Arcam Has Management
As a recent Arcam purchaser, I hope this is good news:
A Cambridge hi-fi and home cinema innovator, taking on and beating Japanese consumer electronics giants, plans to leverage its growing international reputation following a management buy-out.
A & R Cambridge Ltd – better known as Arcam – is a world-class designer and manufacturer and has won a string of top industry awards for its cutting edge products.
Now the Waterbeach company is looking to kick on globally under the new management team, led by Charlie Brennan and also comprising Michael Sheridan and Alan Wylie. The trio bought out the founders, John Dawson (the outgoing chairman) and FD Jacqueline Cross who had forged the business almost 30 years ago while students at the University of Cambridge.
Brennan himself has 30 years experience with top companies in the industry and has been in a senior managerial role with Arcam for more than seven years.
He said: “Arcam has some absolutely brilliant people here and we felt we could take the company forward even further.
“It’s some tribute that Arcam can take on – and beat – the Japanese at their own game in the design and manufacture of consumer electronics. You can’t say that of too many British companies.
“Twenty per cent of our Cambridge workforce are involved in Research & Development and the innovation keeps on coming.
“We also have some unique business partnerships with relevant players, such as chip developers, that are at the leading edge of compatible technology sectors.
“We are continually creating world class products in an intensely competitive arena and half our product is still manufactured in Cambridge.”
Arcam employs 75 people and turned over around £18m last year. It sells in the UK through retail outlets and distributors in export markets. It recently achieved major success in the prestigious What Hi-fi? Annual Awards, receiving three ‘Product of the Year’ awards.
Its DV79 was voted best DVD player in the price category £750-£1000, the AVR250 was the best Multichannel Amp/Receiver in the price category £750-£1000, and the CD73T was the best CD player in the price category £250-£500.
Geoff Davies and Pat Walters of Grant Thornton’s local corporate finance team, acted as lead advisers to the company in the MBO.
LLoyds TSB in Cambridge provided finance for the deal, terms of which are undisclosed. Legal advice to Lloyds TSB was handled by Mills & Reeve and to the management team by Maclay, Murray & Spens.
Here's another take on press release:
Arcam Management Buyout
Here's a press release we received today [11 November 2004] from premier British manufacturer, Arcam.
In it, John Dawson says: “The founder directors of A&R Cambridge Limited are delighted to announce that there has been an agreed and amicable management buyout of the company.
The new management team comprises Charlie Brennan (our current Managing Director), Michael Sheridan, Operations Manager and Alan Wylie, former Financial Director of Tannoy. They will continue to work with Jacky Cross and myself to build on the progress that has been made in recent years in bringing Arcam products to a leading position in the home cinema and hi-fi separates market worldwide.
It has long been Jacky’s and my intention to attract a talented and experienced management team that can build on the commitment and enthusiasm that has been the core of the company since it was founded in 1977.
We will continue as shareholders and employees in the new company and look forward in playing an active part in helping to deliver a successful future for all the employees, customers and suppliers who have contributed so much to the company over the years.”
Charlie Brennan commented on behalf of the new management team expressing his belief in the company and its products:
“Arcam is one of a very few specialist companies in the UK that has the ability to design and manufacture world-class home cinema and hi-fi products.
We have a team of exceptionally talented people in place right across the company, and we have spent and will continue to spend heavily on new products and new technologies that will capture the imagination of all those who love music and movies.
I and the whole team here at Arcam look forward to the future with confidence.”
A Cambridge hi-fi and home cinema innovator, taking on and beating Japanese consumer electronics giants, plans to leverage its growing international reputation following a management buy-out.
A & R Cambridge Ltd – better known as Arcam – is a world-class designer and manufacturer and has won a string of top industry awards for its cutting edge products.
Now the Waterbeach company is looking to kick on globally under the new management team, led by Charlie Brennan and also comprising Michael Sheridan and Alan Wylie. The trio bought out the founders, John Dawson (the outgoing chairman) and FD Jacqueline Cross who had forged the business almost 30 years ago while students at the University of Cambridge.
Brennan himself has 30 years experience with top companies in the industry and has been in a senior managerial role with Arcam for more than seven years.
He said: “Arcam has some absolutely brilliant people here and we felt we could take the company forward even further.
“It’s some tribute that Arcam can take on – and beat – the Japanese at their own game in the design and manufacture of consumer electronics. You can’t say that of too many British companies.
“Twenty per cent of our Cambridge workforce are involved in Research & Development and the innovation keeps on coming.
“We also have some unique business partnerships with relevant players, such as chip developers, that are at the leading edge of compatible technology sectors.
“We are continually creating world class products in an intensely competitive arena and half our product is still manufactured in Cambridge.”
Arcam employs 75 people and turned over around £18m last year. It sells in the UK through retail outlets and distributors in export markets. It recently achieved major success in the prestigious What Hi-fi? Annual Awards, receiving three ‘Product of the Year’ awards.
Its DV79 was voted best DVD player in the price category £750-£1000, the AVR250 was the best Multichannel Amp/Receiver in the price category £750-£1000, and the CD73T was the best CD player in the price category £250-£500.
Geoff Davies and Pat Walters of Grant Thornton’s local corporate finance team, acted as lead advisers to the company in the MBO.
LLoyds TSB in Cambridge provided finance for the deal, terms of which are undisclosed. Legal advice to Lloyds TSB was handled by Mills & Reeve and to the management team by Maclay, Murray & Spens.
Here's another take on press release:
Arcam Management Buyout
Here's a press release we received today [11 November 2004] from premier British manufacturer, Arcam.
In it, John Dawson says: “The founder directors of A&R Cambridge Limited are delighted to announce that there has been an agreed and amicable management buyout of the company.
The new management team comprises Charlie Brennan (our current Managing Director), Michael Sheridan, Operations Manager and Alan Wylie, former Financial Director of Tannoy. They will continue to work with Jacky Cross and myself to build on the progress that has been made in recent years in bringing Arcam products to a leading position in the home cinema and hi-fi separates market worldwide.
It has long been Jacky’s and my intention to attract a talented and experienced management team that can build on the commitment and enthusiasm that has been the core of the company since it was founded in 1977.
We will continue as shareholders and employees in the new company and look forward in playing an active part in helping to deliver a successful future for all the employees, customers and suppliers who have contributed so much to the company over the years.”
Charlie Brennan commented on behalf of the new management team expressing his belief in the company and its products:
“Arcam is one of a very few specialist companies in the UK that has the ability to design and manufacture world-class home cinema and hi-fi products.
We have a team of exceptionally talented people in place right across the company, and we have spent and will continue to spend heavily on new products and new technologies that will capture the imagination of all those who love music and movies.
I and the whole team here at Arcam look forward to the future with confidence.”
