Category Archives: Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships

Business & Property News, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Cardiff News, IT Services

Flotek Completes Tenth Successful Acquisition Branching into the Hospitality Sector

Prolific IT and Managed Service Provider, Flotek Group, has acquired IT & telecommunications company Orbiss in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group. The acquisition marks the tenth successful acquisition for fast-growing Flotek.

The strategic acquisition of Truro-based Orbiss has enabled Flotek to expand its presence in the Southwest, to grow its team to 72 employees, and increase its revenue to £8.5m. The acquisition unlocks new areas of growth for Flotek, as Orbiss specialises in providing IT & telecommunication solutions to the hospitality industry (notably working with large clients such as Best Western and Holiday Inn).

Orbiss marks the first stage of Flotek’s growth into the hospitality sector, and the Cornish business will form a key part of Flotek’s offering in Southwest England, bolstering the Plymouth team to serve more clients in that area. Flotek has already dedicated resources to support the Orbiss team and its customers’ integration, retaining the expertise that Orbiss has established over the years.

Jay Ball, Flotek CEO, has known Orbiss owners, Karen McGowan and Karen Patterson for over 16 years, making Flotek Group well-placed to take Orbiss into the future.

Speaking on the acquisition, Jay said: “We are so pleased that Orbiss has joined the Flotek Group. I have worked with Karen McGowan and Karren Patterson for a long time, assisting them with engineers on the ground, and their 35-year experience in the sector is invaluable to us. The culture and passion at Orbiss align with the culture and values of Flotek, making it a perfect fit for the Group. The acquisition will enable us to accelerate our foothold in the hospitality market across the UK and continue to grow our services as a Managed IT & Communications solutions provider in the South West.”

Karen McGowan, co-owner of Orbiss, commented: “Working with Jay for over 16 years has allowed us to build a great amount of trust in his service, and we’re excited for our team and customers to be part of Flotek Group’s ambitious plans for the future.”

Karen Patterson added: “We are very much looking forward to being part of Flotek’s phenomenal growth and are delighted to continue serving our nationwide customers alongside our team that has helped us make the business what it is, now with Flotek’s service offering of nationwide IT & Cyber Security Support and client base behind us.”

GS Verde was delighted to have assisted Flotek on their landmark 10th acquisition in 18 months. Their multidiscipline team consisting of law, finance, tax, and communications expertise has advised on each Flotek acquisition from deal structuring through to completion.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Bristol, Business Expansion, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Mergers & Acquisitions, News from England, South West

Rawlings Group Ltd Extends Service Offering with Strategic Acquisition of Paper Bag Company

Rawlings & Son Ltd (Rawlings Group), a multi-brand packaging and drink processing specialist, has acquired Paper Bag Company, in a seven-figure deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

The acquisition brings together the largest independent glass packaging supplier in the UK and the market-leading supplier of bespoke bags for retail and business.

Rawlings Group has a rich history dating back to 1850, starting out by washing and recycling beer bottles and selling them to breweries. Today, Rawlings Group prides itself on its collaborative approach to packaging development and experience-led service, as well as having a focus on sustainability and working towards environmentally positive options.

Paper Bag Co. has been providing alternatives to plastic bags for businesses and retail spaces since its inception 18 years ago. The business draws on expertise in both digital and traditional printing techniques to create a wide range of high-quality, tailored paper, canvas, and reusable cotton bags for their clients.

Rawlings Group and Paper Bag Co. both prioritise an ethical approach to their products and supply chain. Through their accreditations and supply chain Paper Bag Co can offer a wide range of Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS organic) and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified products; this level of transparency underpins a shared culture and commitment to protect the environment.

Rawlings Group CEO, Tom Wood, said of the acquisition: “The acquisition of Paper Bag Co is an exceptional opportunity for the Rawlings Group. By expanding our product offering in this space we will further develop our range of packaging services that share an ethical and sustainable focus, offering clients an end-to-end service for most packaging requirements.”

Paper Bag Co. CEO, Jon Marling added: “Rawlings Group was the perfect option to continue our journey on a larger platform. The Rawlings team’s ethos and purpose are very much aligned with ours and we are looking forward to developing our people and growing our positive impact & synergies in the future.”

The multidiscipline team at GS Verde Group advised Rawlings at every stage of the transaction, providing legal, financial and tax support for a streamlined and successful corporate transaction.

Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Cardiff, Cardiff News, Environment, Environment News, Marketing & PR, Marketing and PR, Marketing, PR and SEO, News from Wales, PR and SEO, Sport, Wales, Wales News

Welsh Business MSS Group Partners With Cardiff Rugby

RSK, a global leader in the delivery of sustainable solutions, and its Cardiff-based environmental services company MSS Group are partnering with Cardiff Rugby to use their expertise to help the club achieve its sustainability goals. And the partnership already has players like utility forward Josh Turnbull and flanker Ellis Jenkins talking about their own sustainability goals.

RSK and MSS Group, both principal partners and shirt sponsors, and another RSK environmental business, Nature Positive, will work with Cardiff Rugby to help the club evaluate and reduce its environmental impact by examining a range of factors including team and supporter travel to matches, recycling and food and beverage packaging, waste management along with examining sustainable energy options such solar power.

RSK Chief Executive Officer Alan Ryder said: “RSK is an enthusiastic supporter of sport, and like MSS, which has been supporting the club for more than a decade, we’re looking forward to working together to take our relationship beyond the rugby pitch. We know how passionate Cardiff Rugby is about its commitment to its community. Through the Cardiff Blue Community Foundation, it uses the power and values of sport to inspire, engage and improve opportunities for communities. The environmental impact of all we do, and the choices that we make, affect all of us and we hope to work with the club and the foundation to talk about how we can all make a difference every day.”

Cardiff players Josh Turnbull and Ellis Jenkins prioritise sustainability in their own lives and said they hope to learn more from RSK.

Josh said: “I’m quite environmentally conscious and I’m very aware of things like single-use plastic, staying away from that wherever possible, and teaching my kids good habits around recycling, reusing, and reducing waste. It’s something I’ve become more and more aware of with the increasing exposure of the climate crisis, how much plastic there is in the oceans and things like that. Ultimately, we want this planet to be here for a very long time after us for our kids, their kids and so on. The more sustainable and responsible we can be in all areas of life the longer we will have this planet.

“We’ve had an environmental committee and as a playing group, we are very aware of the challenges and are always driving to be more sustainable in our environment. I was at Glastonbury recently and it was quite an eye opener in terms of how much recycling there is available, the way tents are recycled and turned into flags, sculptures made from recycled products.”

He added: “RSK is clearly driving the standards of sustainability and as a club, we want to be part of that. If they can help us drive those standards, collaborate and work with other partners to be more sustainable, then that is brilliant.”

Ellis agreed, saying: “I have always been passionate about the environment and sustainability, so it is great to see the club continue their partnership with MSS Group, and now their parent company RSK, who is such a major player within that space.

“We already have many sponsors and suppliers who promote sustainability, whether someone like Octopus Energy or our waste management company, so it is great to bring all of this together and take it to a new level with RSK coming on board.

“Personally, I am also trying to make small changes like only buying locally sourced meat to ensure it is farmed responsibly and the food miles are as low as possible. I am really excited to see how this partnership develops in the coming years and how much difference we can all make. Having RSK on board will not only help make us more sustainable as a club but educate us in ways we can all improve our lifestyles to reduce our footprint on the planet.”

Jonathan James, MD at the MSS Group, added, “I am delighted that MSS and the RSK family are continuing our partnership with Cardiff Rugby. We know first-hand the positive influence that the team has on the Cardiff community and South Wales, and I am excited to see the wider effect our collaboration on this important sustainability project will have.”

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, South Wales, Swansea, Telecoms, Telecoms News, Wales

Flotek Completes 8th Acquisition in 12 Months

Flotek has acquired Liberty Solutions (Swansea) Limited, a telecommunications provider based in Swansea. The deal is the 8th acquisition for IT & Comms MSP Flotek Group since launching in April 2022 by CEO, Jay Ball.

 

Flotek is known for its innovative solutions and customer-centric approach. With a mission to help SMEs consolidate data and voice communications with one trusted provider, the acquisition further enhances the offering to Flotek’s customers.

 

Founded by Andre Morgan, Liberty Solutions is a telecommunications provider offering telephone systems, telephone lines and business broadband solutions tailored to small and medium sized businesses.

 

Jay Ball, CEO of Flotek, said: “We are pleased that Liberty Solutions is now part of the Flotek family. They have been a trusted telecom provider for local businesses in and around South Wales, joining Flotek means customers will now benefit from Managed IT & Cybersecurity services from one technology provider.”

 

Flotek’s growth strategy is driven by its core value of providing customers a single point of contact for all their technology needs.

 

On Flotek’s rapid growth, Jay continues: “Having completed 8 acquisitions in 12 months, we now have 4 Swansea bases as well as multiple locations in England. Expanding our market share so rapidly in such a short period of time has been a great first step in our long term growth strategy.

 

“Right now, our priorities are integrating and operating as one business with clearly defined goals. We continue to communicate with all parts of the business to ensure integration plans are on track ready for any future acquisitions.”

 

Previous deals made by Flotek include Gower Business Systems, Cloud9ine and Saecom in South Wales and Mazing Tree, FlexiNet, ECS Solutions and Toolk-IT, which enabled the group’s geographical expansion as well as enhancing Flotek’s service offering.

 

Multidiscipline dealmakers GS Verde Group structured and advised on the deal.

Connect with Flotek: at www.flotek.io.

 

Business, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Construction, Construction News, North of England

MBO at multidiscipline construction company fuels turnkey ambitions

Multidisciplinary construction company the Beech Group (John Beech Limited) has announced the successful completion of a Management Buyout that will fuel the business’s focussed growth and turnkey service delivery plans, a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

Established September 1963, John Beech Limited has experienced significant change over the years, as methods and legislation both influenced ‘smarter’ and ‘safer’ working. Beech Group even had the privilege of undertaking works with the late Fred Dibnah, when a pint and demolition went hand in hand – though nowadays it is a cup of tea and biodiesel (HVO).

 

Set to celebrate their 60th year of trading in September, the Birkenhead-based Group has developed a wide range of services including demolition, scaffolding, geotechnical, asbestos surveying and removal, mechanical and electrical installation, and construction design management. The business’s clients come from a variety of sectors and include the likes of Land Rover, Stellantis – Vauxhall, Essar Oil UK – Stanlow, and Alder Hey NHS.

 

The MBO, led by Gareth Vaughan, will allow the company to begin to fulfil their focussed growth and turn-key service delivery plans, building upon a long and established reputation, in the commercial, industrial, automotive, and petrochemical sectors.

 

Since joining John Beech Limited in May 2021, Gareth has enabled the business to go beyond historic trading, from a £5-6m turnover, to over £12m 2022/2023, and from an historical average EBIDTA of £500k to £2.5m 2022/2023. The business is set to continue on this upward trend.

 

Managing Director of John Beech Limited, Gareth Vaughan commented: “The Beech Group has a well-established, experienced team in place to deliver some of the most hazardous services to new and continually valued clients. We are committed to the continued delivery of our specialist services to identify, manage, control and reduce and remove hazards, whilst protecting clients, their employees, and their brand reputation.”

Sellers Philip Jordan and Christopher Wainwright have supported the management team, providing them with an opportunity to take full control of the business with financial backing from SME Capital.

Said Philip Jordan: “We would like to thank all those involved who made the MBO possible. Gareth has been an integral part of the Beech Group, utilising his broad skillset and knowledge to expand and further develop our services and we look forward to seeing the business flourish under his leadership.”

 

Multidiscipline dealmaking experts GS Verde Group advised throughout every aspect of the transaction, including the financial analysis and forecasting, valuation, funding arrangements and legal structuring.

Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business, Business Expansion, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, News from Wales

Flotek acquisition of Toolk-IT marks seventh deal since launch

South Wales IT provider Toolk-IT has been acquired by the Flotek Group, the fast-growing, innovative MSP with an ambitious mission to provide the most customer-centric, fully integrated IT and Telecoms support in the technology market.

 

Founded by Richard Williams out of the need for an informed IT provider that enables businesses to keep up with diverse and evolving technology demands, Toolk-IT’s comprehensive service offering includes cyber-security, broadband and helpdesk support.

 

The acquisition, which is Flotek’s seventh since launching in May last year, sees Toolk-IT access further telecoms support and resources through the Group, to augment its offering to clients.

 

Flotek CEO Jay Ball said: “We are delighted that Toolk-IT has joined the Flotek Group. Since launching we have developed a strong reputation in South Wales and the South West, therefore this acquisition is a natural fit that brings our nationwide client base to over 1,000 and our turnover reach almost £5m, in line with Flotek’s ambitious growth strategy.

 

“With Richard donning one of our purple shirts and taking on the role of Client Account Consultant, his valuable knowledge and experience complement our existing team and further enhances our ability to provide exceptional customer service to clients.”

 

An accomplished sales director, Richard boasts over 20 years’ experience in generating new business, account management and accelerated revenue streams in the wholesale telecoms and MSP market.

 

He said: “I am excited to be joining the Flotek Group and work alongside the ever-growing team. We share an aligned vision of ensuring businesses get the IT and Telecoms support they deserve.

 

“Combining our current IT expertise with Flotek’s integrated offering enables us to provide greater telecoms services to clients, offering them a more complete solution to meet their needs and fuel their own growth.

 

The deal follows the Flotek Group’s significant expansion into North Wales, the Midlands and North West England, developing a key target of providing a set-time response to clients through dedicated teams now with local engineers.

 

Connect with Flotek: at www.flotek.io.

Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships

Unique leading streak in M&A rankings continues for GS Verde

The GS Verde Group has once again secured top spots in the Experian Market IQ report, as the most active M&A financial advisors and second most active legal advisors in Wales.

Remaining in the top positions for the first half of 2022, GS Verde continues its unique trend of being the first and only firm in Wales to rank in both the corporate finance and legal categories in these rankings.

The Group advised on the highest volume of deals out of all financial advisories in the country, and is the only other firm to also feature in the legal ranking, placing second.

Nigel Greenaway, GS Verde Group CEO, said: “We are delighted to see GS Verde top these rankings, which reflect the entire M&A market across the nation.

“Our consistent presence in these leading positions is an impressive accomplishment, demonstrating the demand and success of our end-to-end dealmaking approach.”

GS Verde continues to disrupt the dealmaking scene with its unique, multidisciplined approach. The Group combines legal, finance, tax and communications advice to provide end-to-end support through corporate transactions, acting as one team.

This achievement forms part of ongoing successes for GS Verde in the Experian Market IQ reports, notably topping the rankings in the first quarter of the year and also in 2021.

Standout deals for the Group already this year include advising the UK’s leading independent planning and design consultancy on its acquisition by an international firm, and the successful completion of an EOT at Wales’ top apprenticeships and training provider.

Mr Greenaway continued: “As we continue to expand across Wales, England and Europe, investing in cutting edge tools to enhance our insights into the M&A market, GS Verde’s deal pipeline is only set to advance.

“Each year we have grown to have our best year of trading to date, and 2022 will be no exception.”

*Information correct as per available Experian Market IQ reports

Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships

Management Buy Out completed at GX Group

GX Group, a product design, value engineering and system development company, has announced the successful completion of a seven-figure management buyout, in a deal advised on by the GS Verde Group.

 

A multidiscipline group based in South Wales, GX ensures projects progress smoothly and swiftly from conception to production, with its inhouse team of engineers developing award-winning innovations such as an artificial stomach and the use of bioluminescent technology to monitor water contamination.

 

The Group consists of three companies: Grid Xitek, a leading product design and technology business that has served UK-wide clients for over 30 years, designing high quality commercial solutions for clients across a range of industries including aerospace, automotive and life sciences.

 

Additionally, GX Environmental, which has developed its own tried-and-tested wastewater and clean water management system. With over 400 installations worldwide, the products monitor and manage the distribution and discharge of water, while offering real-time management information alongside onboard tanker logging to ensure ultimate efficiency.

 

Thirdly, GX Systems integrates purposeful, functional systems into existing structures. The team of skilled industrial and mechanical software engineers are specialists in implementing SCADAs and PLCs designed to improve productivity, with experience including the creation of automated retrieval systems, building test rigs and controlling water flow.

 

The former directors are remaining within the business in a variety of roles, with former Managing Director, Mark Helmich, taking on the role of Non-Executive Chairman.

 

Commenting on behalf of the exiting management team, Mark Helmich said: “A key element of GX’s success is the breadth and experience of our engineering teams, who are committed to turning brilliant ideas into commercial results for all our clients.

 

“We are pleased to see the business continue under the helm of the new management team, who themselves have over 100 years combined experience with the GX Group, and whose fresh thinking and technical excellence will propel GX to even greater heights.”

 

GX has demonstrated impressive business growth, with enquiries increasing by more than half since 2019. To cope with the increased demand for its design engineering skills, the business has undertaken a successful recruitment drive with the diverse, forward-thinking team expanding by almost 30%.

 

The GX team prides itself on integrating a high degree of creativity with a systematic and rigorous design approach, supporting entrepreneurs and established businesses to transform their ideas into commercial realities.

 

As independent engineers, the group works as equals rather than on a hierarchical basis to combine their wealth of knowledge and abilities for the benefit of clients.

 

Commenting on their new role as Directors of the company, spokesperson Claire Ricketts said: “When the directors announced their plans, we were unanimous that we wanted to take on the responsibility to run the group and to grow the company.

 

“Having a new management team that includes individuals from the three different business divisions means that we can continue to progress the business, meeting the diverse needs of our clients and turning their brilliant ideas into commercial reality.”

 

Dealmaking experts GS Verde Group advised throughout the transaction.

Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Tech Finance & Investment, Telecoms

Flotek M&A ready with Tower Leasing acquisition fund

Ambitious IT Managed Service Provider Flotek has unveiled substantial backing from one of the UK’s leading finance firms, Tower Leasing to continue its acquisitive growth strategy.

 

The IT MSP, founded by a trio of experienced entrepreneurs, supports SMEs in South Wales and beyond prepare for IT digital transformation by embracing next generation technologies to improve their operations and service offerings.

 

Tower Leasing has committed a substantial acquisition fund to enhance Flotek’s robust strategy for organic and acquisitional growth, which includes an established pipeline of deals set to complete by the end of the year.

 

Jay Ball, CEO of Flotek, said: “We’re thrilled with not only the difference Flotek has made to our clients, delivering growth, scalability and cost savings though first-class services and technologies, but our own fast growth as a business.

 

“This backing from such a force as Tower Leasing is an endorsement of our business model and management team at Flotek, and a real boost to the buy and build growth strategy we’ve set out.”

 

Tower Leasing has over 30 years of experience in finance brokerage and has established strong relationships with over 25 financial institutions alongside access to its own book funds.

 

Flotek recently announced the acquisition of legal and professional services specialist IT provider Gower Business Systems, supported by Tower Leasing, expanding Flotek’s geographical profile and contributing £1.2m in revenue to the company.

 

The business is actively pursuing IT & Comms opportunities for consolidation that preserve the local identity and presence SMEs value from their technology provider, while delivering the new technologies needed to unlock the next stage of business and economic development.

 

Kerry Howells, Managing Director of Tower Leasing, said: “Flotek’s SME-focused ethos of dedicated managed services support is a distinct, and much-needed approach in this field. We are delighted to partner with Flotek and commit our support as the business continues its acquisitional growth.”

 

To learn more about Flotek visit www.flotek.io.

Business, Business & Property News, Business Mergers, Acquisitions & Partnerships, Business News, Cardiff, Finance and Banking, News, Property, Wales News

GS Verde Group doubles HQ office space following significant growth

Following a year of significant growth, dealmaking business GS Verde Group has signed a lease to double their head office space in Cardiff, as part of impressive expansion plans for the multidisciplinary M&A advisory firm.

 

With a team of now more than 60 strong, the M&A and business sale specialists have seen a 30% increase in staff since the middle of 2021. The team’s growth spans the full scope of its multiple disciplines, with 5 new Legal experts, 10 Finance and Accounting specialists, 2 Data Analysts, and 3 Communications professionals.

 

This includes a number of high-profile senior appointments including new Directors, Joel Dunning (Corporate Finance), Fleur Riggs (Head of Specialist Tax), Garry MacKay (Commercial Law & IP), and most recently Simon Pathé, who joined the multi-discipline team as an Associate Director and Employment Law expert for GS Verde Law.

 

The growth in personnel, coupled with ever increasing demand for the Group’s dealmaking services, has led to the need to take on additional space at their head office in the Maltings, Cardiff.

 

Speaking of their expansion, GS Verde Group CEO, Nigel Greenaway said: “We are delighted to take on this additional space at the Maltings, a building we have been in since inception. To think we started as 2 people just 9 years ago, to now needing to double the capacity of our Cardiff office to meet our growth plans, really is credit to our excellent teams across the Group.”

 

Speaking on the signing of the new lease, Gareth Oram, Managing Director of the Maltings said: “We are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with GS Verde as the home of their head office. We look forward to seeing the next stages of their exciting growth.”

 

With further expansion planned in both Bristol and Dublin in 2022, as well as the business planning to continue to acquire as part of its own buy and build strategy, this year is proving to be an exciting one for GS Verde.

 

Mr. Greenaway added: “Working as one team, we are building something very special at GS Verde.  Our offering is truly unique, and the board and I are extremely excited to see our ambitious growth plans coming to fruition.”