Contributors
Transatlantic law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) and FRP Corporate Finance have advised California-based Blueback Global, a leader in global expansion services, on its acquisition by TopSource Worldwide, an employer services, payroll and employer of record service provider backed by Horizon Capital.
The deal will see Blueback and its founder Arden Ng join TopSource and continue to provide employer of record, entity set-up, entity management, multi-country payroll and global HR solutions for its customers across 50 global markets.
The acquisition provides a transformational opportunity for the enlarged combined business to take the lead in services to clients seeking to expand to markets around the world. The combination of TopSource and Blueback Global will create a business with 1,600 clients being served across 90+ markets around the globe.
WBD's corporate team advised Blueback Global, led by partner Tom Fitzpatrick and managing associate Alex Fergus, both of whom are based in Bristol. They were supported by a WBD US legal team, led by partner Steve Clinton based in California. Given the international nature of the business, WBD also needed to liaise with overseas lawyers in Germany and Singapore and made good use of members of its Lex Mundi network of international law firms.
The FRP Corporate Finance team, also based in Bristol, was led by partner Mark Naughton and supported by director Alex Sargeant and associate director Freddie James. They acted as lead sell side advisers, marketing the business for sale and helping the management team of Blueback Global to find a home for the business that would enable it to fulfil its future growth ambitions.
Tom Fitzpatrick of WBD said:
"WBD is a transatlantic firm and this deal was not just transatlantic but truly global. We wish Arden and his team all the best with TopSource."
Mark Naughton of FRP Corporate Finance added:
"This is a transformational deal for the team at Blueback Global and it has been a pleasure to support them as they join forces with TopSource Worldwide. In today’s market, recruiting and retaining talent is more important than ever and the combined company can now support clients across more than 90 international markets – making it a formidable force!".
Arden Ng, founder of Blueback Global, added:
“Our core focus is always our clients, partnering with them to hire, set up, and operate anywhere, globally. Our expansive global footprint requires advisors who can execute on a cross border transaction, while providing the same client focus, first rate expertise and premium experience as we do. I am very delighted and impressed with how WBD and FRP Corporate Finance delivered. Our whole team is excited by the possibilities that will come with this combination.”
Ranking in the UK's top 20 law firms, WBD provides legal expertise in its key sectors, from across seven offices in the UK and 19 offices in the US. The firm's reach also extends to Europe where it has strategic partnerships. Through the firm’s association with Lex Mundi, the world’s largest association of independent law firms, WBD also offers clients access to quality-tested local counsel in more than 120 countries.
The firm has a large corporate practice in the UK advising national and international clients on a broad range of corporate transactions, particularly M&A, IPOs, private equity investments as well as growth and development capital fundraisings.
