GSB Capital launch targets UK and UAE; co-investment vehicle on way

Financial services group GSB has launched GSB Capital, focused on M&A, growth capital (debt and equity), direct investment, debt advisory and other advisory services with teams in both the UK and the UAE; and it is preparing to launch a co-investment vehicle later this year.

Investment banker Grant Bergman (pictured) has been appointed Global Head of GSB Capital to run the newly launched division. He previously launched and led private company advisory teams for both finnCap (now Cavendish Financial plc) and Investec Bank.

According to Ross Whatnall, co-founder and CEO at GSB, other key hires of financial professionals are likely to follow over the coming year.

"This is a pivotal moment in the company’s growth strategy and the launch of GSB Capital marks another key milestone in GSB’s ambitions to become a one-stop global financial services group. This new division focussed on debt and equity markets adds a new layer of expertise to cater for all the financial needs of our clients," he said.

"Grant Bergman brings a unique and holistic approach to advisory and investments. An entrepreneur at heart, he has managed two high-growth investment vehicles and co-founded a number of start-ups, scaling several to successful exit. In addition to his decade of advising large and mid-cap listed corporate clients, this means Grant brings to GSB Capital clients experience of both early and later-stage lifecycles."

"We will continue to find new avenues for growth for GSB and expect to expand the company more over the next 12 months and are looking to hire a number of experienced professionals to bolster the newly launched division in coming months."

Additionally, GSB Capital is aiming to launch a co-investment vehicle later this year.

The new division sits alongside the other parts of the group, currently comprising:

• GSB Wealth – offering expert advice, specialising in all aspects of financial planning – including pension and retirement planning, investment planning, tax planning, cash flow modelling, insurance, and more.
• GSB Private – offers an independent private banking, private finance and private office platform for high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, families, companies and structures. Alongside this, GSB’s in-house, whole-of-market debt and finance brokerage, GSB Private Finance, also operates as an external asset manager.

Regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in the UAE and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, GSB recently achieved Certified B Corporation™ (B Corp™) status.