Birmingham based corporate finance adviser, Cattaneo, has advised Arden Partners on a £10m recommended all share offer from AIM-traded company, The Ince Group, to be effected by way of a scheme of arrangement under the Takeover Code.
Arden Partners plc (AIM: ARDN), which has offices in London and Birmingham, is a dedicated corporate adviser and stockbroker to small and mid-cap companies in the UK and their investors. It was founded in 2002 and listed on AIM in 2006.
The Ince Group plc (AIM: INCE) is an international legal and professional services business with 21 offices in nine countries across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Since listing on AIM in 2017 Ince Group’s revenue has quadrupled to £100 million with its service offering having broadened, sector expertise deepened and legal and professional services teams grown.
Cattaneo Corporate Finance has advised Arden Partners on the recommended all share offer from The Ince Group plc which was announced on 26 October 2021. The offer, which is to be effected by means of a scheme of arrangement under the Companies Act, values Arden at £10 million and following completion of the acquisition the Arden shareholders will own approximately 21.6% of the enlarged Ince Group.
The enlarged group will benefit from a significantly expanded client list and will be able to offer a broader range of services while having the potential to increase the deal flow to Ince’s legal and consulting services businesses. In addition it will benefit from greater sector expertise and be able to provide a full service offering of corporate, legal, consulting and investment banking services to entrepreneurial clients.
The transaction has the backing of 44.5% of Arden shareholders who have given undertakings to vote in favour of the scheme. The scheme document is expected to be posted to Arden shareholders on or about 19 November 2021.
The Cattaneo team comprising Charles Cattaneo, Martyn Pilley and Matt Jones is acting as Rule 3 adviser under the Takeover Code to the Arden board.
Commenting on the Offer, Donald Brown, Chief Executive of Arden, said:
“This deal is an important strategic development as it secures Arden’s position as an attractive adviser and broker able to offer a wider range of services and access to a larger client base as a result of being part of a more diversified entity. At the same time, this deal provides an ideal home for our loyal and talented employee base, many of whom are familiar with Ince as a result of our long-standing business relationship.
Both businesses share a strong commercial culture and a focus on high growth companies. We believe that the combination will address the needs of ambitious, growing companies as they look to take advantage of London’s capital market and professional services excellence. The share structure of this transaction allows the shareholders of Arden Partners and its stakeholders generally to be part of a larger, more diversified organisation that has substantial growth and synergistic opportunity.”
