
Caird Capital exits Bifold to LDC for £85m
Caird Capital has exited gas pumps manufacturer Bifold Group to LDC in a £85m deal yielding a 3x return for the seller, according to a source close to the deal.
The company's management – headed by Gary Jacobson – acquired a majority stake in the business.
Debt
RBS provided a moderate amount of debt to finance LDC's acquisition.
Previous investment
Caird is thought to have contributed £6m to a £35m secondary management buyout led by Bank of Scotland Integrated Finance in 2007.
The business had a turnover of £15m at the time and is set to achieve sales of up to £40m in 2012, a source said. EBITDA for 2011 was £5.6m.
Caird stated it drove growth by introducing new products and product variations, and by significantly investing in R&D.
The GP appointed Neil McArthur as new chief financial officer in 2009.
Company
Bifold manufactures high-specification directional control valves and hydraulic pumps for the oil and gas market.
Its manufacturing facilities are based in the UK with sales offices worldwide. The company was incorporated in Manchester in 2007 and has 200 staff.
LDC plans to achieve an EBITDA of 10% for 2012.
Advisers
Equity – Eversheds (Legal)
Vendor – DLA Piper (Legal)
Company – Altium (Corporate finance); Addleshaw Goddard (Legal)
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater