are confident that we can build on our success to date and replicate the achievements of Excellera throughout EMEA, here in London.”

Waypoint’s role:

Waypoint acted as exclusive advisor to Alma.

What they said about us:

‘’I can’t thank you all enough for the hard work that you and the team have put in to making this such a success and (mostly) joyful experience.

You guys have been our negotiator, analyst, bad cop, counsellor and best friend through an eye-opening journey and made it a good laugh along the way. You have all provided exactly the right advice at the right stage and Anna has done a superb job in corralling people into doing what they need to do at the right time. At no stage have we felt exposed, unsure or in the dark.

You’ve delivered us the deal we wanted whilst at the same time ensuring that our relationship with our new owners is not only in tact but in really good health, and for that I sincerely thank you all.’’ Josh Royston

‘’I remember in the first call you saying you could work out all sorts of things that hadn’t even crossed our mind, and you certainly did that, and more.” Rebecca Sanders-Hewett