Innovative Merseyside firms can roll-out tech quicker following acquisition

North West law firm Weightmans advised two innovative Merseyside businesses on their acquisition by a Singapore-based waste management company.

Blue Planet Environmental Solutions has acquired a controlling stake in Smart Creative Technologies and Virtus Concrete Solutions, both founded by Liverpool-based entrepreneur Jonathan Quinn.

Smart Creative specialises in the environmentally-friendly recovery of precious metals from electronic waste, while Virtus produces construction materials with an innovative interlocking design for a wide range of uses, including flood defence.

A multi-disciplinary team made up of corporate, employment and intellectual property specialists from Weightmans’ owner-manged business department advised the shareholders of Smart Creative and Virtus.

The value of each transaction is undisclosed, and the shareholders have retained a minority stake.

Roland Hutchins, the Weightmans partner who led the deal team, said: “These transactions reflect the fact that, despite the current economic uncertainty, there remains strong potential for foreign investment into innovative North West businesses.

“The deals are a good outcome for our clients and will enable Blue Planet to expand the reach of each business’s technology to a wider international client base.”

Jonathan Quinn said: “The Weightmans team offered invaluable advice to ensure the businesses were investment-ready.

“With Blue Planet’s backing and international networks, we can roll out our technology faster — especially to countries in Asia who urgently need it.”