Hutton Collins Announces Minority Investment in Billington Cartmell Ltd

Hutton Collins is pleased to announce that it has acquired a significant minority equity stake in Billington Cartmell from the founders, Ian Billington and Paul Cartmell.  Following the transaction, the founders and the management team will continue as majority investors in the company.

Founded in 1990, Billington Cartmell is now one of the leading integrated independent marketing agencies in the UK. The agency is focused on delivering innovative campaigns for leading brands and major UK and international clients.  It focuses on direct, digital broadcast, promotional, experiential, and advertising solutions. 

The founders and the existing management team have built Billington Cartmell into a multi award winning and highly regarded agency of choice, with a reputation for creativity and client service, built through long term client relationships.  The company has a fantastic track record of growth and industry leading margins which reflect the quality of the organisation. 

Through this transaction Hutton Collins and HSBC, the provider of the debt facilities, are providing long term capital to support the founders and the existing management team, who themselves are acquiring a material minority stake in the business, to continue their existing growth strategy.

Ian Billington commented:

"We believe our group of diverse specialists and operating companies are extremely well placed to capture the key opportunities in the fast evolving communications world, and our growth record over the last 17 years directly supports that.  In Hutton Collins, we have found a set of like-minded partners who can greatly assist us in achieving our business goals.  We are looking forward to their input and support helping us to provide smarter solutions across more channels, to meet multi dimensional customer needs."
 
Hugo Varney, of Hutton Collins, commented:

"We are excited to be entering into partnership with Ian, Paul and their team.  Billington Cartmell is a proven, high quality, market leading agency, renowned for superior client service and creativity.  Billington Cartmell has a clear vision to expand its footprint and we look forward to supporting the company through this next stage of growth."

Hutton Collins was advised by Ernst & Young, Dickson Minto and AMR Consulting.  Ian Billington and Paul Cartmell were advised by Jefferies (formerly Longacre Partners) and Osborne Clarke.