South West companies named in Sunday Times list
Two South West-based companies have made the cut for the Sunday Times Deloitte Buyout Track 100 list.
Chemicals and gasses distributor A-Gas International, headquartered in Bristol, made it to number 56 - down from its placing at number 50 in 2011.
Permali Gloucester, a composites products distributor, was based at number 80 having entered the chart for the first time.
The Buyout Track 100 league table ranks Britain's 100 private-equity-backed companies with the fastest-growing profits over the last two years.
The two companies headquartered in the South West (compared with four last year) employ a combined 227 people, having added 38 jobs over the last two years. They generated profits of £16m between them.
LDC backed a buyout of A-Gas from Growth Capital Partners in April 2011, taking a 62 per cent stake in a deal that valued the company at £70m. Under group chairman John Rutley, profits have grown an average 37 per cent a year over the last two years, to £13.1m in 2011.
Newcomer Permali Gloucester was founded in 1937 and now manufactures corrosion and fire-resistant materials for the defence, aviation, motor sports and rail industries.
Its management buyout in 1998 was backed by 3i for an undisclosed sum. Under managing director Gus King, profits have grown an average 27 per cent a year over two years, to £3m in 2010.
