Glancy Nicholls Architects

Business Services

Glancy Nicholls Architects (January 2020)

Birmingham based architecture practice, Glancy Nicholls Architects (“GNA”) has made four internal senior promotions as part of a growth capital fund raise and shareholder realignment.

Martin Beaumont, Lisa Deering, Simon Jesson and Adam McPartland have been promoted to Equity Directors, joining founders Lyndon Glancy and Patrick Nicholls, along with Paul Hutt and John White, on the board.

GNA specialises in delivering high quality design and architecture across numerous sectors including social care, education, residential and logistics. Based in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, it was established in 2004 and now employs over 70 people. Such projects include One Eastside Tower, the tallest residential tower to be built and occupied in Birmingham.

Lyndon Glancy, who set up GNA with Patrick Nicholls 15 years ago, said: “The past 12 months alone has seen GNA appointed on some ambitious and high-profile projects throughout Birmingham and across the Midlands, master plan architects for the inner city regeneration project at Perry Barr, together with a number of other private and public appointments.

Patrick Nicholls said, “We see the transaction as part of moving into our next chapter of growth as we take on more projects both locally and across the UK. Welcoming four more talented individuals onto our board of directors is central to this growth. Each one brings a strong skill set that we have long-valued at GNA and will help shape the future of the company.”

Lisa Deering said, “I and the rest of the management team are looking forward to joining the board and continuing to deliver high quality projects across all sectors for our clients in the Midlands and the wider UK”.

Local advisers Keystone Partners, Freeths, Fieldfisher and Claritas all worked on the transaction which was funded by ThinCats.

Adam Rowlands from Keystone Partners worked with GNA preparing the business for a transaction, including advising on the different types of funding options available. Adam, commented:

“After spending time to get a better understanding of the business and the key requirements for both the shareholders and the management team, we were able to source and agree multiple funding offers that met the requirements for all parties. We are delighted with the outcome and look forward to working with GNA on future projects”.

Lee Clifford, Andrew Skinner, James Dyson and Jasmine Khan provided the management team with legal advice. Lee Clifford, Head of Corporate at Freeths, commented that:

“the transaction provides the GNA business with a strong platform for continued growth. The business is very well placed to take advantage of the opportunities that we will inevitability see in the market. The Freeths team very much welcomed the opportunity to work with and help the GNA management team on the transaction. It is always very pleasing to see a local business, like GNA, to continue to grow”.

Graham Muth and Emily Proverbs-Garbett from law firm Fieldfisher provided legal advice to the founder shareholders. Graham Muth said:

“The whole team at Fieldfisher are delighted to have helped such a successful business as GNA move forward into the next stage of its development and we look forward to continuing to work with the expanded team in the future”.

Tax advice for the company and the shareholders was provided by Iain Wright, Guy Kendall and Adam Keates from Claritas. Iain Wright said:

“We were delighted to be able to assist Pat and Lyndon with this important transaction, to realign the Board and shareholder base and position the company strongly for the future. We will watch GNA’s further progress with interest and look forward to working with the team again as the business continues to develop.”

ThinCats, led by Chris Webb, funded the transaction, with financial due diligence provided by David Preston, Adam Foster, and Sharon Gill from Mazars. Chris commented:

“This is a landmark deal for ThinCats. GNA is already the leading architectural firm in Birmingham – but they are keen to continue expanding further. We are delighted to be supporting these ambitions and hope that this funding will be the start of a great long-term partnership.”