Doncaster based John Hill Associates (JHA), an established practice providing a comprehensive range of architectural, building surveying and project management services for the construction industry, has been acquired by Diskin Capital Partners (DCP) Group.
Yorkshire based dealmakers Castle Square Corporate Finance provided corporate finance advice to the buy-side team on the Company acquisition.
Philip Jordan of multi-disciplinary professional services firm, Progeny, provided legal services and advice to the buy-side team.
Over the years, JHA has developed a highly skilled team of architectural and surveying consultants with extensive experience in all sectors of the construction industry. The business employs 8 staff who work closely with its established client base across a range of sectors, including Large Corporates, Solicitors, Education and Healthcare operators, and Local Authorities.
Following the exit of shareholder and joint Managing Director Allan Hair, and with 18 years’ experience, fellow joint Managing Director John O’Neill will continue in the role and will work alongside Matt Diskin and Joe Dickinson to implement a focused growth strategy which will build on the existing strong JHA brand and established client relationships that have been nurtured over a number of years.
The acquisition of JHA, and its close connections to the social housing market, represents the next stage of a focused buy and build strategy for the DCP group, with further acquisition opportunities being explored to further develop a full turnkey service offering to a range of key sectors and clients.
Castle Square is an independent, specialist mid-market corporate finance boutique operating from offices in Sheffield and Leeds. Castle Square has a proven track record of successfully delivering corporate finances services on a wide range of clients, based nationally and internationally. The third transaction for the recently opened Leeds office, in a particularly challenging economic climate, is further evidence of Castle Square’s ability to support the right businesses of all sizes and nature and demonstrates the Firm’s continued commitment to advising and supporting local businesses to achieve their future strategies.
Director Mark Phillips from the Castle Square Team in Leeds advised the buy-side team of DCP on the transaction.
Mark Phillips said, “Matt and Joe have a clear strategic plan for the Group, focusing on building a full turnkey offering to a variety of sectors in which it currently operates. From our initial discussions, it was clear that JHA fit well into the Group’s strategic growth plan alongside its other recent acquisitions and provides a further platform to maximise service offerings to the key sectors in which it operates.
The continuity of a successful management team, led by John O’Neill, will allow for a smooth transition of ownership and, through its acquisition, will undoubtedly generate further opportunities across the Group with many new and existing clients to capitalise on the provision of construction services all under one roof.
In times of uncertainty, with the ongoing challenges of Covid-19, it is refreshing to see that many businesses continue to thrive in what is a challenging financial market under the current global circumstances.”.
Progeny, with seven offices across the UK, including London, Leeds and Edinburgh, is the first and only professional services firm to provide a unique framework of advice which brings independent financial planning, asset management, tax, HR and private and corporate legal services together in one place. This suite of services allows Progeny to be ideally positioned to support its clients and to help them and their businesses to survive and thrive through these unprecedented times.
Led by Corporate Partner Philip Jordan and supported by Senior Solicitor Tobias Adkins and Trainee Solicitor Nadia Abedin, the Progeny corporate team provided legal advice and support to the buy-side team of DCP on the transaction.
Philip Jordan said, “It was a pleasure to get another acquisition over the line for DCP as it continues with its focused growth strategy. It’s particularly satisfying as their approach in bringing together a number of complementary services in a range of sectors mirrors that of our own at Progeny. The trading circumstances we find ourselves in have thrown up unprecedented challenges, but these should be no excuse or obstacle to businesses seeking to press on with commercial progress.”.
Corporate Financiers Jim Whittaker and John Whitney of Grant Thornton, Corporate Associate Russell Bainbridge of Keebles’ Sheffield office and Alex Prior of WH Prior Accountants provided corporate finance, legal, accounting and tax advice to the Vendors.
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NOTES TO THE EDITOR
Sheffield and Leeds based Castle Square Corporate Finance offer pro-active corporate finance advice to clients throughout the UK, tailoring our service to our clients and their markets, giving us an enviable record of successfully completing deals, including acquisitions and mergers, Management Buy-Outs and Buy-Ins, finance raising and disposals.
Contact Details:
Kerry Raistrick
Castle Square Corporate Finance Ltd
Tel: 0114 213 83 53
Mob: 07709 715 765
[email protected]
twitter: @castlesquarecf
website: www.castlesquarecf.co.uk
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/castle-square-corporate-finance
