West Mids companies storm Sunday Times buyout list
Eight West Midlands companies have made it onto the fifth annual Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100. The highest placed company in the region is Telford-based electrical products supplier Nexus, which enters at number 19. The list ranks the UK’s 100 fastest growing private equity-backed companies over the past two years. Also included is Willenhall-based discount retailer Poundland, which jumped from its 2009 placing of 92 to 46.
Nexus, which is backed by Mgmt and EPIC Investments, experienced annual profit growth of more than 66 per cent over the last two years.
Coventry-based JHP Group, a training services provider, entered the list at number 33. The company, which had profit growth of 51.8 per cent over the two-year period, is backed by Mgmt and LDC.
Poundland, which jumped 46 places from last year’s 92nd placing, is backed by Warburg Pincus and Mgmt. Profits increased 40 per cent per year, from £15.3m in 2008 to £30.1m in 2010, prompting Warburg Pincus to back a £200m secondary buyout from Advent International in May last year.
Debt purchaser Apex Credit Management, based in Stratford-upon-Avin, was named at number 59. The company, backed by Anacap Financial Partners, experienced growth of 33.9 per cent.
Building services provider EIC slipped from its 2009 ranking of 43 to 65.
Birmingham-based aircraft tyre manufacturer Dunlop moved up the list from number 87 to 75, having witnessed growth of 27.6 per cent.
At number 94 is Walsall-based Azzurri Communications. The telecoms service provider is backed by Mgmt and Silverfleet Capital.
Across the Midlands 13 companies entered the rankings, compared to 16 in the 2009 listing. The 13 companies employ 14, 700 people, and have generated combined profits of £165m.
Chris Loughran, head of the Midlands region at Deloitte, said: “Many private equity backed businesses in the Midlands have weathered the storm once again and shown that sustained growth is possible.
“As the economy continues to strengthen and transaction confidence returns, deal volumes and corporate appetite for expansion through acquisitions will increase and I believe that many private equity back businesses will remain at the centre of M&A activity.”
