June 11, 2019

Bath Digital Media Agency’s Search for a Star Buyer is over

Posted in Commercial, Corporate

Image: James Worrall (RWK Goodman), Dan Fallon (SearchStar) and Janetta Barrett (RWK Goodman).

Corporate lawyers at RWK Goodman’s Bath office worked closely with entrepreneur Dan Fallon and Search Star’s senior leadership team on the sale of the agency Dan founded in 2005 to the UK subsidiary of Welocalize Inc. – a US company specialising in global marketing and tech innovation. The value of the deal has not been disclosed.

James Worrall, a partner in the South West Corporate team at RWK Goodman, commented: “SearchStar has supported RWK Goodman with our digital advertising campaigns for a number of years so we’ve had the benefit of being able to work closely with Dan and his team, as a client as well as a trusted adviser.  Dan has always aimed high and had great ambitions for the business so it has been a pleasure to be part of that journey and to have had the opportunity to advise and support the SearchStar shareholder on this transaction.

“SearchStar is a fantastic example of a successful entrepreneurial business that has been built up around a top quality leadership team and is indicative of the talent we have here in the South West. Despite the uncertainty around Brexit, the appetite for robust, profitable UK companies in the technology and digital spaces remains strong, particularly among US buyers. Bath and Bristol have strong reputations in the tech and innovation space and are now firmly on the ‘watch list’ of many acquisitive international firms.”

Dan Fallon, who will continue in his role as Managing Director of SearchStar, said: “James and the team at RWK Goodman did a great job. They ran a legal audit preparing us for sale and then when we'd found our preferred buyer efficiently managed the deal over the line. We are delighted to have secured new owners with the expertise and passion to take SearchStar on the next leg of its journey and extend its reach internationally, while still delivering the same high levels of service and support to our customers, locally and across the UK.”

SearchStar is a leading digital media buying agency with deep analytics and conversion expertise and employs around 60 people at offices in Railway Place, Bath.

SearchStar received tax advice from Bishop Fleming. Legal support to Welocalize Inc. was provided by Hogan Lovells. BDO assisted with financial and tax due diligence.

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