About us
Harbour Beacon Advisory IS A BUY-SIDE M&A ADVISORY FIRM SERVING STRATEGIC ACQUIRERS AND FINANCIAL SPONSORS ACROSS THE GLOBE.
We work with world-class corporations and investors to originate bespoke, proprietary deal flow.
Our operational and financial expertise makes us a steadfast partner in identifying and introducing relevant acquisition targets that meet our clients’ investment criteria and lead to successful transactions.
precision & customization
We deliver high-quality, tailored acquisition opportunities - not just lists of companies. We take the time to understand our clients’ investment theses and criteria, combining AI-driven research with human expertise to identify and engage only the most relevant acquisition targets. Every opportunity we present is vetted and qualified, ensuring that our clients spend time on serious, high-potential deals.
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EFFICIENCY THROUGH AUTOMATION
We leverage cutting-edge AI tools to streamline proprietary deal origination so our clients can focus on closing the right deals, not chasing the wrong ones. By harnessing AI for data mining, industry research, and outreach automation, we accelerate the deal-sourcing process without sacrificing quality. Our tech-driven approach allows us to find opportunities faster and more cost-effectively than traditional methods, giving our clients a competitive edge.
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TRANSPARENCY & PARTNERSHIP
We operate as an extension of your team, providing clear, honest insights and candid feedback. We work on a simple fee basis that aligns incentives and produces high ROI, ensuring that our focus is purely on finding the best opportunities for our clients.
WHO WE SERVE
PRIVATE EQUITY FIRMS
Lower-middle market PE firms often lack the internal sourcing capacity of larger funds, making it challenging to maintain a steady deal flow. Our AI-powered, human-in-the-loop approach helps PE firms identify, qualify, and engage proprietary off-market acquisition targets, ensuring a continuous pipeline of high-fit opportunities that align with their investment thesis.
FAMILY OFFICES
Many family offices seek direct investments but lack dedicated in-house deal origination teams. We provide a cost-effective, technology-driven sourcing solution that uncovers high-quality, off-market deals, helping family offices execute strategic acquisitions without relying on intermediaries or paying excessive broker fees.
CORPORATIONS
Corporate development teams need to identify strategic acquisitions that support growth, expand market reach, or enhance capabilities. We provide a scalable, data-driven sourcing solution that uncovers potential bolt-on acquisitions, tuck-ins, roll-up targets, and new market entry opportunities, allowing corporations to execute their M&A strategy with confidence.
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ACQUISITION ENTREPRENEURS
Independent sponsors, search fund founders, and self-funded searchers often operate without an established deal-sourcing infrastructure. Our service gives acquisition entrepreneurs the firepower of an institutional sourcing team, leveraging AI and expert screening to deliver qualified sellers who are ready for discussions so that searchers can focus on closing the right deal, not finding one.
Pricing
Managing Director-level deal origination at the cost of an intern
We provide a high-touch, AI-powered sourcing solution that delivers pre-vetted acquisition targets tailored to our clients' investment criteria at a fraction of the cost of building an in-house origination team. With no long-term commitment, we offer a flexible, month-to-month engagement with no hidden fees or commissions.
Team
MATTHEW ELEY
Matthew Eley is the Managing Director of Harbour Beacon Advisory. With four years of experience in the human capital industry, he is also the founder and Managing Director of ESP, a successful Executive Search-to-Search firm.
Matthew serves a global client base across the human capital sector and has personally led two successful transactions across Europe and North America.
At Harbour Beacon Advisory, he leads all buy-side operations, partnering with Private Equity firms, Family Offices, Acquisition Entrepreneurs, and Corporations to support strategic investments in the global human capital market.
reece moran
Reece Moran is a Director at Harbour Beacon Advisory and also serves as Director and Head of US at ESP. With three years of experience in the global human capital industry, Reece leads HBA's entire U.S. division and plays a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s presence across North America.
Reece has successfully advised on over 50 introductions across the US, building a strong reputation for delivering high-impact talent and growth solutions. At Harbour Beacon Advisory, he co-leads all buy-side activity, working closely with investment partners to drive strategic growth across the human capital sector.
Layla Cole
Layla Cole is Head of Client Services at Harbour Beacon Advisory, where she specialises in identifying and engaging sell-side clients exploring acquisition opportunities. Layla plays a key role in aligning these clients with the firm’s buy-side partners, ensuring efficient, strategic introductions that drive successful outcomes.
With over two and a half years of experience in executive search at ESP, Layla has worked across a broad range of industries and global markets. Her background also includes prior experience in HR and education, adding depth to her understanding of people and organisational dynamics.
Layla holds a First-Class Honours degree in Archaeology and History from the University of Reading.
Charlotte crewe
Charlotte Crewe is Head of Research at Harbour Beacon Advisory and also leads the research function at ESP. Charlotte plays a critical role across both businesses, managing and supporting all back-office operations with a focus on research, market mapping, marketing, CRM optimisation, strategy, and internal processes.
Her work underpins the firm’s ability to deliver precise, data-driven insights and streamlined operations, ensuring both Harbour Beacon and ESP maintain a competitive edge in the global human capital market.
She holds a joint honours bachelor’s degree in Linguistics from the University of Liverpool.