THE DEAL:
The sale by Oxford Metrics plc of Yotta Surveying, to Ginger Group of France. Oxford Metrics, the international software company servicing government, life sciences, entertainment and engineering markets, announced its intention to divest its surveying business last year. Yotta Surveying, based in Leamington Spa, provides highways surveying services to government agencies, local government and major infrastructure contractors. The business will immediately trade as Ginger Lehmann in the UK. Ginger Group, based near Paris, France, is a major player in the construction and civil engineering market while Ginger Lehmann is the pan-European leader in road condition surveys, operating in Germany, Poland, France and now the UK with 200 employees and a large fleet of measurement vehicles providing state of the art measurement technologies and data analysis. Following the disposal, Oxford Metrics will through Yotta Limited, its asset management software business, work in close partnership with Ginger Lehmann to ensure a smooth transition and continued access to its software, consultancy and analysis services.
OUR ROLE:
We were appointed by Oxford Metrics to assist it in achieving a successful divestment of its surveying business to allow the group to focus on its core expertise in software and related services. We worked with our client while strategic decisions were taken and implemented regarding the future direction of Yotta Surveying and then in separating the business, developing pro-forma financial information and identifying the support that it would require in transitioning to a stand-alone business. We then identified and approached potential buyers on a global basis which culminated in selecting Ginger Group, who were keen to extend their surveying activities into the UK, as the preferred purchaser. This being Ginger Group’s first UK acquisition and there being a requirement for a continued relationship between Ginger Lehmann and Yotta’s retained asset management software business, it was important to establish a smooth transition and continued access to Yotta’s software, consultancy and analysis services.
WHAT OUR CLIENT SAID:
“The Cattaneo team did an excellent job for us. Their attention to detail throughout the process was impressive as was their approach to problem solving and their ability to grasp the issues and see a route through them. Importantly, they worked seamlessly with our teams, at head office, in Yotta and in the divested business engendering a trusting relationship where we knew they had our interests covered.”
David Deacon, Chief Financial Officer, Oxford Metrics plc
