Stratford upon Avon based Acqius, a specialist M&A advisory business has advised on the successful acquisition of hazardous area enclosures business IndEx Enclosures Ltd by investment company Kent Business Investors.

Kent Business Investors Limited has acquired IndEx Enclosures Limited, an Ashford, Kent-based manufacturer of hazardous area control, instrumentation and connection products (atex-enclosure.com) for an undisclosed sum.

The company’s portfolio, customisation capability and strong service offering have enabled it to establish a high degree of brand recognition and reputation within the sectors it operates in (energy, chemical processing, food, pharma and rail). The company, founded by Richard Gipp in 2010, currently serves around 220 active clients, mainly in the UK.

Rob Whorrod, handling the project for Acqius, understood the opportunities potential of IndEx to the right investor, citing the reputation for high-quality products with the potential for rapid growth as a significant opportunity for an organisation interested in obtaining a foothold in niche hazardous area markets:

”Acqius is a specialist M&A advisory business where the objective is not only to understand the business in fine detail in order to maximise value for the owners but also to find the right buyers and work with both parties throughout the transaction to achieve a successful outcome for all involved. We received multiple offers for Index but KBI was selected as the best fit against the owners’ requirements. We wish all parties the very best of luck in their future endeavours”

Rob Whorrod, Director, Acqius.
Alex Pawle, director of Kent Business Investors Limited, added:

“IndEx Enclosures struck us as a highly specialised manufacturer with its own niche product range, very skilled staff and strong customer relationships. We look forward to preserving the company founder’s legacy and building on his philosophy of continuous improvement and manufacturing excellence, led by Goldratt’s Theory of Constraints, of which Stephane and I are keen students.”

Richard Gipp, IndEx Enclosures Limited’s founder, said:

“I am glad to have reached a win-win done deal with Alex and Stephane for their investment in my company. Throughout the process, they were attentive to us reaching an arrangement through which both parties could benefit equally. I look forward to seeing the company I founded grow and prosper over the long term”.

All employees are expected to remain with the company.

Kent Business Investors were advised by:

Legal: Charlotte Lane, Daniel Tozer (Knights plc)
Financial: Ben Houston (Burgess Hodgson)

The sellers, Richard Gipp, Dan Baker and Neil Ginger, were advised by:

Legal: Andrew Doinik (Hallett & Co)
Corporate Finance: Rob Whorrod (Acqius)