March 2018
Equiteq, the knowledge economy M&A specialist, is pleased to announce that it has advised 8works Limited (8works), a leading design thinking consultancy, on its sale to Oliver Wyman, a global management consultancy and wholly-owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies (NYSE:MMC). The transaction closed on 1st March 2018.
Founded in 2003 and with offices in the UK and Silicon Valley, 8works is exclusively focused on helping organizations achieve transformation projects by leveraging collaboration techniques and applying the principles of design to the way people work. The firm has helped companies across a range of industries including financial services, healthcare, energy and technology, deliver measurable impact and accelerate results. John-Paul Pape, Partner and Global Head, Oliver Wyman’s Organisational Effectiveness Practice said, “Having worked with 8works recently on several successful projects, we know they share our passion for finding breakthrough answers for clients and a real drive to deliver results. They will help strengthen the firm’s capabilities across design thinking, experiential engagement and co-creation and allow clients to become more agile and efficient in a rapidly changing business landscape.” Angrez Saran and Mike Moylan-Jones, Co-Founders, 8works said, “For the past 14 years, we’ve been helping ambitious organizations design their futures, unlock big challenges and engage people at scale. In the past year, we’ve been increasingly working with Oliver Wyman and their clients, and we’re delighted to be invited into their family. Clients love Oliver Wyman for their expert insight into analytical problem solving and we have found we complement this by engaging the emotional side of change. We’re excited to help enhance their collaboration and design thinking platform and look forward to moving forward together into a new space of creating the future of consulting.” Gabriela Silvestris, Managing Director of M&A in Equiteq’s London office, commented, “It was a great pleasure working with 8works’ shareholders and we are delighted with the outcome of the transaction. Angrez, Mike and the 8works team have built a very impressive business leading the way in business transformation and design thinking consultancy. The combination of 8works with Oliver Wyman’s complementary platform will unlock and accelerate further strategic growth. We wish the newly combined team the very best of luck as they embark on a new phase of growth.” Regarding Equiteq’s role in the transaction, Mike Moylan-Jones, commented, “We simply could not have done this without the help, support and professional advice of Equiteq. They were with us every step of the way, through what at times was quite a daunting process, and we are very pleased with the outcome.” To see all of our deals, please click here. ©Equiteq 2018