Kin + Carta

Kin + Carta was an international digital transformation consultancy headquartered in London. Its corporate history began in 1964, when lawyer Robert Gavron acquired a failing publishing company in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, using a £5,000 loan, and renamed the business St Ives after its location. Over the following decades, St Ives expanded through acquisitions and became one of the United Kingdom's leading commercial printing groups. It entered the London Stock Exchange in 1985 and expanded beyond the UK through acquisitions including the American commercial printer A.D. Weiss in 1989 and the German direct-mail company Johler Druck. The company's traditional printing business came under increasing pressure as digital media reduced demand for physical print. St Ives reported its first loss in 2009 and began a strategic transition toward digital marketing, data, software, and technology consulting. Its first significant move into the digital sector was the 2010 acquisition of Occam, a digital marketing and data company. The group later acquired Chicago-based software consultancy Solstice Mobile for £23 million, adding capabilities in software development and digital product delivery. These transactions formed part of a broader attempt to diversify away from the declining commercial-print market. In 2018, after selling its remaining print operations, the company adopted the Kin + Carta name. The rebrand expressed a new emphasis on connection, collaboration, technology, and digital transformation rather than printing. John “J” Schwan, who had joined through the Solstice Mobile transaction and served as the group's first chief digital officer, became chief executive in the same year, succeeding Matt Armitage. Under the Kin + Carta identity, the business presented itself as a digital transformation partner helping organizations improve growth, customer experiences, operations, and technology infrastructure. Its capabilities included strategy, data and analytics, cloud services, software engineering, and the design and development of digital products. The consultancy operated particularly in the United Kingdom and United States, while its earlier corporate history gave it a wider European and international footprint. Kin + Carta also placed emphasis on environmental and social governance. In 2021 it became the first company traded on the London Stock Exchange to receive B Corporation certification. In 2022 it joined the Vision 2045 environmental initiative and became a member of the MACH Alliance, an organization advocating open, composable, and modern digital technology architectures. The company described its purpose as making the world work better for everyone and promoted a triple-bottom-line approach covering people, planet, and profit. Kin + Carta's independent existence ended after a proposed acquisition by Kelvin UK Bidco, a newly formed company owned by private-equity firm Apax Partners, was announced in October 2023. The transaction was valued at £203 million. In April 2024, Kin + Carta was acquired by Valtech. Following the acquisition, Kin + Carta ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company, making its corporate status that of a former consultancy brand within Valtech rather than an independent listed issuer.

Kin + Carta originated in the British commercial-printing industry rather than in digital consulting. In 1964, Robert Gavron, then a lawyer, borrowed £5,000 to acquire a failing publishing company in St Ives, Cambridgeshire. He renamed the business St Ives after the town in which it operated. The company expanded during the next three decades, acquiring competitors including Clays and becoming one of the United Kingdom's most prominent commercial printers. St Ives became a publicly traded company on the London Stock Exchange in 1985. Its international development included the 1989 acquisition of A.D. Weiss, a commercial printer based in the United States, followed later by the purchase of Johler Druck, a German direct-mail company. Robert Gavron retired as chairman in 1993 and was succeeded by Miles Emley, although Gavron retained a substantial interest in the business. The expansion of digital media placed long-term pressure on physical printing. St Ives reported its first loss in 2009, reflecting the deterioration of its traditional market. Management responded with a program of acquisitions intended to build a digital-services business. In 2010, the company bought Occam, an approximately 80-person digital marketing and data company, for about £12 million. It later acquired Solstice Mobile, a Chicago software consultancy founded in 2001, for £23 million. John “J” Schwan, associated with Solstice Mobile, joined St Ives as its first chief digital officer. The transformation accelerated in 2018. St Ives sold its remaining print operations and rebranded as Kin + Carta. The new name was intended to signal connection and collaboration and to distinguish the business from its former printing identity. Schwan became chief executive officer in 2018, replacing Matt Armitage. Kin + Carta subsequently focused on consulting and technology services including business and technology strategy, data and analytics, cloud transformation, software engineering, and digital product development. The company positioned its work around helping clients achieve growth and improve how their organizations operate through technology. It maintained a particular presence in the United Kingdom and United States, while its history and client work reflected a broader international orientation. The business also developed a public sustainability and social-impact profile. In 2021 it became the first company listed on the London Stock Exchange to be certified as a B Corporation. In 2022 it participated in Vision 2045, an environmental initiative, and joined the MACH Alliance, supporting modern digital architectures and principles associated with accessibility, inclusivity, and sustainability. Kin + Carta's independent corporate period concluded through a sequence of ownership changes. In October 2023, Kelvin UK Bidco, a newly formed company owned by Apax Partners, proposed a £203 million acquisition. In April 2024, the company was acquired by Valtech. The acquisition removed Kin + Carta from its former status as an independent publicly traded company and placed the business within Valtech. As a result, Kin + Carta is best described as a former digital transformation consultancy and acquired brand rather than an active independent listed corporation.

• 2024

  Acquisition by Valtech

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  Valtech acquired Kin + Carta, ending the company's independent public-company status.

• 2021

  B Corporation certification

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  Kin + Carta became the first company traded on the London Stock Exchange to obtain B Corporation certification.

• 2018

  Rebrand to Kin + Carta

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  After selling its remaining print operations, St Ives adopted the Kin + Carta name and became a digital transformation consultancy.

• 2010

  Acquisition of Occam

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  St Ives acquired digital marketing and data company Occam, beginning a more substantial move into digital services.

• 1989

  Expansion into the United States

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  St Ives expanded into the American market through the acquisition of commercial printer A.D. Weiss.

• 1985

  St Ives lists on the London Stock Exchange

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  The growing commercial-printing company became publicly traded in the United Kingdom.

• 1964

  St Ives is founded

  [1]Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org

  Robert Gavron acquired a failing publishing business in St Ives, Cambridgeshire, and renamed it St Ives.

A technology-led digital transformation consultancy combining strategy, data, cloud, software engineering, and digital product development to help organizations modernize and grow.

• Consulting service

  Digital transformation consulting

  Kin + Carta advised organizations on the redesign of business processes, customer experiences, operating models, and technology estates. This work connected strategic planning with practical implementation, helping clients move from transformation objectives to deployable digital capabilities.

• Technology consulting service · 2010

  Data and analytics

  The company provided data-oriented consulting and implementation services, including the use of organizational data to support decision-making, customer insight, operational improvement, and digital product development.

• Cloud consulting service

  Cloud transformation

  Kin + Carta's cloud offering supported the modernization and delivery of technology infrastructure and applications. It formed part of the consultancy's broader work helping clients replace legacy approaches with more scalable digital platforms.

• Software and product development

  Digital product engineering

  The consultancy designed and built digital products and software applications for clients. Its capabilities were reinforced by the acquisition of Solstice Mobile, a Chicago-based software consultancy, and included product engineering as a core part of the post-2018 business.

• 2022Vision 2045 participation

  International

  Kin + Carta joined Vision 2045, an environmental initiative connected with long-term sustainability and climate action.

  Outcome. The participation strengthened the company's public positioning around environmental responsibility.

  Source
• 2021B Corporation certification program

  United Kingdom · International

  Kin + Carta pursued B Corporation certification as part of its triple-bottom-line approach to business, emphasizing social and environmental performance alongside financial performance.

  Outcome. The company became the first company traded on the London Stock Exchange to achieve B Corporation certification.

  Source

• 2024

  Acquisition by ValtechM&A

  Background

  Kin + Carta had been transitioning from a listed standalone consultancy toward new ownership after the 2023 bid announcement.

  Action taken

  Valtech acquired Kin + Carta in April 2024.

  Aftermath

  Kin + Carta ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company and became part of Valtech.

  Source

• 2023

  Accept proposed Apax-backed acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Kin + Carta was an independent publicly traded digital transformation consultancy when Kelvin UK Bidco, owned by Apax Partners, announced a proposed acquisition.

  Action taken

  Kelvin UK Bidco offered to acquire the company for £203 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction preceded Kin + Carta's eventual acquisition by Valtech and its departure from independent public-company status.

  Proposed acquisition value. £203 million (October 2023)

  Source

• 2018

  Exit printing and rebrand as Kin + CartaStrategy

  Background

  The legacy printing business was in structural decline, while the company's acquisitions had expanded its digital capabilities.

  Action taken

  St Ives sold its remaining print operations and adopted the Kin + Carta name.

  Aftermath

  The company repositioned itself as an international digital transformation consultancy focused on strategy, data, cloud, software, and digital products.

  Source

• 2010

  Acquire Occam to enter digital servicesM&A

  Background

  St Ives faced structural decline in commercial printing as digital media reduced demand for physical print.

  Action taken

  The company acquired Occam, a digital marketing and data business, for approximately £12 million.

  Aftermath

  The transaction became an early building block in St Ives' diversification toward digital consulting and technology services.

  Acquisition price. Approximately £12 million (2010)

  Source

1. 1Kin + Cartaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kin + Carta corporate websitekinandcarta.com