Cross-border consumer-brand joint venture and merger
Deal Region US · China · UK · Italy
Deal Size $20m
Sector(s)
Expertise
Markets · UK
Corporate finance advisory for the UK
Cross-border capital, real estate finance and M&A linking the UK with the GCC and India.
Matchpoint connects UK businesses, developers and funds with GCC and Indian capital — and brings UK investors and lenders into UAE, KSA and India opportunities.
From real estate development finance to growth capital and M&A, mandates are partner-led from origination to close.
For UK developers and sponsors, Matchpoint arranges real estate development finance across the capital stack — senior, stretch-senior, mezzanine and subordinated debt, and equity — from GCC family offices, private investors and institutions. Matchpoint undertakes mandates from USD 5m upwards across residential, mixed-use, logistics, hospitality and operational real estate, subject to mandate fit. A partner structures the requirement, prepares lender-grade materials and runs a competitive process.
Beyond real estate, we advise UK businesses raising growth capital from Gulf investors — typically USD 5m to USD 300m — and owners selling their business to Gulf strategic acquirers or family-office buyers. Gulf capital tends to value profitable, founder-built companies with defensible market positions, and is often more patient than conventional private equity on hold periods and management continuity. Most capital-raising mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days; M&A processes typically run 4–9 months to close, depending on diligence readiness and the complexity of the structure.
Cross-border transactions between UK vehicles and Gulf investors raise structuring questions early: where the investment entity sits, how debt and equity layers interact across jurisdictions, what security and governance arrangements give each side comfort, and whether Shari’ah-compliant tranches are required. As part of our corporate finance advisory, we work alongside each party’s legal and tax advisers to shape structures that both sides recognise and can execute — we do not give tax advice, but we know which arrangements Gulf investors have accepted before, and that knowledge shortens negotiations considerably.
Why a Dubai-based firm for a UK mandate? Because proximity to capital matters. Gulf family offices and private investors rarely run formal intake processes; access depends on standing relationships and an understanding of how each office likes to invest. Matchpoint is partner-led from origination to close — the person who scopes your mandate is the person negotiating it — and our position in Dubai places us inside the conversations where GCC allocations to UK assets are actually decided. Our research note on cross-border capital for UK developers sets out how these processes typically run.
What we do for the UK
Questions, answered
United Kingdom — frequently asked questions
Yes — Matchpoint arranges cross-border real estate and development finance, connecting UK sponsors to GCC lenders and investors.
Yes. GCC family offices, private investors and institutions are active across UK development — senior and stretch-senior debt, mezzanine and equity. Matchpoint structures the requirement, prepares materials and runs a competitive process among Gulf capital providers, with a partner leading the mandate from origination to close.
Most financing and capital-raising mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days of engagement, depending on how diligence-ready the sponsor is and the complexity of the structure. M&A processes typically take 4–9 months from engagement to completion.
It varies by investor: some prefer direct lending into UK vehicles, others co-investment structures, preferred equity or profit-participation arrangements, and some require Shari’ah-compliant tranches. We help shape structures both sides recognise, working alongside each party’s own legal and tax advisers rather than giving tax advice ourselves.
Yes — Gulf strategic acquirers and family offices buy UK businesses outright as well as taking significant minority stakes. They tend to favour profitable, well-run companies and are often flexible on management continuity and transition periods, which suits founders seeking a considered exit rather than a rushed one.
Engagements ordinarily combine a retainer with a success fee. Terms are agreed in writing before work begins and calibrated to the mandate’s size, scope and complexity.
Most mandates reach a first term sheet within 30 days (M&A typically 4–9 months to close), depending on diligence readiness and structure.
A short, confidential scoping call and NDA; we structure the requirement, prepare materials, run a competitive process across our 5,000+ investor and lender relationships, and negotiate to close — with a partner leading throughout.
Talk to a partner
Tell us what you're trying to finance. A partner will respond personally — typically within one business day.
Track record
Select completed transactions
Select transactions across sectors, geographies and capital structures.
