By JP Harrop, group head of sales,
SGG
The UK private equity (PE) industry has just
emerged from a remarkably successful year. But these triumphs
are being put at risk by the UK’s
current Brexit uncertainties. Up until now, the UK
PE sector – like much of the economy –
has essentially been in a state of phoney war since the
referendum; much of this due to the seemingly endless
political trials and tribulations that have been unleashed
since June 2016.
Rather than panic or exodus, the general reaction of
managers and investors both domestic and abroad over
the past two years has been to circle in a holding
pattern, awaiting a more concrete prognosis on the future of
UK-EU relations before making any major strategic
decisions.
The shared assumption has been that whatever ultimately
emerges from the smoke,...