How we have helped our clients: Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank

Part of Virgin Money UK Plc, Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank is a long-standing client of our banking & finance team.

Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank’s acquisition finance to Orbis Protect

In July 2020 Uxbridge-headquartered Orbis Protect, a property, site and people protection specialist, acquired Optosafe. The deal was backed by private equity firm NorthEdge Capital, who invested in Orbis Protect in 2018, and marks the first acquisition made by Orbis Protect since this investment. The acquisition was funded by financing provided by Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank. 

Glasgow-based Optosafe is a provider of 360-degree CCTV towers and had partnered with Orbis Protect for three years before the acquisition. The deal provides Orbis Protect, who employ more than 400 staff across 19 UK depots, with additional penetration into the high growth CCTV towers market and underpins the business’ growth strategy.

How did we help Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank?

We worked with Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank in relation to Orbis Protect and its investor, NorthEdge Capital, through a period of rapid growth. Our banking & finance team advised on the acquisition and documenting facilities, including management of Scots law issues.

Completing the transaction in July 2020, in the midst of the first national lockdown, introduced challenges for systems and processes across all participants. We were able to overcome these in order to support the bank in delivering its facilities and completing the transaction to timetable and on budget.

Andrew Madden, banking & finance partner who led Gateley’s advice, commented: “We are thrilled to have advised on this highly strategic acquisition. To have completed the deal against such a challenging backdrop is a testament to the skills and commitment of all of those involved. We look forward to continuing to support Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank in the future.”

Ian Mansell, Senior Director Acquisition Finance at Clydesdale Yorkshire Bank, said “We were delighted to have worked with Gateley again and deliver a highly strategic acquisition for Orbis Protect and NorthEdge. To have completed this deal against a challenging backdrop was testament to the resilient and highly sustainable performance of the core business and the dedicated support we received from Gateley throughout the process. We look forward to continuing to support Orbis Protect deliver its ambitious plans for future growth and working with Gateley on future transactions.”