Advisory firm Moore Kingston Smith has advised the management team of advertising agency Haygarth on its majority buyout from parent company Omnicom.
The multidisciplinary advisory team provided full buy-side services, managing legal, corporate finance, and tax operations for the transaction. The corporate finance team also managed working capital negotiations and transitional service arrangements for the deal.
The buyout team was led by chief executive Marcus Sandwith, who acquired a majority stake in the London-based brand activation business. American marketing group Omnicom will retain a minority shareholding in the agency following the sale.
Haygarth was founded in 1984 and originally joined Omnicom 12 years ago. The agency delivers retail marketing and experiential campaigns for international corporate clients, including Adidas, Disney, and Vodafone.
Sandwith said: “This transaction marks a hugely important milestone for Haygarth. Becoming majority-owned by the management team gives us the independence and agility to build on our creative heritage while continuing to scale internationally.
“Moore Kingston Smith was exceptional throughout. Their seamless integration of legal, corporate finance and tax advisory services made what could have been a complex process run so smoothly, and this combined with a genuinely collaborative and commercial approach gave us real confidence at every stage of the process.”
Legal partner at Moore Kingston Smith Andrew Bloom added: “Haygarth is a truly distinctive agency, combining transformative creativity with a rare ability to deliver measurable commercial impact for some of the world’s most recognisable brands. Our multi-disciplinary team is delighted to have supported Marcus, Charlotte, Anthony and Charlotte on this landmark MBO, and we congratulate them on taking this exciting next step in Haygarth’s journey.”
Corporate finance director at Moore Kingston Smith Matt McRae said: “We are delighted to have supported Marcus and the Haygarth management team on this transaction. The buyout represents a compelling opportunity for the business to combine greater independence with continued access to Omnicom’s global platform. It is also a strong example of the increasing momentum we are seeing in carve-outs from marketing services groups, where management teams are stepping forward to drive the next phase of growth.”