“Frazer Hall’s ability to guide and advise Artis through the often difficult negotiating process with the difference in native languages was definitely a skill that without its presence the probability of a successful outcome would have been far less.”
John Artis, John Artis Ltd
John Artis Ltd
John Artis Limited is a distributor of tableware, focusing on the hospitality sector. Based in Chessington, Surrey, the Company prides itself on an exceptional reputation, developed over forty years, coupled with an ethos of integrity extended to staff, customers and suppliers. The owners, approaching retirement age, were keen to find a buyer that could continue this culture. Frazer Hall was mandated, subsequently identified, then approached BHS tabletop AG, a German manufacturer of tableware that is listed on the German stock exchange. The sale completed in October 2014. The transaction had a number of challenges – a buyer that sought to retain management commitment and that was new to the distribution of product across the UK and therefore, prudent in its approach. The solution was a sale of 70% of the Company – a solution with which both parties agreed and they are now working to capitalize on the strengths of the respective parties.
John Artis said:
“Frazer Hall were mandated by the private owners of Artis with a specific brief to identify potential buyers who would wish to acquire the company for its overall attributes including those of its staff and not those whose acquisitive interests lay in only a singular area of the company’s strength.The introduction of BHS tabletop AG as a potential buyer bought with it interesting and unfamiliar territory in the differences of financial requirements of a German public company and a UK private Ltd company. Frazer Hall’s ability to guide and advise Artis through the often difficult negotiating process with the difference in native languages was definitely a skill that without its presence the probability of a successful outcome would have been far less. Frazer Hall proved to be stalwart supporters of the Artis owners whilst using a balanced approach that did not lead to a loss of sight of the benefits to both the Vendor and purchaser. I am of the strong opinion that it was the Skills that FH bought to the process that led to the satisfactory outcome that sees both parties working as one team for the future growth of the Artis company under BHS tabletop AG’s ownership. I recommend Frazer Hall very highly.”
Success Stories
Frazer Hall has successfully negotiated the acquisition of higher education consultancy The Knowledge Partnership (TKP) by THE (Times Higher Education), the world’s leading provider of higher education data and insights.
THE acquires The Knowledge Partnership
The Knowledge Partnership is known globally for its strategy, marketing and communications consultancy, and as the founder of the World 100 Reputation Network, the only professional global network for leaders managing the reputations of the world’s best universities.
It joins THE’s portfolio of companies at an exciting time. THE, formerly part of TES Global, was acquired by Inflexion Private Equity in February 2019 following a period of rapid global growth, with offices in the UK, US, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore collecting data from more than 3,500 universities and working with 800 clients globally across its data, consultancy and hiring services.
While The Knowledge Partnership will continue to operate independently under the TKP branding, the two businesses will leverage their insights and relationships to strengthen THE’s global reach in the consultancy space and provide even stronger market intelligence and strategic consulting services to the world’s best universities.
Louise Simpson, who founded TKP with David Roberts, said:
“THE and TKP already have a long history of collaboration through research, events and sharing platforms. By bringing our two companies together under the THE brand, we’re able to share our rich depositories of data and experience of the higher education sector to take that relationship to the next level. With our combined expertise, we will provide even deeper insights for universities across the globe. It promises to be a very exciting time.”