Tip of the week

Time is a highly effective point of leverage in negotiations. Ensure you are in control of it to improve your position and increase power. Remember that most deadlines are artificial. Decide how you may wish to use milestones rather than be the victim of seemingly imposed deadlines.

The Gap Partnership

Blackstone in business negotiations for Polymer Group

Private equity firm looking to buy non-woven material maker

11 August 2010

Blackstone Group is locked in business negotiations with rival private equity firm MatlinPatterson, it has been revealed.

The company is looking to purchase the Polymer Group from MatlinPatterson, who hold a majority stake in the non-woven material maker.

MatlinPatterson has been seeking to sell the group for months and Blackstone even acted as a sales adviser during this time.

It means Blackstone has acted as mergers and acquisition adviser and a potential buyer for the same deal.

Shares in Polymer rose by 12 per cent to $22.30 (£14.20) following the announcement of the potential deal, which values the company at around $478.5 million (£305 million).

Polymer Group develops non-woven materials which are used in disposable nappies, food packaging and disposable wipes.

The company claims to be the world's largest maker of non-woven medical fabrics and acquired Johnson & Johnson's medical non-woven unit in 1995.

Gap News

October 2011

Gap Tools, Online Negotiation Planning Solution

As part of the their ongoing commitment to innovation, The Gap Partnership launched Gap Tools, the world's first online Negotiation Planning toolkit.

Read more


October 2011

‘The Negotiation Book’

'The Negotiation Book', a must-have for any negotiator, available to order on Amazon

Read more


September 2011

2011-2012 Events

The Gap Partnership would like to thank visitors to our latest breakfast seminar, Joint Business Planning: Profit in Partnership.

Read more


March 2011

£42,000 donation to Caravan Charity.

The Gap Partnership in conjunction with GSK and Asda are pleased to announce the success of a one-day interactive negotiation workshop - a donation of £42,000.

Read more


March 2011

Asia-Pacific offices now open

Our business is expanding globally and has opened offices in both Sydney and Hong Kong.

Read more