Ian is a founder shareholder of Beltrae Partners. Ian graduated from Queen's University with a PhD and subsequently joined JP Morgan, the American investment bank, in London to specialise in corporate finance. Ian spent 6 years with JP Morgan working in London and New York. Ian returned to Belfast to create a corporate finance team for Price Waterhouse and was made a partner in the firm in 1996. The team became the market leader in N.Ireland and completed a number of ground breaking deals such as:
MBO of Ben Sherman from Dunkeld plc for £8m
MBO of Belfast International Airport for £33.5m
Sale of Belfast International Airport for £107m
Following the merger of Price Waterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand in 1998, Ian headed the Corporate Finance team for the merged firm in N.Ireland. During this time he led and completed a number of innovative transactions, such as:
MBO of Balcas Timber
Sale of BCO Technologies plc for £101m
MBO of CTS Ltd from Galen plc for £130m
Ian advised on the first PFI project to complete in N.Ireland (Royal Victoria Hospital car park) and went on to advise on 7 other completed PFI projects including, schools (Drumglass, St Genevieve’s), Higher education (BIFHE, NWIFHE), water (Kinnegar), DVTA & Land Registry.
Ian has acted as Expert Witness on a number of company valuation/shareholder dispute resolution cases.
Since forming Beltrae in 2003, Ian has completed over 290 M&A transactions, including:
In 2024 Ian advised Germinal Holdings Ltd (Openfolde) on its acquisition of Lawnsmith Ltd and James H Finlay Holdings Ltd (Finlay Foods) on sale to BAKO Group.
In 2022 Ian has acted on the sale of Three Islands Ltd and Product Insight Ltd and 3173 Ltd to Synova.
In 2021 Ian acted on several M&A transactions including the sale of Hillsborough Clinic to the Affidea Group and OHRD (occupational health) to The 352 Group.
Acted as the expert valuer in a shareholding dispute in a major Irish food company which in mediation resulted in a successful outcome for our client.
Advised OneProjects on its Series A finance raising of 11m Euros from a consortium of VCs led by Life Science Partners.
Advised FarmVet Systems Ltd on its sale to the French Pharmaceutical company, Vetoquinol (awarded Insider Media 2019 NI Deal of the Year).
Acted for Relay Software Ltd on sale to Applied Systems Inc, a major US multinational company.
Acted as a NED and Chairman of PathXL Limited for 11 years and prepared the company for its eventual successful sale to Philips - the global multinational healthcare company.
Advised the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society on the sale of its Balmoral site to a property development joint venture and its relocation to a new site at the Maze.
Advised Irish Life Plc on a significant investment in a GB based new start-up venture and on its strategic investment in Invesco Ltd
Advised Avoca Handweavers Ltd on its sale to Aramark Inc
Advised Relay Software Ltd on the sale of a majority shareholding to Hg Capital
Advised Towergate Group on acquisition of Dawson Whyte insurance brokers
Advised Omiino Ltd on its sale to Xilinth Inc (sum undisclosed)
Advised Golf Holdings (Winemark) on acquisition of Russell Cellars Ltd. (sum undisclosed).
Advised BT PLC on acquisition of BIC Systems Ltd. for £17.1m and 3 other M&A transactions in Ireland.
Advised on MBO of Brookvent Manufacturing Ltd.
Created and advised on buyout of Botanic Inns Group
Advised on sale of three of Ireland's leading consulting engineering firms - Kirk McClure, Morton and Ferguson McIlveen and PH McCarthy Consulting Engineers Ltd
Advised Glover Site Investigations Ltd on the acquisitions of Ground Restoration Ltd in Bristol and Discovery Drilling Ltd
Advised on sale of Campbell Freight Ltd and Campbell Freight Ireland Ltd
Advised on the sale of Finlay Communications Ltd and Finlay Communications (Ireland) Ltd
Advised on sale of Hamilton Shipping Group to Denholm Group
To date Ian has completed over 360 corporate and property transactions with a combined deal value in excess of £3.4bn. Outside of Beltrae Partners Ian sits on a number of boards as a non-executive director, including:
PathXL (Chairman) 2008 to 2016 when the company was successfully sold on to Philips.
Neurovalens Ltd (Modius Health) (Chairman) 2017 to Current
NI4Kids Ltd (Chairman) 2005 to 2020
The Brunch Box Sandwich Company Ltd (Chairman) 2010 to Current
Queen's University - QUBIS Investment Committee 2017 to Current
Techstart NI - Advisory Board 2013 to Current
Golf Ireland - Transition Board (Feb 2018 to Feb 2020)
BPL Investments Ltd 2003 to Current
Chef Investments Ltd 2005 to Current
Education
UNIVERSITY
Queen’s University Belfast
QUALIFICATIONS
BSc, PhD, MFP (New York), Management Development (INSEAD).
Activities & Affiliations
Ian is a keen golfer who, in his younger days, represented Ireland at school and university level. He is an active member of Royal Portrush where he has served on Council, the Open Championship Committee and was Captain in 2020 & 2021. Ian is currently the Chairman of the Open Championship Committee for the 153rd Open in 2025.