OMM agency completes management buyout

Thames Valley-based creative digital agency O’Neill Modern Media (OMM) has successfully completed a management buyout.

The sale was driven forward by the agency's senior management team, led by group managing director Howard Campion and CFO Yousaf Ali, who bought the business from its original founders with funding provided by Thincats.

HMT acted as lead advisors to the Slough-based firm and helped the company identify a funding partner and determine its future structure.

The HMT team was led by partner Andrew Thomson, director Ricky Lane and executive Joe Cassidy.

HMT's Ricky Lane said: “We are delighted to have advised Howard, Yousaf and the management team on this transaction. OMM operate in an exciting niche of a growing market and, having successfully grown the business over the past 20 years, the funding structure provided by Thincats will allow Howard and the team to further capitalise on OMM’s industry leading position. We wish the team every success and look forward to working with them again on future transactions.”

Founded in 1983, OMM are an independent creative, technology and large format digital print agency who devise digital, technology and creative strategies to its customer base in the sport and retail sectors.

Howard Campion, group managing Director at OMM, commented: “HMT were mandated to find the right funding partner to support the management buyout of the company but also one that will allow OMM to accelerate its growth plans over the coming years.

"Andrew and Ricky spent time with us to understand OMM’s value proposition, our market position and the cash flow requirements of the business and ran a competitive process to optimise the funding terms. During the process they provided invaluable support and valuable commercial advice, both in terms of the fundraising and the negotiations with the exiting shareholders."