Northbank Communications Joins College Hill

5 October 2007 - London, Manchester, Munich Northbank Communications, leaders in life science communications, announces that it has entered into an agreement to become part of College Hill, the international business communications consultancy, by way of 100% acquisition of the shares in Northbank Communications by College Hill.

Northbank has built a strong reputation and global client base in the life science sector, with clients including Ablynx, Biota, BTG, Cambridge Antibody Technology (AZ), Ganymed, GE Healthcare, LifeCycle Pharma, Midatech, Nautilus Biotech, Nitec Pharma, Novozymes, Oxford BioMedica, Perkin Elmer, Santaris Pharma, Sigma-Aldrich and Smiths Detection. It offers services across corporate, financial and marketing communications, including an in-house design studio. The deal substantially strengthens Northbank's offering in financial communications, and adds new areas of expertise for its clients through College Hill’s Public Policy, Internal Engagement and Strategic Research practices. The international reach of College Hill also enhances Northbank’s global capability, through offices in Hong Kong and Johannesburg.

Sue Charles, CEO of Northbank Communications commented, "We are very excited to be part of College Hill and the opportunities it presents for our clients and our staff. We explored a number of options for our business, and are convinced that this move provides real benefits in terms of range of services, expertise and resources. We will fit well with the College Hill culture, a culture that emphasises client partnership and creativity".

Following the acquisition, which was brokered by corporate finance advisory firm Pembridge Partners LLP, College Hill will retain Northbank’s current structure and facilities, including its team of 32 across offices in London, Manchester and Munich. Sue Charles, CEO of Northbank will head College Hill’s Life Sciences industry team and will become Managing Partner, Life Sciences. Northbank senior team members Katja Stout, Director and Chris Fisher, Creative Director will be appointed as Partner and Associate Partner/Creative Director, Life Sciences respectively. Co-founder and Director of Northbank, Peter Colley will retire at the year end. Northbank’s venture investors, Pembridge Partners exit as part of the deal.

Alex Sandberg, Chairman of College Hill, and CEO Richard Nichols said that “Sue and the Northbank team have built a highly regarded presence in the life sciences sector and we are delighted to welcome them into the group. Northbank significantly strengthens our client offering in the sector and, in turn, Northbank's clients now have access to a wider range of disciplines and reach. We are continuing to invest in sector specialisation, practice areas and geography as we build out a rounded international business communications consultancy".

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For further information please contact:

Sue Charles, CEO of Northbank
+44 (0) 20 7268 3248
s.charles@northbankcommunications.com

Alex Sandberg, Chairman of College Hill
+44 (0)207 457 2020

Richard Nichols, CEO of College Hill
+44 (0)207 457 2026

Eve Daniels, Business Development Director of Pembridge Partners LLP
+44 (0)845 2600 344
eve.daniels@pembridge.net

For high-resolution images please contact:
Raji Nandipati, Senior Account Executive/Marketing Executive, Northbank Communications
Tel: +44 (0)20 7268 3246
Email: r.nandipati@northbankcommunications.com

Notes

About Northbank Communications - www.northbankcommunications.com
Northbank Communications, now a member of the College Hill Group, is a full service PR and communications consultancy, focused on serving science-based companies and organisations, with a strong emphasis on the life science industry. Northbank has focused practise areas in corporate communications, financial communications and marketing communications, and an in-house design studio. Through College Hill, Northbank can now provide additional services in Public Policy, Strategic Research and Internal Engagement.

The consultancy operates from offices in London and Manchester in the UK, and Munich, Germany and serves a combination of retained and project clients from across Europe, the USA and Australasia, representing most of its clients on a global basis.

Formed in 2002 through the merger of Charles Consultants (founded by Sue Charles and Katja Stout) into STMP Marketing Solutions Ltd (founded by Peter Colley), Northbank was acquired by College Hill in October 2007. Northbank’s 32 staff now form part of the larger College Hill team that employs more than 150 staff in the UK, Hong Kong and Johannesburg.

About College Hill – www.collegehill.com
College Hill is a business and financial communications consultancy with offices in the City of London, Johannesburg and Hong Kong, and planning to open in further international centres shortly. Led by 24 partners, College Hill is structured in specialist industry sector teams that are retained year-on-year by a substantial number of UK and overseas corporations and institutions. College Hill offers a range of communication services, including financial communications and media relations, public policy, crisis communications, brand positioning, strategic research, internal engagement, design and media training.

About Pembridge Partners LLP - www.pembridge.net
Pembridge Partners LLP provides finance and strategic advice to marketing services firms. It advises ambitious and expanding consultancies and agencies on growing and realising their shareholder value. It specialises in advising independent marketing services firms on trade sales and MBOs. Pembridge comprises of four partners: Mark Adams, Rose Lewis, Hugh Mason and David Prais.