Ian Howell

Ian Howell

Former CEO (of Barclay Brothers investment)

Legacy

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

Strategy

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.

After significant research we identified the South-East as a key traffic region with uniquely limited competitive density and around which we wanted to help Ian build a geographically material 3PL which could service nationally in partnership with pallet and sub-contract partners as well as play a prominent role as one of the regions largest service providers.

Transaction type

  • Advisory MBI – Management Buy-In
  • Advisory Buy-Side – Accretive additions to group
  • Advisory Refinance – funding stack restructure
  • Advisory Exit – Confidential

Delivered

  • 2018 Acquisition of Neil Bomford Haulage – 1.6m EBITDA
  • 2019 Acquisition of Star Transport & Warehousing – 0.5m EBITDA
  • 2019 Refinanced mezzanine capital – saving 60% cost of funds
  • Ongoing Debt Advisory to expand lines sizes to facilitate CAPEX and trade expansion at cheaper cost of funds, including maximising liquidity through public schemes

How did IC help?

  • Research

  • Outreach

  • Negotiation

  • Deal Structuring

  • FDD & LDD project management

  • Fundraising – senior debt & mezzanine

  • Post-deal board support

  • Stakeholder management of funders

  • Succession planning

  • Rolling acquisition targeting/planning

Quote

This was my first foray into acquiring a business without the support of a broader corporate infrastructure.

IC has offered invaluable support throughout the first acquisition, the second and post-deal; showing not only determination to deliver the best deal but also a calm & professional approach to managing both transactions, which at times were challenging for a variety of reasons.

I continue to count on the support and guidance of IC as I look to develop the capability and the footprint of the group and plan for the future.

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