Bath-based gift designer and retailer Wild & Wolf has been acquired by D C Thomson, publisher of The Beano and The Dandy, in a move that will accelerate its expansion.
Wild & Wolf makes award-winning products featuring fashion brands such as Ted Baker and games and characters such as Scrabble, Mr Men and The Gruffalo under licence.
Its products, which range from keyrings and mugs to gardening tools, are sold in boutique independent retailers such as Bloomsbury – whose flagship store is in Bath city centre – and large multiple retailers including John Lewis and Boots. 
West of England law firm Thrings advised Wild & Wolf from its Bath office with finance and tax advice provided by O’Hara Wood, which has offices in Bath and Melksham.
Under the terms of the transaction, Jon Cameron – who founded the company with Richard Barson in 2005 – will continue in his role as Wild & Wolf’s chief executive.
He said: “The business has grown significantly in the last two to three years, particularly export sales which now represent around 40% of our business.
“The deal with D C Thomson & Company gives us a solid financial foundation and infrastructure to access more markets around the world and continue our growth.”
Thrings company commercial partner Alex Pyatt and solicitor Sarah Ellis worked closely with Wild & Wolf owners Jon and Nancy Cameron on all strategic and legal matters.
Alex said: “This is a hugely exciting period for Wild & Wolf, a company whose products have been admired and enjoyed by so many people for so many years. We are very pleased to have safely negotiated the legal complexities and brought matters to a positive conclusion for all parties.
“The transaction is also a huge success story for Bath, with three established businesses working closely together to secure an outcome which will enable Wild & Wolf to offer its many customers even greater choice.”
O'Hara Wood partner Adrian Wood, who worked on the deal with tax manager Sarah Trainor, added: “Over the last five years, O’Hara Wood has worked very closely with Wild & Wolf providing a range of professional services including audit, accountancy, corporate tax and business advice.
“We are delighted that both Jon and Nancy have been able to fulfil their ambitions with regard to the sale of the company.”
Mr Cameron added: “Key to the success of this transaction has been working with professional advisers who not only share our values and focus on clients, but who are also based in the same city. More face-to-face contact has undoubtedly helped Thrings and O'Hara Wood gain a true understanding of our commercial aims and ambitions, which in turn, has enabled us to make key decisions more quickly.”
Financial details of the deal have not been disclosed.
Pictured: Jon Cameron of Wild & Wolf flanked by Sarah Ellis and Alex Pyatt from Thrings
