Adrian J Cotterill, Editor-in-Chief
It’s always interesting to see how a company tries to sell itself to investors, how it describes its business etc.
We’ve seen Merger Deals be used a couple of times now by folks in our industry looking for investment or an exit. The latest one to cross our path is (looking in detail at the description) very likely UK, Northampton based Willow SV.
It describes itself as a ‘A supplier of advanced Digital Signage systems and solutions?’ and bigs up links to the betting and gaming industry.
No doubt any due diligence would dig up that yes, their customers include Gala Bingo, Mecca Bingo, etc. but Bingo is pretty much their only link into the betting and gaming world.
One of their other larger customers is Game PLC., with a single screen in each store and that they have their own digital signage software platform – described by one person who has used it as a ‘mediocre PowerPoint equivalent’.
They have a total of 8-10 employees and as far as we are aware is still owned by Mr and Mrs Steve Barlow.
Our personal take is that they are likely suffering business wise and want out. We doubt that they have any IP worth very much, so you’d be investing or buying them for their contracts and customer base. Asking price is allegedly a few million quid.
WILLOW Audio visual systems & digital media solutions. NEW SITE UNDER CONSTRUCTION. mail@willowsv.com. 01604 877001.
August 3rd, 2013 at 12:15 @552
Hmm. Could this be Willow SV based in Northampton?
August 7th, 2013 at 14:20 @639
Lazy and inaccurate reporting. A half decent journalist would call Adrian Palmer at MergerDeals to check their facts before printing bullshit.
August 7th, 2013 at 14:41 @653
Ah Mr. Anonymous2 from Spain (or could that be owner Mr. Stephen Willow currently on vacation in Madrid or is that perhaps just a coincidence).
Either way, thank you for your comment. We have given you (err, no, sorry we mean Mr Stephen Willow) the opportunity to go on the record publicly and deny that this Merger Deal entry is NOT Willow. That has been declined.
That probably says more about our reporting than anything else we could possibly write or indeed research on the subject!
August 7th, 2013 at 16:26 @726
Sorry Adrian but you are incorrect on this point and others in your article. Willow Communications Limited is not for sale. Incidentally, the DOOH work you specifically mention represented 0.0068% of turnover 2012-2013.
August 7th, 2013 at 17:00 @750
Whilst the main company may well be ‘Willow Communications Limited’ #02445797 what about WSV Holdings Ltd. ?
August 7th, 2013 at 17:26 @768
I am flattered that our little company can generate so much interest. However WSV Holdings Limited is not for sale.