Nabarro advises SPARK on acquisition of Quester

Media > Press releases > Nabarro advises SPARK on acquisition of Quester

18 May 2007

Nabarro has advised long-standing client, NewMedia SPARK plc (“SPARK”), a technology venture capital company, on the £5.4 million acquisition of Querist Limited, the parent company of the Quester group of companies, an established manager of venture capital funds for early-stage technology and life sciences.

This is the fifth deal Nabarro has completed for SPARK in the last two months following the recent investments in Notonthehighstreet.com (a UK-based shopping website marketing the products of over 500 of Britain’s most creative small businesses), DEM Solutions (a leading provider of computer aided engineering software for the modelling of particles in industrial processes), Unanimis (a leading digital advertising business in the UK) and a confidential start-up venture backing some of Europe’s leading internet entrepreneurs alongside a syndicate of successful businessmen.

SPARK is a quoted venture capital organisation based in London and focuses on early stage investments in the technology, media and telecoms sectors. SPARK's portfolio has a particular emphasis on digital media, software applications, technology and communications.

Quester manages funds of over £200 million in the form of the Quester VCT's, Quester Venture Partners and several University Technology Transfer funds, £175 million of which are on long-term or rolling contracts. It has links with leading UK Universities including Oxford University colleges. The acquisition is a great addition to Spark’s portfolio and will expand significantly its funds under management and provide a platform for managing additional funds from a number of sources in the future.

The corporate team at Nabarro who advised SPARK on the Quester acquisition was led by corporate partner, Iain Newman assisted by corporate partner, Russell Holden, with Richard Bootle and Sarah Crick (corporate), Winston Penhall and Matthew Pittman (funds), Susan Gordon and Alex Denny (employment) and Nick Burt and Siobhan Crouch (Tax). The investments also involved corporate associates, Kristy Duane, Richard Bootle and Ben McDonald. Richard Skelton and Marcus Booth at Travers Smith advised Querist.

Iain Newman, corporate partner, said:

"We have helped SPARK implement their strategy since their flotation in 1999 and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the exciting times ahead."

If you would like any further information or have any queries please contact:

Charlotte Tandy
Lanson Communications
020 7566 9706
charlottet@lansons.com

Iain Newman
Partner, Nabarro
020 7524 6423
i.newman@nabarro.com