Quercus Corporate Finance is delighted to announce the sale of AWC Industries Limited to Sertec Group Limited.

The Quercus team, led by Amanda Hall, advised the shareholders of AWC Industries Limited (“AWC”) on the sale of the group to Sertec Group Limited, for an undisclosed sum.

AWC is a market-leading precision engineering business which provides technically challenging flat and round metal components for the European automotive industry. The group, which can trace its history back to 1919, employs over 700 staff across its modern facilities in the UK, Germany and Hungary.

Amanda Hall, said:

“With over 70% of AWC’s products being sold into Europe the business is highly dependent on this market place. This deal shows UK businesses with a strong European presence continue to be highly attractive post Brexit. I am delighted to have led the team advising the shareholders  in realizing the considerable commitment and investment they have made in AWC over the last 13 years.”

Allan Cook, founder and majority shareholder of AWC added:

"I believe this is an excellent deal for both the shareholders of AWC and Sertec. We know that we have found a buyer that shares the same family owned values we instilled in AWC. In turn AWC offers Sertec access to additional products, customers and international reach. The advice provided by Amanda and the team at Quercus Corporate Finance was first class; their commercially focused, hands on approach and tireless commitment to achieving an excellent result made all difference and we are delighted with the result."

Quercus Corporate Finance is delighted to announce the sale of the business and assets of Camp Hopson Funerals on behalf of Camp Hopson & Co Limited.

The Quercus team advised the Board of Camp Hopson & Co Limited (“Camp Hopson”) on the sale of the business and assets of Camp Hopson Funerals to Dignity plc for an undisclosed amount.

Camp Hopson is a 5th generation family business that has been in the heart of Newbury for over 100 years. The sale of the funerals business is the third M&A transaction that Quercus have advised on for Camp Hopson over the past 18 months and clearly demonstrates our focus on building longstanding trusted adviser relationships with our clients.  Quercus previously advised on the successful sales of the group's retail operations in 2014 and their removals business earlier this year.

Neil Giles, Senior Director, said:

“We value our relationship with Camp Hopson very highly and these are excellent deals for both the group, and the management and staff of the various businesses involved.  Across three complex transactions we have sourced partners in Morley Stores (retail), Dignity plc (Funerals) and Ward Thomas (Removals) who have excellent track records of acquiring independent businesses, maintaining brands and using their expertise to develop businesses and giving staff enhanced opportunities as part of a larger group.”

Jonathan Hopson, Director of Camp Hopson added:

“Over the past 18 months we have been delighted with the advice, quality of service and the seamless manner that Quercus integrated into our team.   We are extremely grateful to them and in particular the skills they demonstrated in presenting the various businesses to prospective buyers with the focus very much on future potential rather than historical performance."

The Quercus team advised the Board of Camp Hopson & Co Limited (“Camp Hopson”) on the sale of Camp Hopson Removals Limited to London-based removals group, Ward Thomas, for an undisclosed sum.

Camp Hopson is a 5th generation family business that has been in the heart of Newbury for over 100 years.  This is our second transaction for the Group in two years as we successfully sold their retail operations in November 2014.

Following this sale and a strategic review undertaken by the Board, the decision was taken that it was in the best interests of both the shareholders and employees to sell Camp Hopson Removals to an organisation that had the expertise, experience and track record to fully exploit the opportunities available to the business.

New Giles, Senior Director at Quercus said:

“This is an excellent deal not just for Camp Hopson, but also for the staff and management of Camp Hopson Removals.  We have sourced a partner in Ward Thomas who understands the removals market and has a successful track record of acquiring family owned businesses, investing in them and leveraging their USPs. We are delighted to have been lead adviser on this transaction."

Jonathan Hopson, Director of Camp Hopson added:  

“We are delighted that we appointed Quercus Corporate Finance as our adviser.  Their understanding of how best to present our business secured us a first class price and also made sure there were no surprises for us or Ward Thomas.  This made a significant difference to the outcome. As with all transactions there were some complexities, however Quercus’s ability to find solutions and to bring parties together in a non-adversarial way to find solutions is very impressive.”

 

Quercus Corporate Finance is delighted to announce it has successfully raised funds in the retail software sector as ImpulseLogic Limited ("ImpulseLogic") receives new growth capital.

The Quercus team introduced two new investors and advised the Board of ImpulseLogic Limited on its latest funding round.  Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

ImpulseLogic's pioneering solutions suite for the retail sector, Dynamic Store Merchandising ("DSM"), automaticaly applies advanced store inventory management to optimise gross margin return on inventory performance across all products within all stores, with particular emphasis on the recovery of losses in perishable products.

ImpulseLogic is headquartered in Reading with offices in San Ramon, California.

Andrew Clegg, Partner of Quercus said:

“We are delighted to have been able to work with the ImpulseLogic team and to introduce new investors to such an exciting business.  ImpulseLogic has developed a highly differentiated proposition for the retail sector and we wish them well as they seek to accelerate their growth plans".

Les McNeill, ImpulseLogic's CEO and Chairman added:

“We are delighted to have worked with Quercus on this important transaction.  Through their extensive contacts they were able to identify two new investors for the business with relevant skills and experience and the new capital will enable us to maximise the global opportunity.  We look forward to working with Quercus again in the future".

 

Quercus Corporate Finance is delighted to announce an acquisition in the catering services sector as Harbour & Jones Ltd acquires Kent-based Principals Catering Consultants Ltd.

The Quercus team, led by Andrew Clegg, advised the Board of Harbour & Jones on its acquisition of Kent-based PCC and an associated funding package.  Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.

Headquartered in central London, Harbour & Jones is a privately owned pioneering and independent food services company, a leader in the field of contract catering and hospitality service with a clear ambition to grow both organically and via acquisition.

PCC is based in Beckenham and trades in both the events and business and industry fields as Fare of London, a prestigious contract catering and venue management business, and Principals Catering, a prominent education caterer.

The combination is highly complementary and provides Harbour & Jones with access to the schools catering sector.

Andrew Clegg, Partner of Quercus said:

“We are pleased to have successfully advised Harbour & Jones on the acquisition of PCC. There is clearly a strong commercial and cultural fit between the two businesses and the combination promises to be a very exciting proposition in the market".

Nick Thomas, Harbour & Jones’s Finance Director added:

“We are delighted to have worked with Quercus on this important transaction which underpins our ambitious growth plans. Quercus provided straightforward, objective advice and we clearly benefited from the years of experience they bring to a transaction. We are delighted with the outcome and look forward to working with them again in the future”.