Mazars assists with senior management MBO at Join the Dots

Manchester based Join the Dots delivers global consumer insight through a combination of primary research and the latest thinking in psychology, behavioural economics and consumer trends. The company boasts a multi-national portfolio of clients including GlaxoSmithKline, The Co-op, Diageo, British Airways, Unilever and Nationwide.

Join the Dots was founded by previous majority shareholders Pete and Trish Comley in 1998. The terms of the deal see the Comleys reducing their shareholding with Trish stepping down as Chairman. Pete will remain on the board as a non-executive director along with Senior Management Team leaders, Quentin Ashby, Managing Director and Graeme Lawrence, Sales & Marketing Director.

Join the Dots reported growth of 26% to reach £9.8m revenue in 2016. This was the company’s third consecutive year of growth, having recorded an increase of 27% in 2015 and 25% the previous year.

On behalf of the Senior Management Team, Quentin Ashby, Managing Director at Join the Dots  said “The thanks of myself, Graeme and the rest of the Senior Management Team goes to Pete and Trish for providing us with this opportunity. As the majority shareholders in the business, and with the support of Mazars and HSBC, we believe we are in a really strong position moving forward - we will be in a position to continue to invest in our great people and in the required technology to meet our future plans for the business.”

He added “Mazars Corporate Finance and Tax teams have provided invaluable input into the transaction and worked very closely with us from the beginning of the process to completion of the deal. We greatly appreciate their efforts, professionalism and what they have helped us achieve.”

David Hilton, Corporate Finance Director at Mazars said “Join the Dots was one of the front runners in the consumer insight market to embrace technology, and quickly established a global customer base. It has been a pleasure to work with the Manchester head quartered business, and we look forward to seeing its international expansion continue under the new ownership structure.”