Fusion Corporate Partners

Utilitywise PLC, an independent utility cost management consultancy, has acquired t-mac Technologies Ltd for an initial consideration of £10 million.

Through its own proprietary technology and software, t-mac provides business energy management systems (BeMS) which enable clients to monitor and reduce their utility consumption, make savings and helping them comply with Government legislation. Founded in 2004 and based in Chesterfield with 28 employees, t-mac services both SME and I&C (industrial and commercial) customers in the retail, education, manufacturing, transport, and leisure sectors. t-mac has significant market experience and a strong reputation across market segments where Utilitywise is already successful, and where demand for energy management solutions is buoyant.

The initial consideration payable is GBP £10m, £6.25m in cash and  1,782,319 new ordinary shares in Utilitywise at an issue price of 210.4p per new ordinary share, being the average closing mid-market price of a Utilitywise share in the 30 trading days to 17 April 2015. The Initial Consideration Shares are subject to a 24 month lock up, save that after 12 months up to 50% of the Initial Consideration Shares can be sold.

Up to a further GBP £12 million will become payable once earn out accounts have been finalised, in cash (70%) and new Utilitywise shares based upon six times EBITDA above a hurdle for the 12 month periods ending on the first and second anniversary of completion.  For the year to 31 March 2015 t-mac reported revenue of GBP £3.6m and EBITDA of GBP £0.3m.

The initial cash consideration is being funded by a new £25 million revolving credit facility with Royal Bank of Scotland plc of which £13 million will be immediately drawn to fund the Initial Cash Consideration and to refinance the Group’s existing facilities of £6 million.

t-mac is run by Lisa Gingell and Jonathan Wilkinson, who are taking a material proportion of their consideration in Utilitywise equity.

Utilitywise CEO, Geoff Thompson commented: “The market for BeMS is growing and modern cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms, such as t-mac, provide significant cost advantages over traditional solutions which require intensive capital investment and offer long term ROIs.

“We know that our customers are increasingly looking for rapid impact, cost-effective services that provide them with more control over their electricity, gas and water usage, to help drive their business efficiency agenda as well as mitigate against future price volatility. This acquisition continues to expand our broad range of services that address the breadth of our customers’ energy needs.

“The acquisition of t-mac Technologies will play a major role in helping us to deliver significant added-value services and develop closer, more profitable relationships with existing customers, as well as supporting our new customer acquisition strategy”.

UK, North Tyneside & Chesterfield, Derbyshire

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