Waldie: Huge potential for further growth
Gateley has made the 15th acquisition since it listed just over a decade ago by buying intellectual property (IP) law firm Groom Wilkes & Wright (GWW) for up to £9m.
GWW, which is regulated by the Intellectual Property Regulation Board, has six partners and two paralegals based in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, and an office in Amsterdam too.
For the year to 5 April 2025, GWW recorded revenue of £4.7m, with corporatised profit before tax of £1.4m. It was founded in 2004.
Led by senior partners Trevor Wright and Katy Adams, GWW will continue to trade under its own name and joins two other IP firms bought by Gateley in 2022 – trade mark and patent attorneys Adamson Jones, bought for £2.5m, and patent attorney Symbiosis IP, which cost a similar amount.
Gateley is paying £5.725m up front, 75% in cash and 25% in shares, with the rest payable under a two year earn-out, with additional consideration equal to the EBITDA of the acquired business in each of the years, up to £9m in total.
The initial cash consideration is being funded from the £80m revolving credit facility Gateley announced in April to fund acquisitions alongside organic growth.
Gateley told investors that “the combined strength and depth of expertise offered by GWW and Adamson Jones positions them as one of the leading trade mark specialists in the UK, making them well placed to extend and win more work in the sector”.
Gately chief executive Rod Waldie added: “The acquisition forms part of our acquisitive and organic growth plan to develop a distinct and innovative intangible assets offering that further builds on the extensive expertise we have in the market and where we are already seeing huge potential for further growth.”
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