Red Snapper Group Merger

Martin Jerrold, Managing Director, and Helen Midwinter, Finance Director, of Red Snapper Recruitment will be joined on the board by Acumin’s founders, Simon Hember and Chris Batten as Directors of Sales and Operations, respectively. The newly formed board possess a unique mix of experience spanning the policing and commercial cybersecurity markets, unmatched in any other staffing services business in the UK. The newly merged business will have a staffing services turnover of approximately £23m.

Martin Jerrold, Red Snapper’s Managing Director engaged Meta Corporate Finance to assist Red Snapper with its search for suitable targets on the basis of the relationship they developed during Red Snapper Media’s acquisition of digital media business, NSI (Online), whilst Meta were acting for the shareholders of NSI. Meta devised the structure of the merger and negotiated the transaction, working closely with the shareholders of both businesses, and Acumin’s adviser.

Commenting on the transaction, Martin Jerrold, said: “Red Snapper Recruitment and Acumin Consulting’s merger represents a significant, and positive game change for both businesses – we are truly unique in our proposition to the law-enforcement and commercial markets. We are extremely excited about working with Chris and Simon to take the business forward.”

Meta added “It’s been a pleasure to work opposite, and subsequently advise Martin and Helen. Mergers are perhaps the most complex of transactions to deliver, given all parties need to share a combined strategic vision for the future, in conjunction with an ability to align operations culturally. The strategic rationale and potential cultural fit here was obvious from the outset. Moreover, the new board possess a complementary mix of skills and form a formidable team – We are confident they will continue to deliver anticipated growth and are excited about working with them again in the future.”

Helen Midwinter commented, “The merger is an opportunity to gain some significant operational synergies and represents an exciting phase for Red Snapper to complement our strong organic growth of recent years. We are very grateful to Meta for their role in helping us bring this transaction to fruition – their command of the detail and constructive and creative approach were invaluable.”