Catalyst advises on ISIS-funded MBO of YSC
BIRMINGHAM’S Catalyst Corporate Finance has advised on the £38m management buy-out of business psychology firm YSC funded by ISIS Equity Partners.
YSC is a global firm of business psychologists, with 120 consultants working from 15 offices. It aims to help organisations achieve commercial success through releasing the power of their people.
Its services include senior and middle management assessment and benchmarking, executive coaching, team and leadership development, and organisational development.
YSC works closely with more than half of the FTSE 100 as well as many FTSE 250 and Fortune 500 clients.
Founded in London in 1990, the business opened its first overseas office in New York in 2000 and has since expanded across the globe with offices from Mumbai to Rio de Janeiro.
Post MBO, YSC will be led by a new leadership team of Paul Ballman, Andy Houghton and Robert Sharrock. Gurnek Bains and Ken Rowe, who have led YSC since 1991, will become chairman and deputy chairman respectively.
The deal continues a successful year for Catalyst having already completed 12 transactions in 2013.
Mark Humphries, the partner at Catalyst who led the deal, said: “The recently published Q2 2013 British Chamber of Commerce survey showed that the UK service sector export levels are at a historical high.
“It is companies such as YSC, a market leader with a first-class management team, that are at the forefront of this trend.
“ISIS will be able to bring their experience of managing leadership succession, growing people businesses internationally, and retaining and incentivising the best talent to enhance the growth prospects of the business.”
