MBO of Message Direct backed by LDC
HMT provided buyside lead advisory services to LDC on their investment to support the MBO of Message Direct led by Duncan Strike and his management team.
Founded in 1994 and based in Ferndown, near Bournemouth, Message Direct has over 7,600 customers and provide operationally critical 24/7 support in dealing with customer leads and enquiries. The business, which operates a number of brands including Message Direct, Jam and Verbatim, has achieved material organic and acquisitional growth during the last two years under the leadership of Duncan Strike.
LDC’s investment will support the management team’s organic growth plans, its buy-and-build growth strategy, and enable investment in new transformational technology
As part of the transaction, experienced board members Pete Opperman and Gary West are joining Message Direct as Chairman and Non-Executive Director respectively.
The transaction was led by LDC Investment Director John Gassner and Investment Manager Trystan Cullen.
The HMT team, including Manager Ben Hoekstra and Senior Manager Motti Kalikshtein, provided a holistic buy-side service adding our skilled resource and experience to the LDC deal team, taking on an overall project management role, providing financial modelling services and assisting with deal delivery at critical times within the transaction.
Duncan Strike, CEO of Message Direct commented:
“Having worked with HMT on a number of bolt-on acquisitions previously we were delighted to work with them again as buy side adviser to the Management team and LDC. The pragmatic advice and support both we and LDC received throughout the transaction was invaluable and they helped us overcome a number of roadblocks along the way. I look forward to working with Andrew, Ricky and the team again as we make further acquisitions over the coming years.”
Andrew Thomson, Partner at HMT commented:
“We are delighted to have successfully supported LDC deliver the MBO of Message Direct. Under Duncan’s stewardship, the business has achieved impressive and profitable growth and, in partnership with LDC, the business is well positioned to exploit the exciting organic and in-organic opportunities that lay ahead. We look forward to working with Duncan, John and Trystan again on future transactions.”
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