With so many active strategies in tow at any time, we are always looking for specific targets to fill the buy-side appetite of our groups. We list below each active group along with the rough criteria we are looking for. Please do take the time to review and share your suggestions – for those of our network who are not working sell-side with the suggested target, we can accommodate some form of commission payment for successful introductions and the conversation could even lead to a role for you within IC or our client/invested businesses, so please connect and share your network with us.
The national roll-up of a SME focussed business services group. Led by Alex Heslip and Chris Earle, formerly senior-leaders of Verastar who they exited for over £400m. The new group is looking to provide diversified services into SME and Micro business customers
National but preference for NW
Min - £2m
Max - £25m
Min - £250k
Max - £3m
Having exited his family business, Woodways, to Bunzl in 2018. Jason Inwood, together with Loui Peniket & Andy Shorter, have reunited to provide the packaging industry with a modern, nimble and creative packaging service company. Serving noted national retailers and transport companies, as well as SME wholesalers and manufacturers, Jason and team are looking to reinvent a typically traditional industry.
National but preference for Midlands
Min - £2m
Max - £7m
Min - £250k
Max - £1.5m
Simon Wellings, an engineer by profession who counts inventing the turbo-charger with Cummins and exiting a newly-built electronics manufacturing group to Tyco for £1bn, is building a UK-based group of niche manufacturing businesses
UK
Min - £4m
Max - £15m
Min - £400k
Max - £2.50m
Led by Nic Kyrzakos, former global CEO & CFO of DHL, Damco, Maersk and having notably exited 2,000 vehicle African 3PL J&J Transport on behalf of Carlyle Group. Nik is now building a privately owned global supply chain group connecting blue-chip and national customers & suppliers with his network of transport, forwarding and warehouse providers spanning the US, UK, Europe & South-East Asia
Global but with major transport routes straddling UK & US
Min - £10m
Max - £100m
Min - £500k
Max - £20m
The national roll-up of a “digital-first” engineering services group. Led by Phil McClennon, ex-Global Strategy lead for Thyssenkrup, the group is looking to acquire high-grade technical engineering companies building capability nationally and spanning a wide and diversified customer base across; warehouse & logistics, aviation, rail, food & beverage, automotive, high-voltage, energy, telecoms infrastructure & renewables
National
max - £3m
min - £20m
Max - £0.5m
Min - £5m
The South-East based 3PL led by Ian Howells, ex-ArrowXL and M&S. The business has made two acquisitions and has charted Covid and Brexit positively, retaining scale and jobs and looking now to develop their presence in the South-East further.
South-East & East Anglia, no further North than Peterborough, no further West than Cambridge
max - £3m
min - £15m
Max - £300k
Min - £2m
The roll-up vehicle led by the ex-GCI leadership team. Started in 2021 the group have made three acquisitions already and have the advantages of being experts in the sector, able to transact quickly, their growth aspirations should be exciting for the incumbent team and they can structure a deal which suits the vendor as opposed to working to a pre-determined formula
Less interest in consulting and hardware business, with a preference for high-recurring revenue service businesses who own their own capability as opposed to purely resell
National but with extra flexibility in NW & Midlands due to pre-existing sites
Min - £1m
Max - £20m
Min - £250k
Max - £2.0m
“We were regularly approached by buyers but Independence were different. We could see they knew our sector and that they had the best interest of those staying behind after the transaction. Pre & post deal we have really enjoyed working together”
“We weren’t really considering a sale but when we heard the plans the buying team had for our business it was an easy decision to sell. Despite selling I’m really excited for what the business can go on to become”
“Selling to just the highest bidder was never the priority. When we were first approached we wanted different things but were delighted that Independence were able to pivot and help construct and deliver a solution which has proven best for everyone“
“Selling a multi-generation family business is never an easy decision or process. Independence helped make that be as good as it could be – the buyer-fit was fantastic and it’s great to see our business being taken forward so positively“
“Independence were pleasure to deal with and made the process very simple. Rolling some of my equity into the buying group has been a great decision and I am excited to be a part of a bigger group but with all the agility still of an entrepreneurial business“
Register your details with us and we will update your records as our appetite buy-side changes, giving you and your clients exclusive early-access into sponsored, liquid credible buyers able to transact quickly and in a manner which not only preserves businesses but affords the remaining teams with development opportunities as they join our companies on exciting growth plans.
