Charles Cattaneo

18 September 2025

Geovista acquires Mission Critical Group of Australia

UK-based Geovista has merged with Mission Critical Group of Perth, Western Australia, in a deal which combines MCG’s advanced driller-operated geophysics instruments with Geovista’s extensive global expertise in borehole logging. The Cattaneo team advised Geovista on the merger process from initial discussions to the negotiation and agreement of detailed transaction terms encompassing the two groups of shareholders working together as a single entity post-transaction and the project management of the cross-border due diligence and legal processes.

1 November 2023

Oxford Metrics PLC acquires Industrial Vision Systems

Cattaneo were engaged by Oxford Metrics to undertake a global acquisition search based around its clear business strategy. The search focused on specific technologies which are accretive to the OMG offering and involved the identification and profiling of a broad range of potential targets across the world before honing to a highly credible short-list. Cattaneo then contacted and established a relationship with a number of the targets, positioning OMG as a credible acquirer, with IVS representing the first successful conclusion.

1 July 2023

T3i Holdings Management Buy-In of Oaklands Plastics

The acquisition of Oaklands Plastics was funded by a combination of cash, bank debt and invoice discounting. Management Buy-Ins are notoriously challenging to execute but this transaction had characteristics that allowed it to buck the trend. T3i brought together individuals who had a range of skills and were a very credible team – in particular the day-to-day operations would be overseen by Keith Tudor, who had over 25 years’ experience in senior executive roles within the manufacturing sector. Also critical to the success of the management buy-in was the relationship between buy-in team and the vendor, and this was expertly managed by Steve Pratt. Importantly, the involvement of Cattaneo and the way we ran the process gave both the buy-in team and the vendor confidence on the deliverability of the financing.

1 January 2023

Palletforce Acquires Dobbs Logistics

The acquisition of Hastings-based Dobbs Logistics by Palletforce, the leading pallet network distribution business with operations across Europe. Palletforce is part of EV Cargo, the Hong Kong-headquartered global freight forwarding and supply chain services group backed by EmergeVest. Formed in 1961, Dobbs Logistics has a long history of providing pallet distribution, general haulage, project cargo and warehousing services, and is the stand-out pallet network member and road freight operator in a region that has proved challenging for pallet networks. The former owners will continue to lead the business post acquisition. The acquisition forms part of Palletforce’s strategy to strengthen its network and secure unrivalled quality and delivery performance in all postcodes, providing a sustainable platform from which its members can enable their long-term growth strategies.

1 August 2022

Secondary Buy-Out of Avantis Backed by LDC

The secondary buy-out of Avantis, the Gloucester-based innovative provider of virtual reality-based learning technology to the international education market. The transaction allowed Key Capital Partners to realise its investment while reinvesting in a minority stake alongside LDC as part of the latest deal. LDC has backed Avantis’ existing management team, led by Founder Nik Tuson and Managing Director Huw Williams, to further enhance its suite of products and services and continue Avantis’ international expansion. Founded in 2007, the company has delivered its diverse portfolio of learning products to tens of thousands of schools in more than 90 countries worldwide. It has also developed the world’s first virtual reality (VR) system designed for classrooms. With the launch of Avantis World, the world’s first educational VR theme park, and Eduverse, a safe and secure K-12 Metaverse platform, the company is set to drive significant growth in new market segments and territories.