International accountancy firm Mazars has helped put together another deal in the Midlands.
Just prior to Christmas it helped the shareholders of a Solihull based software company to complete a sale to a Stock Exchange-quoted purchaser.
Proteus Software Ltd, which is based on Solihull Parkway at Birmingham Business Park, was acquired by Sanderson Group plc, the Coventry-based software and IT services business specialising in multi-channel retail and manufacturing markets in the UK and Ireland.
Now, just days into 2015, Mazars has also advised the shareholders of the specialist shopper marketing agency Life Marketing Consultancy on a sale to multi-channel marketing firm Communisis plc purchase in a deal that could that could potentially yield a value in excess of £20 million.
Nick Johnson, corporate finance partner at the firm’s Birmingham office, acted on both transactions.
He said: “We have a had a great run from the beginning of last summer and it’s fantastic to start 2015 with such a great success story for the shareholders of Life – we are off and running again. Despite a degree of macro uncertainty in the UK and overseas I am very confident that this will be another exciting year for deal doing.”
Life Marketing Consultancy will become part of Leeds based Communisis plc, adding expertise in research and insight-led shopper marketing to its existing experience in customer communication.
The agency, which has 63 staff split between offices in Birmingham and London, focuses on understanding and influencing consumer behaviour whilst they shop and also taking account of retailer strategies and requirements. Life’s clients are leading consumer goods groups especially in the food, drinks, technology and pharmaceutical sectors.
Communisis has staff based across the UK and Europe. The deal will enable it to extend the range of services it offers to its consumer goods clients, deliver more value to its existing leading-brand clients, and expand into higher margin areas.
Andy Blundell, chief executive of Communisis, said: “Life has an excellent reputation in shopper marketing.”
The principal vendors, David Poole and Ian Humphris, join the Group in senior executive roles.
David Poole commented: “If there’s one thing the last seven months have taught us, it’s that the turbulent waters of M&A need careful and experienced navigation, that’s why we chose to work with Mazars.
“Nick and his team helped with every aspect of the process, but beyond the technical aspects, the negotiations and the various work streams, it was the human element that Nick managed so well.
“His deep understanding of what both sides are going through, particularly at the sticky key stages, was critical to a successful outcome for us and Communisis.”