Kingsclere: BCMS overseas sale of seed company

Kingsclere-based BCMS Corporate has sown the perfect deal for GB Seeds following its sale to agronomy specialist, Masstock Arable (UK).

GB Seeds, which is based in Ingham, near Bury St Edmunds, is one of the country’s best-known independent seed wholesalers. Founded in 2000, following a buyout from the long-established seed business of George Burlingham and Sons, the directors of the company, led by managing director Richard Mason, had been looking for a suitable buyer for the business ahead of their retirement.

Corporate finance boutique BCMS Corporate was brought in by GB Seeds during the second half of last year to oversee the sale of the £15m turnover business. The new owner of GB Seeds, Masstock Arable, is a leading R&D-led supplier of agronomy advice, input products and farm consultancy services, based in Cheltenham.

The sale of GB Seeds is one of many deals completed by BCMS Corporate since the turn of the year, and based on current activity, 2009 looks like being a bumper year for the corporate finance provider, which employs more than 140 people worldwide.

Sunita Meigh, deal leader at BCMS Corporate, commented: “We are thrilled to have successfully completed the sale on behalf of the directors of GB Seeds and are confident that everyone within the company will benefit hugely from being part of the Masstock Arable moving forward.”

David Cribbin, managing director of Masstock Arable, said: “The addition of the GB Seeds business strengthens Masstock’s existing seed offer which we view as strategically important for the future. GB Seeds bring complementary seed processing expertise and as such offers us the opportunity to diversify into new markets.”