BCMS Client Interview: MPC Data Ltd

Why did you decide to sell your business?

Like any business we had continually thought about succession planning and the need to grow and develop or shrink and die. We realised at one of our offsite strategy meetings that the knowledge of the board at MPC Data wouldn’t be enough long-term and that we needed to bring new structure, ideas and experience to move forward.

How did you find out about BCMS Corporate and why did you select us to sell your business?

BCMS Corporate came to us on recommendation and we are glad we followed our instinct. Their understanding of the sale process – something a business owner might got through only once in their working lives – not only maximised the value of the asset for the shareholders but also ensured we found the right home for our business which was vitally important to everyone.

Did you consider any competitors of ours and if so why did you not use them? If you didn’t consider any competitors, why not?

We did consider competitors but not for very long.

How did you feel the sale process was managed?

Extremely well - at the time you can’t really appreciate it . Now, having successfully gone through the process, we can see how vital BCMS’ role was in making the deal happen. Facilitating discussions, holding us back when we were about to reveal too much, encouraging us to reveal information when they felt we were being too cautious.

How important was confidentiality and why was this?

It was vitally important to us. We did not want our customer base or our workforce destabilised by rumor or false assumptions about what we were trying to achieve. Many of the staff at MPC Data we consider as good friends and we didn’t want them to hear about the sale second or third hand from someone else.

Did the sale process affect the everyday management of your company?

Not really thanks to good advice from BCMS Corporate.

Are your staff staying with the company and was this an important factor in the sale process?

Yes, and this is great news and fundamental to why we sold to BSQUARE. During the sale process there were seven companies interested in us. While we could see the sense in many of the deals, the net result would have been to loose parts of the business or radically change the way in which it works. We didn’t want that. We didn’t want to loose what makes the company so special – its people and its culture. That’s ultimately why we chose BSQUARE.As they were at pains to say – “we are in the people business, our people are our biggest asset”

Will you have any involvement in the business post sale and if not what does the future hold for you?

That’s still to be decided at the moment.

Would you recommend BCMS Corporate’s services to another company considering selling?

I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend you to anyone else considering selling their company.

How satisfied were you with the sale price and terms achieved?

Extremely satisfied.

What is your overall opinion of BCMS Corporate?

Everyone at BCMS Corporate needs to be commend for their dedication, commitment and heartfelt desire to see us reach our goal. Simply put, I don’t see how we would have done the deal without them.