International group swoops for child safeguarding specialist

The Signis Group, which is based in Coventry and provides a range of services to promote the welfare and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults, has been sold to Antser Group.

Signis’ brand Tri.x is a leading provider of online procedure manuals used by around 80% of English local authority social services departments as well as an increasing number of private sector care businesses.

Meanwhile, the company’s Reconstruct brand offers training, consultancy and direct children’s services for both public and private sector organisations.

Chief executive Stephanie Clay remains with the business following the acquisition.

Antser is a part of Key Assets, an international group with a large portfolio of social care services across Australasia, North America and Europe.

It said the acquisition provides it with a UK presence which complements its existing services, while providing additional resource to further develop the growth of Signis, particularly procedure manuals into the adult care sector.

Another Signis brand, Price Training, a leading provider of social care behaviour support, was not included in the sale to Antser and will trade independently led by John Brierley, the founder of Signis.

Brierley said: “Finding the right home for Signis and meeting the aspirations of shareholders, whilst ensuring the business remained focused on improving the lives of vulnerable children, families and adults, was key to our exit plans.”

Orbis Partners advised the shareholders of Signis with a team led by Shah Zaki and Peter Bull.

Zaki said: “We were pleased to have the opportunity to work with John Brierley again, having previously advised him on the sale of an earlier business venture. Signis is a high quality and well-managed business operating in a sector which remains in the public eye. It provides an invaluable service which will be enhanced through its new ownership.”

Legal advice to Signis was provided by Colin Rodriguez of Hawkins Hatton with tax advice provided by Richard Smethurst of Clay Knox.

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