Charity marketing company undergoes management buy-out

A Wiltshire database management and marketing company has undergone a management buy-out that has also seen a £6.5 million investment made by a private equity firm in return for a significant minority stake.

Melksham-based Valldata was bought out by chief executive, Hamish Horton, and chief operating officer, Martin Kirk, who were both already shareholders in the company, but now own around 60 per cent of the company.

Mr Horton said that the buy-out meant that they would now be able to make clear headway on their aim to develop the company through growth and acquisitions, and turn it into an integrated third-sector fundraising services-led business.

“The need for the sector to continually focus on reducing administration costs combined with the market dynamics of a fragmented supply chain will enable Valldata to build a first-class group, underpinned by technology led product development and solutions,” he explained.

The firm currently works with charities and non-profit organisations on creating effective fundraising campaigns, working on outsourced projects for more than 50 UK charities. It handles more than one million interactions with donors each year, with a value of more than £100 million.

The investment by London-based private equity firm, ISIS, will provide Valldata with the funding to back the owners' plans for further acquisitions. The buyers were advised in the deal by Catalyst Corporate Finance and had legal representation from Osborne Clark.

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