29th Feb 2012 07:00
29 February 2012
St Ives plc - Acquisition
St Ives plc ("St Ives" or "the Group") is pleased to announce the acquisition of Incite Marketing Planning Limited ("Incite"), an industry leading market research and insights consultancy.
The acquisition of Incite is a continuation of St Ives's strategy to create a complementary range of digital and marketing services that will enable the Group to add further value to existing and new clients.
Established in 2000, Incite develops marketing strategies through the design and execution of bespoke research and the provision of consultancy services. The business employs approximately 40 staff, is headquartered in central London and has a strong client base that includes a number of international consumer facing businesses in the FMCG, technology and other sectors.
In the financial year ended 28 February 2011, Incite generated adjusted* EBITDA of £1.7 million on revenue of £8.1 million; gross assets were £4.7 million. (* Before items of a one off nature.)
St Ives has agreed to acquire all of the issued share capital of Incite, on a cash and debt free basis, for an agreed multiple of the audited EBITDA of Incite for the year ending 29 February 2012, subject to a maximum of £11.4m.
Further consideration may be payable dependent on incremental financial performance for the years ending 28 February 2013 and 28 February 2014, subject to a further maximum payment of £6.1m.
The vendors are the co-founders, Elaine Kent-Smith and Sid Simmons, the Chief Executive Roger Banks, together with other employees. Approximately 70% of the consideration will be payable in cash, with the balance to be satisfied by the issue of new St Ives ordinary shares.
It is expected that the acquisition will be earnings enhancing in the current financial year.
Following the acquisition, Incite will operate as a subsidiary of St Ives and will continue to be managed by the existing management team from its current premises.
Patrick Martell, Chief Executive of St Ives, said:
"The purchase of Incite is another important step in our development of a portfolio of marketing services capabilities. It has a very high quality offering of both research and consultancy, and an enviable blue chip client base.
"This acquisition, together with those we made during 2011, is part of our strategy to create a platform to sell a wider range of higher value add services across a broader customer group. I am delighted to welcome the Incite team to St Ives."
- Ends -
For further information please contact:
St Ives plc 020 7928 8844
Patrick Martell, Chief Executive
Matt Armitage, Finance Director
MHP Communications 020 3128 8100
John Olsen / Ian Payne / Giles Robinson
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