On the back of yet another strong year to December 2016 and just in time for Christmas, Sentio has completed a hat-trick of deals in the same week. In a corporate finance industry characterised by unpredictability, post Brexit concerns and an economy in a state of uncertainty, the transactions represent just a small part of what has been another successful year for Sentio Partners and Sentio Insight.
Firstly, Kudos Shower Products announced the acquisition of Ulster based shower tray manufacturer Spa-Jet, with strategic advice and due diligence support provided by Sentio. Kudos founder and Chairman Bruce Ledwith commented: “This acquisition will enable us to offer an enhanced range at more competitive prices whilst maintaining our commitment to manufacturing in the UK”.
Two days later, Sentio advised £0.5bn market capitalised, Australian Securities Exchange listed SG Fleet Group on their second UK transaction in quick succession, with the acquisition of Motiva Group, a provider of contract hire, short-term rental and fleet management services. This follows up on their acquisition of Fleet Hire in August 2016, which, integrated with Motiva, will propel SG Fleet into the top 20 providers of vehicle fleet hire services in the UK market. SG Fleet’s Chief Executive Officer, Robbie Blau, said: “Motiva perfectly complements our current footprint in the UK. It is an ideal fit for our growth strategy, adding further scale to our tool-of-trade offering as well as expertise in the specialist light commercial vehicle segment”.
Finally, Sentio advised the shareholders of Environmental Engineering (“EE”), a £19m turnover HVAC, mechanical and electrical engineering specialist, on their disposal to SPIE SA, which will add further mechanical capability to SPIE UK’s already strong multi-technical services offering. Guy Fishwick, co-founder of EE alongside Paul Scurrah, commented: “Since EE was established 25 years ago, we have put great emphasis on our growth and development. Today represents the next exciting move and we are thrilled that it will be with a business as well respected as SPIE.”
Sentio has completed 12 deals in 2016, spanning a variety of sectors, and the year ahead also looks extremely positive with a healthy pipeline of prospective acquisitions, disposals, buyouts, debt advisory mandates and due diligence assignments that will keep the team busy well into 2017. In response, Sentio have welcomed two new employees, Robert Pettican and Matthew Tollefson, to a growing team that now numbers 14 professionals and represents one of the largest and most experienced independent corporate finance and transaction support firms in the UK
Sentio also look back this year and reflect on what was their 50th completed deal since the firm was established in January 2012. Five years on and Sentio are still offering expert commercial advice to clients whilst maintaining the same pragmatic, creative and tenacious approach to deal-making that has characterised Sentio’s ethos since establishment.
