Cambridge based accountancy and corporate finance advisory firm BKL have completed the sale of cr360, to American premier global independent safety company, UL. This is the third significant sale completed by BKL (formerly Ashcroft Anthony) in recent months, following the sale of both Providor Ltd and IT recruiter Ifftner Solutions.
Founded by two Cambridge University graduates Richard Kirby and Anthony Jenking in 2004, cr360 provides companies with a 360-degree view of EHS, Compliance, Energy and Carbon, Corporate Social Responsibility and Supply Chain information. They have 200 clients in 168 countries including: McDonalds, Heineken, Marks & Spencer and Nestle.
UL acquired cr360 to provide customers with a comprehensive platform and unifying framework for consistently tracking, measuring and managing environment, health and safety, supply chain and corporate social responsibility metrics on a global basis.
UL and cr360’s combined portfolio will help strengthen global relationships with key customers. In addition, cr360 will leverage UL’s global scale and resources to expand into new markets.
“This is a highly significant transaction for BKL in Cambridge” commented Tom Gallop, corporate finance partner; “it demonstrates our commitment to the local corporate finance market and our ability to execute high value and complex transactions with overseas buyers.”
Anthony Jenking, co-founder of cr360 was also delighted to have completed the transaction, “We have worked closely with Tom over the last year whilst the business has been growing rapidly and has been faced with a number of challenges. Tom has assisted us in numerous areas, including helping to develop our growth strategy, strengthening the finance team and exploring and demystifying funding options”.
“Over the last three months he has worked closely with us in negotiating the deal with UL and guiding us through a rigorous due diligence process. At all times he has proved an invaluable sounding board and a respected and trusted adviser, and we are very grateful for all his efforts in seeing the transaction with UL through to a successful completion”.