Cobalt I.S.

BCMS Corporate Client Interview:         Cobalt I.S.

Activity:                                                         High Speed Labelling

Name:                                                           Tony Hunt, Managing Director

Why did you decide to sell your business?

On the back of a strong 12 months worth of trading we decided that in order to accelerate further growth of the business, particularly overseas, we needed to merge with a company that was better established internationally and also had the resources available to do it.

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

Once we had made the decision to find a like-minded company to acquire part or all of the Cobalt I.S. shares we researched the market to look for someone suitable to help with the process and went along to a BCMS Corporate seminar as well as meeting some of their clients. We also visited several competitors and after getting references from all of them we decided on BCMS Corporate. We liked the look and feel of the business and I am glad we did as they proved to be very good to Cobalt I.S.

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? 

After considering all of the partners, we decided on BCMS Corporate because they appeared far more creative in their approach to selling the business. Not only were they looking for a suitable acquirer globally, not just regionally, but they were the only ones who raised the prospect of selling part rather than all of the business, something which appealed to everyone concerned at Colbalt I.S.  

How did you feel the sale process was managed?

The sales process went smoothly. The team at BCMS Corporate were very professional and they made our life really quite easy in terms of the time that was required on our part. They did what we wanted them to do - taking a big enough responsibility to avoid disrupting the business. Furthermore, they took a lot of time and trouble to understand what we wanted to achieve and why and what cultural fit we were looking for.

How important was confidentiality and why was this?

It was critical. We didn’t want to raise any alarm bells with our staff that could in any way cause them to feel uncomfortable or threatened.  It was important that we found an acquirer who recognised the value of the team and importance of securing their future.  We couldn’t afford for them to misunderstand any negotiations that were taking place.

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

The process only affected us at the back end but this was largely due to the acquirer not BCMS Corporate. The main thing though was that this was resolved.  

Your staff are staying with the company was this an important factor in the sale process?

It was of paramount importance. We wouldn’t want have done it otherwise.

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

I am continuing to run Colbalt I.S. as MD. Not only that but the brand continues and with more access to funding and global distribution networks we can move forward more quickly.

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

Absolutely.  We would happily recommend them without a moment’s hesitation.

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

We were very satisfied with the deal as a whole.

What is your overall opinion of BCMS Corporate?

The guys at BCMS Corporate are thoroughly professional and we really enjoyed working with them on the sales process. They made the whole thing run so smoothly throughout and you couldn’t really ask for anymore than that.