Management Buyouts

We back talented and ambitious management teams of established, profitable UK businesses looking to undertake a management buyout, finance an equity release, or execute a buy and build strategy.

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To us, small businesses are a big deal

We don't just invest in businesses; we partner with them to accelerate growth organically or through acquisition. We can invest up to £20 million in established SMEs with strong growth potential.

Our experienced investment and portfolio executives come from a wide range of professional and commercial backgrounds. This enables us to work in close partnership with senior management in each of our investee companies to help make positive change happen.

For most executive teams, a management buyout (MBO) is uncharted territory, but at Maven we have a strong track record for value creation and have helped over 50 management teams gain ownership of the business they manage.

What we look for

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Funding Requirement

We can invest from £2 million up to £20 million in a single transaction.

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Location

We back market disrupting or market influencing businesses headquartered in the UK, often with a meaningful international presence or aspiration.

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Stage of growth

We back established, profitable, and growing businesses with an EBITDA of at least £1 million.

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Enterprise Value

We support businesses typically valued from £4 million to £50 million.

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Management

We support ambitious, experienced and entrepreneurial management teams.

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Sector Focus

We primarily focus on technology and technology-enabled business services, financial services, healthcare, and niche IP-led manufacturing.

Where we add value

A supportive and strategic partner

We offer insight and strategic input through board-level and operational engagement, delivering added value that sets private equity apart from other forms of finance. While we’re actively involved where it matters most, we take a considered and collaborative approach, empowering management to focus on day-to-day operations — because you know your business best.

Relationships built on trust

Our approach is based on building long term, positive working relationships with the people we back. We take time to understand the goals of all stakeholders to ensure interests are aligned, and we remain flexible throughout the journey to support evolving priorities.

Growth through shared ambition

Private equity-backed companies have the potential to grow faster, often thanks to a shared vision between management and investors. By combining the energy and ambition of leadership teams with the strategic guidance and resources we bring, we aim to unlock exceptional outcomes.

Successful buyouts led by Maven

John McGavigan
Specialist Manufacturing
ProofID
Security Software
GEV Group
Renewable Energy Services
Titan Wealth
Investment & Wealth Management
LIMA
IT & Telecoms
Westfield Medical
Scientific Technology

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Our Buyout team

Having completed over 50 buyouts since 2009, our specialist UK-wide MBO team have a long term track record of supporting businesses across a wide range of industry sectors. 

Andrew Ferguson
Andrew Ferguson

Partner

Andrew Muirhead
Andrew Muirhead

Senior Investment Manager

Jeremy Thompson
Jeremy Thompson

Partner

Lorna Kelly
Lorna Kelly

Strategic Development Director

Martin McLaren
Martin McLaren

Partner

Mike Collis
Mike Collis

Consultant Portfolio

Ryan Bevington
Ryan Bevington

Partner

Sanjay Patel
Sanjay Patel

Portfolio Director

Tom Purkis
Tom Purkis

Partner

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FAQs

What is private equity?
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Private equity is finance provided in return for an equity stake in companies with high growth potential. Typically, it is used to back businesses which are established and profitable, supporting either a management buyout or buy-in. It is often used in conjunction with bank debt or other forms of finance and provides the risk capital element of a corporate funding package.

What type of transactions can private equity support?
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Private equity investment can support management buyouts and management buy-ins of mature, profitable companies, enabling existing management teams to acquire a significant part of the company from the owners, or provide the opportunity for an executive team to purchase an interest in a business they have identified as an acquisition, or undertake a buy in.

Private equity can also be used by established businesses which require capital to further grow or make an acquisition with no change in senior people. Management can also benefit from bringing an experienced equity partner on board to help expand operations, fund acquisitions or enter new markets without giving up control over their business.

Finally, Private Equity can be used to help a public company return to private ownership, eliminating the costs of maintaining a public listing and relieving management from the pressure of meeting short term earnings targets.

What is a management buyout?
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An MBO is an alternative to the sale of a business to a larger or competitor business. It provides the option for the existing management team to acquire the business, with the support of a private equity investor, and may be an attractive solution for many business owners where an outright trade sale may not meet all their personal or financial objectives.

Often the quickest and least disruptive way of realising value, MBOs tend to come about when the founder or owner is looking to exit or realise some value in their investment, or when a corporate owner or parent company sees the business as being a non-core asset.

A private equity backed MBO can be a highly effective means of implementing ownership succession for a business, as it helps to ensure an easier transition to next generation owners and puts in place a strong foundation for continued growth. It also provides an attractive opportunity for a management team to share in the benefits of business ownership.

What is replacement capital?
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A business owner may wish to realise some of the value of their holding in the business, whether to de risk their personal ownership position, or facilitate an exit for departing or retiring members of the senior management team who hold equity in the business. Private equity can unlock the value of a business, allowing the existing shareholders to realise value, while putting equity in the hands of key executives who will drive future growth.

What does a private equity investor look for when making an investment?
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  • Private equity firms invest in people – the integrity and capability of the management team is the most critical factor when assessing every potential new investment.
  • Detailed financial projections – the business plan and forecasts will be scrutinised and carefully assessed to determine the prospects for the business, in context of the wider market opportunity for the underlying product or services.
  • Relevant market analysis – this analysis will help to better understand the opportunity for a business’s products or services and the achievability of the plan to develop and grow market share.
By taking on private equity will I lose control of my business?
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There is often a misconception that owners will relinquish control of their business to a private equity investor. At Maven, whilst we will take an active interest we back management teams to continue running each business with the shared mutual goal for all parties of increase shareholder value. A Management team has the reassurance of knowing that they have a supportive investor backing their development plans and who will provide strategic and commercial expertise and advice if it is required.

Why partner with Maven?
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To us, small businesses are a big deal. In working with Maven you will be partnering with one of the UK's most active investors of high growth businesses with a proven track record of supporting a diverse range of growth strategies, including management buyouts, buy and build, or pre-IPO finance.

Very few investment firms have the local presence, appetite and experience across all UK regions. That's where we specialise. With 13 offices across the country, our highly experienced executive team can provide a local support with national reach.