Press

March 2018

Sempora advises NVM Private Equity on their growth capital investment in CURRENTBODY.com

Sempora has provided market and commercial due diligence in support of NVM Private Equity’s £5 million growth capital minority investment into Manchester-based CURRENTBODY, an online retailer for home-use beauty devices. The investment will help support the high growth e-commerce business with its next phase of expansion, allowing the company to accelerate its strategic initiatives and support working capital requirements.

LINK to NVM Press Release

October 2015

Sempora advises NVM Private Equity on their investment in Entertainment Magpie

Sempora has provided market and commercial due diligence in support of NVM Private Equity’s significant development capital investment in Entertainment Magpie Group. The investment in the business, which trades as musicmagpie.co.uk, will enable Europe’s most popular recommerce website to support its continued growth plans both in England and the USA.

Link to NVM Private Equity Press Release

May 2014

NEW CONSUMER SURVEY: UK Retail Pharmacy 2014

The latest pharmacy market study by Sempora Consulting, including new original consumer research, follows up on key findings from previous biennial studies. The study focuses again on consumer behaviour and attitudes with respect to buying health related products online; and also surveys consumer views on healthcare and pharmacies in general, as well as the current reforms to the NHS. The new survey results are based on analysis of the detailed responses of a sample of 1,040 pharmacy users in the UK.  

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Order study here

January 2014

It’s time to invest in UK healthcare

New SEMPORA Insight Article: Investing in UK Healthcare

"Change means investment opportunity"

SEMPORA reviews commentary on the dramatic changes to the UK's national health and social care systems and concludes that these will generate major new opportunities for current provides and new investors.

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September 2013

Icelolly takes off with Palatine backed management buyout

SEMPORA PROVIDES CDD OF FAST-GROWING HOLIDAY PRICE COMPARISON SITE

Icelolly takes off with Palatine backed management buyout, supported by commercial due diligence by Sempora Consulting.

Sempora has provided commercial, market and digital due diligence to Palatine Private Equity in support of their backing for the £17m management buyout of UK-based holiday price comparison provider Icelolly.

Link to Palatine Private Equity Press Release

For further information please contact Francis Prosser

September 2012

NEW SEMPORA CONSUMER STUDY: UK INTERNET PHARMACY

A new study by SEMPORA Consulting, including new original consumer research, follows up on key findings from previous pharmacy market studies in 2008 and 2010. This time the focus has been on consumer behaviour and attitudes with respect to buying health related products online. The new survey results are based on analysis of the detailed responses of a sample of 1007 pharmacy users in the UK

The study shows that 13% of all pharmacy shoppers already buy online. This penetration rises in younger age groups with over 25% of all 25‐34 year old pharmacy shoppers now purchasing health and beauty products online. 

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Order study here

August 2012

SEMPORA ADVISES ADIUVA CAPITAL ON ACQUISITION OF ASCOPHARM GROUP

SEMPORA Consulting has conducted market and commercial due diligence in support of Adiuva Capital’s recent acquisition of the leading German mail order pharmacy business Ascopharm.

Adiuva Capital has acquired 100% of the share capital of Ascopharm Group from its founder Karl-Heinz Oppermann.

Thomas Golly, Managing Partner at SEMPORA Consulting, who led the commercial due diligence process on behalf of Adiuva, comments:

'Evaluating the effectiveness of Ascopharm’s specialised business model and its prospects required a deep understanding of mail order business, coupled with knowledge of the retail pharmacy environment, as well analysis of current customer profiles and their buying behaviour. As part of the commercial review Sempora carried out a detailed analysis of customer shopping behaviour, providing comprehensive customer insights and enabling assessment of marketing efficiency. These resulting insights also enabled us to systematically identify possible risks and future opportunities in support of Ascopharm’s business plan.'

Link to Adiuva Capital Press Release

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April 2011

SEMPORA SUPPORTS LDC INVESTMENT IN MUSICMAGPIE.CO.UK

Entertainment Magpie Ltd (“musicMagpie.co.uk”), the largest UK purchaser of replay CDs, DVDs and Games, has received a significant development capital investment from leading mid-market private equity firm LDC. SEMPORA carried out a market review and conducted commercial due diligence for musicMagpie and LDC in support of this transaction.

“With little available information about the replay market, the challenge was to establish the size and growth of the potential market in the UK and other European markets, as well as to understand consumer selling and buying behaviour and the dynamics of online marketplaces. Our research found a strong and growing market, in which MusicMagpie holds a market-leading position. Consumers are increasingly looking to sell their unwanted entertainment items, at the same time as looking for value purchases of catalogue titles”, said SEMPORA UK’s Francis Prosser.

LINK to LDC Press Release

February 2011

SEMPORA MARKET SURVEY: THE UK PHARMACY MARKET 2010/2011

"Widespread scepticism about the impact of NHS reforms, price and margin pressure, whilst the online pharmacy channel is poised for growth"

The survey found that most pharmacists (75%) and OTC manufacturers (64%), although concerned by a range of different market challenges, agree that NHS reforms present the biggest market challenge in their sector. The results are based on the detailed responses of samples of UK consumers, pharmacists in England and executives of leading UK OTC companies.

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December 2009

SEMPORA STUDY: UK VAT INCREASE JANUARY 2010 - NEGATIVE EFFECTS ANTICIPATED BY RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS

Industry snapshot indicates how return to 17.5% standard rate VAT will affect retailers, producers and consumers.

UK consumers could face a double hit when VAT goes back up to 17.5% on 1st January 2010. According to a recent study by SEMPORA Consulting , London, around a third of retailers are looking at using the opportunity to make additional price increases on top of the VAT increase. There is some comfort for shoppers - while 50% of retailers intend to pass on at least the full amount of the VAT increase, 21% said they were planning to pass on only part of the additional cost and 29% indicated that they would hold prices at current levels. As a result, the VAT increase is also likely to put extra pressure on company profits and trading relationships between suppliers and retailers.

As part of this study, SEMPORA surveyed 129 consumers as well as 108 senior managers at leading companies in retailing and manufacturing.

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