Listed below are a sample of our deals which show the span of advisory to investment, MBI to MBO. These transactions represent only a sample of our work and we look forward to working with you to add to these.
Former CCO & CEO
Verastar
Senior leadership team of UK Business Services Aggregator, Verastar, which they scaled through 20+ acquisitions and exited via Private Equity secondary buy-out at a valuation in excess of £400m in 2020
To harness the teams experiences at Verastar by building a new SME-focused managed services group covering IT Support, cloud services, connectivity and communications
Former COO & CFO
GCI Managed Services, now know as Nasstar
Senior leadership team of IT Managed Services provider, GCI, who they scaled through 23 acquisitions and exited for £200m to Mayfair Private Equity in 2018
To harness the teams experiences at GCI (and other leading IT service companies) to build a new platform which leads from top-of-market expertise in Cloud & Remote Desktop, Network & Security, Voice & Contact Centre and Managed IT support
Former CEO
of Barclay Brothers investment
Managing Director – Arrow XL (Barclay Brothers portfolio company) – delivered turnaround from negative £3m EBITDA to positive £3m EBITDA in just 3 years
Head of Logistics – M&S.com
Supply Chain Director – Land of Leather
Having worked under private equity ownership with the Barclay Brothers, Ian was keen to build an independent haulage group which he was 100% owner of.
Former CEO
of Carlyle Group investment
Former CFO and CEO of DHL, DAMCO & UPS, Nic recently scaled and exited 2,000 vehicle African carrier J&J Transport for Carlyle Group – one of the largest private equity funds globally.
Having worked for private equity extensively, Nic seeks to build an independently owned global supply chain group – connecting the North America, Europe and Asia spanning transport, pallet, warehousing, forwarding, customs and value-add processing
Managing Director
RJ Lift Services
Developed family-owned lift maintenance business, RJ Lift Services, from £2m turnover to over £15m inside of 8 years and in doing so increasing EBITDA to in excess of £4m
Development of the company from a regional independent to a recognised national brand built to be able to compete with global manufacturers.
Initially a target for a previous Independence client
Assisted design and delivery of an MBO
Assisted management with growth plan
Advised shareholders on value realisation options and designed & built exit to an Employee Ownership Trust
Former Global Strategy Director
Thyssenkrupp
Phil has been pivotal in building industrial plants around the world for global brands such as Jaguar Land Rover and ThyssenKrupp before recently leading an engineering and FM brand for private equity
To build a “digital-first” engineering services group, delivering service and technical innovation to a sector which has lagged behind others in terms of digitisation.
Former owner
Woodways Packaging
Along with his brother, Jason scaled and exit £40m family business Woodways to Bunzl in 2018 and during this time built reputation and expertise servicing some of the countries largest retail, e-commerce and supply chain businesses
Identifying that the packaging industry as largely traditional and unchanged despite the radical pace and scale of change in consumer behaviour and expectations over recent years. Jason and team are building a group capable of merchanting a broad range of products, quickly and in a manner fit for modern FMCG & retail brands.
Ongoing buy-side support
“Independence have proven to be a great partner for our business and we really value their expertise. They have not only worked hard to learn about our business and support our needs, they have shared guidance on strategies which have collectively brought great value to the company, family and the team remaining within the business.”
By Richard Skelson – scaled family business 10x
“Independence were really helpful in supporting my first acquisition in the UK. In a new country and market, they helped me to successfully navigate a challenging vendor and their advisor and I am really pleased with how the acquisition has subsequently performed. I intend to work with them again in the future as the group looks for M&A buy-side support as part of its growth plans”
By Craig Schweitzer – ex Xerox MD
“After exiting Verastar, I spent a lot of time talking to the market to find partners able to help on my next project. Independence were the only party I spoke to where there was very clear alignment of expertise, interest and risk. In the short time we have been working together they have made great progress originating and structuring off-market opportunities and I look forward to counting on their support as we build the group over the years ahead”
By Alex Heslip – exited for >£400m
“Having scaled and exited with private equity before, we knew that building our own group without traditional private equity was our aim. Independence have a unique proposition built exactly for our purpose and have been exceptional partners in helping us deliver on that dream. We have made great progress in a short space of time and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Independence to other teams and leaders in our position”
By Mark Allen – exited for >£200m
“Having worked with traditional private equity, I could easily relate to Independences differentiated offering. I have been extremely impressed by the quality and volume of off-market targets delivered and the depth of support available in structuring, and strategy. Building a global group isn’t straightforward but Independence have fast become integral partners and I will recommend them to other teams and leaders”
By Nic Kyrzakos – exited for Carlyle Group
“Independence helped give me the confidence to build my own group and have been exceptionally supportive throughout a tumultuous past 3 years, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to other leaders and management teams.“
By Ian Howell – ex Barclay Brothers MD
“I have enjoyed working with Independence and welcomed their support in helping to navigate some complex situations, good and bad. I would recommend them to other leaders looking to build their own group.”
By Simon Wellings – exited for >£1bn
“Having sold our family business to a blue chip company, we have experience of growing and running companies at both ends of the spectrum. When we started the Titan Packaging Group, what we didn’t have experience of was M&A outside of our own deal. Independence have been really helpful and insightful, in working with us to explore what is possible in the market and we continue to value their support in helping us to build our group over the coming years”
By Jason Inwood – exited to Bunzl
“Having worked with global blue-chips and mid-market private equity all my career, a lot of what we are doing with Independence I didn’t think was possible. They have proven to be a fantastic alternative and I really value their support.“
By Phil McClennon – ex Global Strategy Thyssenkrupp
