NCM is pleased that our client Elaghmore has made its sixth and seventh acquisitions from its £60 million, initial private equity fund, Elaghmore I (Fund 1) which closed at the end of 2016. The investment strategy of the fund is focused on businesses that present a significant opportunity for growth and value creation. Elaghmore has a strong track record over the past decade, investing in and successfully growing businesses.
One of the businesses acquired is Gardners, one of Europe’s leading designers and manufacturers of and an early pioneer in digital print technology. Today, from its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Gardners now provides large format graphic solutions to leading brands, retailers and agencies. Gardners offers a full end-to-end solution, from creative design, through to complex installation. Gardners works with customers across the retail, logistics, construction and leisure sectors.
Greg Koral, Partner at Elaghmore, said, “Gardners is a very exciting business which serves an impressive blue-chip customer base. The opportunity for Gardners to collaborate closely with Kesslers, brings a new and exciting dimension to our plan to create a world-leading provider of integrated digital and physical display solutions. We look forward to working closely with Richard and James at Gardners to support them in reaching the next stage of the Company’s development.”
The other business Elaghmore has acquired is SFD, a creative organisation that offers a complete visual needs solution to the retail industry. SFD collaborates with exclusive global brands and retailers, helping them to realise their unique visions to create the ultimate customer experience. The SFD offering includes a suite of display solutions for in-store and front of store, including innovative window displays and a market-leading mannequin proposition. SFD has an unrivalled manufacturing and sourcing capability. This capability enables it to provide customers with a globally consistent solution that encompasses creative design, prototyping and installation. Elaghmore has purchased SFD from its management who will remain with the company.
Greg Koral, Partner at Elaghmore, said, “SFD has built a global reputation in the display solutions market. SFD will add global sourcing and visual merchandising capability to the solutions already being offered by Kesslers and Gardners. The combination of the three business creates a world-leading provider of integrated digital and physical display solutions serving world-leading brands and retailers. These are exciting times for the newly formed group with significant opportunities ahead, and we look forward to working with Paul and the team at SFD through its next phase of development.”
Elaghmore will provide financial backing to both Gardners and SFD. This will support the growth plans of Gardners, including significant investment to enhance production capacity through the use of the latest technology. It will also enable SFD to invest in its supply chain as well as to support the creation of advanced design and prototyping capability. SFD will continue to operate autonomously but will work closely with Gardners and Kesslers which was acquired in September 2017. Delivering impressive growth under Elaghmore’s ownership, Kesslers is a leading European designer and manufacturer of digital and physical in-store display solutions.
Commenting on the transaction, Directors Richard Courtney and James Morris of Gardners said, “We are delighted to join Elaghmore and be a key part of the growth plans within a world-leading group, we believe a collaborative and complementary approach in this space will provide significant value for all of our clients. In a consolidating and changing market place, this investment sets us on a far broader, adaptable and longer term display solutions strategy.”
The combination of SFD, Kesslers and Gardners will create a world-leading provider of integrated digital and physical display solutions for brands and retailers, including in-store, front of store, outside spaces and transportable media. The combined capabilities of these companies will meet the increasing demands of retailers and brands to create innovative solutions that deliver commercial benefit, communicates the brand’s values and most importantly, has the needs of their most loyal customers at its heart. Together the businesses employ over 300 people with annual sales in excess of £60 million.
Commenting on the transaction, CEO of SFD, Paul Brooks said, “In a rapidly evolving environment, which sees retail and brands constantly transforming, SFD is delighted to become part of the Elaghmore family. This exciting opportunity will accelerate our innovation offering at a unique moment in the history of retail and will enable our clients to forge ahead and break new ground, elevating them above their competition both now and in the future. Together with my team I am honoured to be a part of this journey.”