26 November 2002

Merger Creates New Force in Science-Based Communications

STMP Marketing Solutions and Charles Consultants merge to form Northbank Communications

Pembridge Partners LLP invests and takes board seat

STMP Marketing Solutions Ltd and Charles Consultants today announce their merger to form Northbank Communications ("Northbank"), a fully integrated communications consultancy focusing specifically on science-based sectors such as the biotech industry. As part of the merger, Northbank has attracted investment and ongoing support from Pembridge Partners LLP, the creative services venture firm, who invest alongside Northbank's founders, Peter Colley, Susan Charles and Katja Stout.

Northbank is focused on creating a global communications group to serve the specialist needs of science-based industries. Its services include consulting, corporate and financial PR and marketing communications, backed up by an in-house design studio.

Commenting on the merger, Northbank's CEO, Sue Charles said: "In the life sciences sector clients need to access a wide range of specialist skills including science communications, corporate communications, financial PR/IR and issue management. In addition, whether clients are raising finance or have products and services to commercialise, they all need specialist marketing and design support. The merger creates a strong team with skills across all of these disciplines".

Northbank has a combined client list of over 50 organisations, mostly in the UK and Europe. These include Oxford BioMedica plc, RiboTargets Ltd, Morphochem AG, Solexa Ltd, The Automation Partnership Ltd, Cambridge Antibody Technology plc and various members of the Thermo Group of companies. To serve these clients Northbank operates from UK offices in London and Congleton (just south of Manchester), as well as a subsidiary office in Munich.

Charles, previously founder and CEO of HCC De Facto and famous for her PR launch of Dolly the Sheep, will be joined on the board of Northbank by Peter Colley, founder of STMP and Mark Adams, as Pembridge representative, previously director and co-founder of Text 100 and now partner and cofounder of Pembridge.

Commenting on their investment, Otto Stevens, the Partner at Pembridge that led the transaction said: "We were impressed by the founding team at Northbank and their focus on building a global force in science-based communications. Pembridge is building a network of strong, independent creative service firms and Northbank fit the criteria we seek in our portfolio companies".

The company's growth strategy is aggressive and will combine organic growth with international acquisitions. "We are delighted to have the added skills, contacts and resources that Pembridge brings" comments Charles, adding "With regards to future growth, we will particularly target countries that have strong science-based industries such as UK, Germany, Sweden, France and US".

back to news

© 2007 College Hill Associates | Registered in England No 1036926 / VAT No 245666930 | Legal