Freeths advise on the sale of Anisa Consolidated Holdings Limited to Sanderson Group Plc

Anisa Consolidated Holdings Limited (“Anisa”) specialises in the delivery of world class integrated supply chain and enterprise resource planning. Anisa has around 250 customers and operates from offices in London, Runcorn, Liverpool and Solihull within the UK. Anisa also supports operations in Singapore and Australia.

Sanderson Group Plc (“Sanderson” or “the Group”), the AIM listed software and IT services business specialising in digital retail technology and enterprise software for businesses operating in the manufacturing, wholesale distribution and logistics sectors.

Freeths took a lead role on the sale of Anisa to Sanderson with completion taking place on 23 November 2017.

Corporate partner Lee Clifford led the Freeths team. The Freeths team also included Ateeq Ahmed and Amy Harron from the corporate team and Bob Neal from the tax team.

The acquisition purchase price was £12m.

Lee Clifford, Partner, Freeths LLP, said:

“Anisa has established itself as a strong player in the market and the tie up with Sanderson will undoubtedly provide the combined group with great opportunities for further growth. It is a great result all round.”

Christopher Winn, Chairman, Sanderson, said:

“Anisa and Sanderson have known each other for many years and though this transaction is a Sanderson acquisition, it feels more like a merger. Whilst Anisa and Sanderson have rarely competed in their respective target markets, they are very complementary in terms of their ethos and business model – providing cost-effective solutions, supported by providing quality service to customers thereby building and developing long-term relationships. The strategy of the combined business is to continue to develop the existing range of products and services delivered to existing customers; to further invest and develop the Anisa relationships with strategic partners and to provide additional investment in order to accelerate growth opportunities by attracting even more new customers.

Our enlarged Group provides a great opportunity to further build shareholder returns and shareholder value and we value and appreciate the confident shown by the Anisa team, in agreeing to hold their new Sanderson shares for at least a period of three years. We believe that our enlarged Group provides a great opportunity to further increase returns and value for Sanderson shareholders.”