Policy & Market Research Consultancy With Exceptional Client Base For Sale

Business description

A unique opportunity to acquire a well-established, highly-regarded consultancy researching policy and market issues for corporations and government departments in a major Far East nation.

Established in 1989 to facilitate trade and understanding between organisations based in a Far East country and those in Europe, this consultancy swiftly became a centre of excellence for clients who were seeking insight, understanding and on-the-ground support. Its initial focus, on behalf of its clients, was Europe but it later broadened this to include the Americas and Asia.

The Company’s activities cover 5 Business Streams, each having a strong core customer base and reputation:
1. Policy analysis
2. Market analysis
3. Advertising and branding analysis
4. Publications for client companies based in Europe
5. Additional services
Each year around 60 research projects are undertaken for a blue-chip client base ranging from Government, to major banking and industrial groups, the leading advertising companies and think-tanks.

The Company operates from serviced offices in London and has a small core team of highly qualified, multilingual staff members and a roster of freelancers based around the World. This means that resources can be applied flexibly and at short notice to the wide variety of projects. The present owners’, who wish to sell the business as part of their retirement planning, have limited day to day involvement in the business.

Over the past 2 financial years annual sales have been between £600k and £700k producing an adjusted EBITDA of just over £100k. The balance sheet assets as at March 2011 were about £220k in the accounts and £190k on a pro-forma basis including cash. The financial performance in the current year is expected to be similar.

The Guide Price is £450,000 for 100% of the Shares on a cash-free, debt-free basis reflecting the unusual and exceptional nature of this business and the unique opportunity represented by the Company’s corporate and Government relationships. There is substantial scope to expand the business and/or to leverage the relationships to supply other relevant services.