Rickitt Mitchell adds Director Kaine Smith to board

Corporate advisory firm Rickitt Mitchell has appointed Kaine Smith to the company’s board. The former EY professional has played a fundamental role in a number of high-profile transactions during his seven years with Rickitt Mitchell.

Britain’s merger and acquisitions market is at a turning point. According to multiple reports, pressures resulting from Brexit and the coronavirus have led to the valuations of many leading properties falling over the last year – meaning 2021 could well be a buyer’s market. In this context, firms which advise investors on corporate transactions could be poised for a busy year.

Rickitt Mitchell is one of the largest corporate finance advisory firms in the UK, having completed on over 300 transactions with a combined value of more than £3 billion. Primarily, the firm specialises in advising entrepreneurs and management teams on making the right deal happen. Established in 1976, Rickitt Mitchell works with clients to ensure successful execution on all forms of corporate transactions, ranging from £5 million to over £100 million in value.

As the firm prepares for a rapid shift in gear in the M&A market, Rickitt Mitchell has strengthened its senior leadership team, with the promotion of Director Kaine Smith to the firm’s board. The move will see Kaine use his specialist sector expertise to meet current market demand across a variety of transaction types, including public company flotations, private company disposals, fundraises, acquisitions and PE investments. Sitting on the firm’s board, he will have direct input into the future direction of the business as it continues on its growth trajectory.

Smith commented, “It is a pleasure to be promoted to this new role and join the board. Despite the current volatile economic climate we find ourselves in today, we are still seeing strong appetite for dealmaking, especially from private equity and overseas corporates who are keen in invest and transact in the UK market. We have a great team here at Rickitt Mitchell, one I’m proud to work with. I look forward to working with the team on many more successful deals in the future.”

Commencing his career with EY, Smith spent four years at the Big Four firm during which time he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Following that, he spent three years as a Committee Member with pro-manchester – a network aiming to develop young talent within Greater Manchester’s financial and professional sector – before arriving at Rickitt Mitchell in 2013. In 2019, he was promoted to Director, while he also took on a new role as Chair of M&A Worldwide’s IT, Software and Technology (IST) Group. In that role, which he will maintain alongside sitting on Rickitt Mitchell’s board, has helped him fogre close and collaborative relationships with the organisation’s M&A experts in 35 countries across six continents.

Neil Mitchell, Partner at Rickitt Mitchell, said of the news, “Since joining, Kaine has made an outstanding impact on the business. With extensive sector and market knowledge, his portfolio of completed deals speaks for itself. He makes an excellent addition to our leadership team and board, and I have full faith that he will continue to exceed expectations and help drive the business forward in what is set to be a busy time ahead.”