Double deal success for Ashtons’ corporate team in Suffolk

Ashtons’ Corporate team have recently advised two Suffolk businesses in the successful sales of their companies.

In Ipswich, data and technology specialist HTK has been sold to Amercian-headquartered ITA Group. ITA Group delivers custom-crafted global engagement solutions that motivate and inspire employees, channel partners and customers. With operations globally and throughout the U.S., ITA Group infuses strategies proven to fuel advocacy and drive business results for some of the world’s biggest brands.

HTK was founded in 1996 by CEO Marlon Bowser. Along with COO and brother Justin and the team in Ipswich, they work with a number of big brands on refining their customer communications strategies. HTK are a market leader, assisting a range of organisations and sectors to unlock growth opportunities through customer insights and personalised loyalty schemes. Marlon, Justin and the team will continue to work under the HTK brand in Ipswich.

ITA Group started life as a travel company in the 1960s. Fast forward, and they are now 100% employee-owned and have a number of companies based in America and London. Their acquisition of HTK will further enhance their client offering, and Senior Vice President of Customer Solutions Chris Jones said: “The HTK acquisition represents an important step forward in enhancing our capability to create unique, data-driven loyalty and engagement solutions. Our customer solutions forge a strong emotional connection between brands and their customers through data and technology, strengthening our ability to deliver even more synergy between strategy and execution”.

According to HTK CEO and Founder Marlon Bowser: “The agility that a cloud platform like Horizon brings in terms of speed to market, ability to innovate and value for money is compelling.”

Another deal the Ashtons team have worked on recently is the sale of The Ryes Education and Children’s Homes (whom have establishments across both Suffolk and Norfolk) to Keys Group.

The Ryes provides education and care to young people who have a range of complex needs. Keys Group are fellow specialists in the provision of care and education services to children and young people with educational, emotional and behavioural needs.

Senior Associate at Ashtons Legal, Craig Fiddaman, assisted owners of The Ryes and comments: “I am pleased to have assisted the directors of The Ryes in handing over to Keys Group who, like them, is a strong provider of education to children who have complex needs. They will look to continue to focus on the building of mutually trusting relationships, which enables young people to find new ways to express themselves and be heard”.

Quoting on behalf of the directors, James Fischer of The Ryes Education said: “It was a pleasure to work with Ashtons. They provided an excellent service throughout the process of the sale. The professionals we worked with were diligent, efficient and had our best interests at heart”.

In announcing the acquisition themselves, David Manson, CEO of Keys Group, said: “Our two organisations share similar values, and we’re delighted to welcome The Ryes College team to Keys Group. Both of our organisations are focused on helping young people achieve their potential, and we look forward to working together to achieve that goal.”

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