DWF has advised RMS International on securing a growth capital investment from BGF to fund infrastructure developments and further expand its global operations.

RMS designs, sources and distributes toys, craft, stationery and licence products to customers throughout the world.  It has offices in Manchester (headquarters), Miami, Boston, Hong Kong, Shanghai and the Netherlands.

RMS has developed, over the past 25 years, a range of products under its own brands: Grafix, Blocktech, GL and Games Hub. This has been a major driver of growth and helped to establish RMS’ reputation for innovative, exciting and value-for-money products. More recently, the business has built a strong ‘licenced product’ line, working with Disney, Universal and other major franchises. RMS’ management team is now pursuing further expansion in the licenced-brand product category, as well as continued development of Grafix and its other major brands.

RMS was founded in 1982 and its operations include product innovation and design, research and testing and supply chain audits to service major retailers worldwide. Significant in-house market research and design means that RMS is able to react to market trends and introduce new lines across all areas of the business. RMS now employs 130 staff worldwide including a team of 27 designers.

Stuart Rose, the former Chairman of toy group Hamleys and former Managing Director of The Body Shop, has been appointed as Chairman for RMS, following an introduction by BGF.

The core DWF team consisted of Jonathan Robinson and Francesca Kinsella.

Jonathan, who led the deal, said “We have worked with RMS for a considerable time and are delighted to have worked with them in connection with this significant investment which will facilitate the expansion of RMS’ international expansion.”

The investment was led for BGF by Matt Widdall and Rhys Davenport. RMS is banked by Barclays Corporate Banking.