“I’m absolutely delighted,” breathed Rippleffect MD and founder Ben Hatton… and who can blame him.
For once the ebullient, loquacious Hatton was uncharacteristically tongue-tied when speaking about the web design agency he set up in 1999.
In fact he couldn’t really say much more than the “delighted” bit.
A sporting synergy
Not because he was temporarily dumbfounded at the prospect of becoming a multi-millionaire, rather due to the fact that he is now an employee of Trinity Mirror Plc and, as far as financial matters go, has to stay pretty much ‘on message’.
As How-Do understands, the two Hattons are the only significant shareholders in the concern and therefore should see the lion’s share of the near £6m.
The deal, which was only inked on Tuesday evening, has taken some observers by surprise.
But for Trinity at least it seems to be a natural continuation of their investment in all things new media, and particularly their desire to grow the sports media side of the business.
In the official release that heralded the deal, the publishing giant noted that it was ‘Rippleffect’s expertise and experience in sports web development’ that caused the initial attraction, as it formed a perfect synergy with ‘Trinity Mirror’s existing Sport Media business’ (which includes publishing the matchday programmes of Liverpool and Everton football clubs).
Hatton: delighted, understandably
Sly Bailey herself, the CEO of Trinity no less, commented in the announcement: “This acquisition brings together Trinity Mirror’s specialist sports publications and Rippleffect’s specialist sports web development under one roof enabling us to substantially grow our revenues in this important sector.”
Rippleffect, for the uninitiated, has a strong pedigree in sport - and particularly football - web development, having built the club sites for Everton, Southampton, Celtic and Fulham FC.
Non-football related clients include Total Fitness, Littlewoods, Mercedes-Benz, The Living Room Group, University of Liverpool and Floors2Go.
Hatton will be staying with the business in the role of MD and, as far as How-Do understands, the Rippleffect brand will remain as a standalone, rather than being subjugated under Trinity Mirror Plc.
It is believed that there will be no adverse impact (in terms of job losses) on the 40 members of staff that currently work for the agency.
The market statement finished by noting that Rippleffect was expected to generate revenues of £3.2m in its first year as part of the Plc, exactly covering the initial consideration in the deal.
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