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TTi drives through first UK acquisition supported by advisers Mills & Reeve and Baker Tilly

International leader TTi Global completes its first UK acquisition with the purchase of Lorien Customer Focus and Lorien Connect

TTi, a global leader in providing training services for the automotive industry, acquired UK IT consulting and recruitment provider Lorien Customer Focus and the global learning and research consultancy Lorien Connect from Contracting Solutions Group Holdings PLC. Mills & Reeve LLP’s corporate team, led by partner Julian Smith and Baker Tilly’s Transaction Services Team, led by Paul Johnson, advised TTi on the deal.

TTi provides staffing and recruitment services, training design and development, outsourcing programs and business solutions to a number of industries but has a particular and long-standing specialism in advising the international automotive sector. The acquired businesses, Lorien Customer Focus and Lorien Connect, provide a solid market fit as both specialise in training for the automotive sector.

The combination will create a company capable of recruiting and developing a technically-trained workforce that is, at the same time, in direct touch with the needs of its customers. This has tremendous application to automotive dealerships, consumer durable goods manufacturers, industrial products and other sectors that rely on a strong aftermarket service capability. It will also help companies measure and track the impact that training is having on customer satisfaction and retention.

Commenting on the acquisitions TTi’s CEO, Lori Blaker said, “We are delighted to welcome Lorien Customer Focus and Lorien Connect into the TTi family. With a focus on clients and specialist sector knowledge both businesses share TTi’s values and present a great fit. Helping companies build a technically trained global workforce is critical to local economies,” Blaker said. “By adding the resources of Lorien Customer Focus, we will be able to connect this training to what customers see and experience in each local market. This is a powerful combination that will enable us to demonstrate the connection between a trained workforce and the customer experience. Julian and Paul’s teams at Mills & Reeve and Baker Tilly have provided great support to us and we look forward to working with them again on future transactions.”

Julian added: “We were pleased to advise TTi on this strategic UK acquisition which will further extend TTi’s ability to service their stellar international client base. TTi is a dynamic organisation and we look forward to advising them on future transactions.”

Julian’s team included Nick Hughes, Natasha Bingle, Chris Knight, Martin Brewer, Anna Youngs, Rob Butler, Matthew Short, Michael Whatley and Chloe Bucktin.

Paul Johnson and James Thorne from Baker Tilly in the UK advised TTi together with Alan Whitman from Baker Tilly’s US associated office.