Legal experts from Bristol-headquartered national law firm TLT have advised on an acquisition that has created the UK’s largest charity services businesses.
The deal involved Woods Consolidated, the holding company of Chippenham-based Woods Group, taking over Melksham specialist outsourcing firm Valldata. 
Woods Group is best known for its strengths in raffles, lotteries, print production and payment processing for charities such as the RSPB, National Trust and Motability, while Valldata specialises in fulfilment, payment processing and specialist response handling. Its clients include Médecins Sans Frontières and Ethiopiad.
The team at TLT included Andrew Webber, Nicole Spurling, Emma Davies, Jon Stewart, Samuel Hill and Natalie Wright.
Woods Group managing director Ian Scarr, who now CEO of Valldata, said: “Joining Valldata with Woods Group is an extremely positive move for all parties involved. Andrew and the team at TLT did a great job once again to support us and we look forward to working with them as we continue to build the combined business and move to our new headquarters next year.”
TLT partner Andrew Webber, pictured, added: “The not-for-profit sector is always on the lookout for ways to maximise efficiency and benefit from best practice, so bringing all of these services under one roof will deliver yet further benefits to Valldata and Woods’ clients at a time when they need it more than ever. 
“We are pleased to be able to continue to support Woods Group as the business continues to go from strength to strength.”
The acquisition – financial details of which have not been released – had created a stronger and more robust business that could work with charities across a broader remit, said Woods Group.
These included logistical and efficiency benefits, and greater agility to respond to the changing needs of the fundraising sector.
Woods Group and Valldata will continue to operate as independent brands with a move to a new, purpose-built headquarters planned for next summer. Before that some partnership working across teams will be introduced to benefit service provision to clients.
Woods said the two companies’ branding remained under review and no decision had been taken on whether a new brand will be created.
Ian Scarr replaced Scott Gray as CEO of Valldata. Mr Gray will remain CEO of former Valldata parent group VRD and former sister company, Crawley-based direct debit processing company Rapidata Services.
VRD Group bought Valldata in May 2016 from private equity firm Livingbridge and had streamlined the business ahead of the sale to Woods Group.
