Forward support Horizon on the launch of STRAT7

Forward Corporate Finance is pleased to have supported Horizon Capital on its investment in specialist software and data analytics businesses ResearchBods and Bonamy Finch to form STRAT7. The combined business will be led by incoming CEO Barrie Brien and creates a leading customer insights group with proprietary software and a strong data analytics capability.

The group consists of three specialist capabilities; ResearchBods which utilises proprietary software to harness customer data and intelligence, LiFE which provides data enrichment services incorporating AI and machine learning, and Bonamy Finch which creates actionable insights through primary research and advanced data analytics.

Horizon Capital’s investment in STRAT7 will take advantage of a rapidly-growing and fragmented market, both organically and through further acquisitions, to expand its offering and exploit international growth opportunities. This is the first new platform deal out of Horizon Capital’s 2018 Fund.

Forward provided financial support to Horizon on the transaction. As part of their work Forward worked closely with Barrie and the management teams to prepare and present detailed historical financial information and identify KPIs and business drivers. In addition they developed a fully integrated financial forecast model including synergies and covenants, to support the investment and banking cases for STRAT7.

Commenting on the transaction Tom Maizels, Director said: “This was a complex, off-market transaction which involved combining two businesses with a new strategic vision. We needed a solid financial platform to build our investment case. With their knowledge of private equity transactions, Forward did an excellent job of working with Barrie and the companies to efficiently pull together the financial information we needed.”

Barrie Brien, Strat7 CEO added, “Forward provided great support to both me and the management teams in preparing and presenting our financial information. They were excellent to work with, and their challenge and guidance helped us to deliver the quality information that Horizon and the banks required to complete the transaction.”

Forward Corporate Finance Director, Sarah Moores, commented, “It has been a pleasure to work with Horizon, Barrie, and the management teams of Bonamy Finch and ResearchBods on the launch of STRAT7. We wish them every success as they develop the new business.”

Our services

Business Sale

Putting your business up for sale is often the pinnacle of a lifetime of hard work and effort. It is something you can only do once, so it pays to prepare and execute properly. We are experts at preparing and selling businesses, ensuring our clients achieve the maximum value possible.

Management Buy Outs / Ins

Management buy outs are another way of buying or selling a business – it is a sale of the business to a management team. However, in most cases, you as a group of managers will not have the funds to buy the business and will require assistance from banks, private equity and the vendor.