Imara Corporate Finance has formed a strategic alliance with Spayne Lindsay, an independent financial advisory firm based in London. 

The combination of Imara’s local African expertise with Spayne Lindsay’s global consumer network, will increase deal-flow for their international clients as well as provide on-the-ground support on sell-side and buy-side Africa-related transactions in the consumer sector.

Tom Gaffney, Director, Imara Holdings, said: “Imara’s partnership with Spayne Lindsay brings our local African roots together with Spayne Lindsay’s acknowledged expertise in the Consumer sector to provide a level of sector and geographic expertise that can’t be matched.”

Imara is an African investment bank engaged in corporate finance, asset management and private equity capital markets. 

Its team consists of seasoned banking professionals from all parts of Africa with local, regional and international experience. 

Headquartered in Johannesburg, Imara has an on-the-ground presence in 10 Sub-Saharan African countries and transaction experience in over 20 African countries where it has executed over 200 transactions in both public and private markets. 

Its client-list includes such companies as Anheuser Busch Inbev NV, Barclays and Lafarge Holcim as well as locally listed companies, entrepreneurs and African governments. Imara’s network of local offices is over-laid by a senior team of 10 M&A professionals with significant African and international experience.

Spayne Lindsay has a 30 years relationship with key owners and managers of Imara including the Fleming Family and Tom Gaffney, Director of Imara Holdings.

Spayne Lindsay has a 20-strong team focused exclusively on the international consumer sector, with a strong presence in North America and Asia Pacific as well as the EU.

‘Consumer’ is defined as including Food, Beverages, Household Products, Personal Care, Ingredients, Agrifood, Retail, Ecommerce and Leisure. Examples of Spayne Lindsay clients include; Quorn, PepsiCo., Oatly, Samworth Brothers.

“We are very excited about the Imara relationship and the prospects for a step-up in M&A activity in the burgeoning African consumer markets,” commented John Spayne, Founder Partner of Spayne Lindsay.