The core business publishes and sells greeting cards into some of the best known national retail chains, garden centres and charities and c1,500 smaller independent retailers, handling over 50m+ cards per year.
The planning and logistics division also distributes the products of c30 other publishers.
GBCC had suffered the loss of its major customer and, in an ever shrinking market, the continued impact of seasonality and delays in expanding and diversifying GBCC’s offering led to financial difficulties.
BDO was introduced to run an accelerated M&A process during GBCC’s busy season, with a view to maximising the position for all stakeholders. The timeline for the transaction was driven by the company’s cash constraints, meaning a deal needed to be concluded in short order such that salaries for the 130 strong workforce could be met.
A transaction was concluded with Swan Mill (Holdings) Limited purchasing the business and assets of GBCC from Administrators, ensuring continuity of service for the company’s key customers, and with all company employees transferring to the buyer. BDO’s stakeholder management was a key driver for concluding the deal in the timeframe available.