Minicam

Rowan work with PE to strengthen Board, and deliver international expansion & trade sale

Background

The business:

• Specialist manufacturer of pipeline inspection systems

• Had experienced significant growth and was turning over £11m/year

• Had recently received minority investment from LDCThe issue

The issues:

Value Creation Plan yet to be defined and no experience working with PE.

• Tech-minded owner/founder with product experience but not enough commercial and operational expertise.

• No internationalisation experience, or experience of readying business for a sale.

Journey

Our Team:

What we did:

• Ran a focused/strategic session with LDC’s Jonathan Bell and other senior stakeholders, to help them develop and understand the value creation plan.

• Created a strategy & people structure for the internationalisation process, and a timeline for the key CFO appointment.

• Delivered a shortlist of qualified, experienced candidates that aligned to the investment thesis and could drive internationalisation in a short space of time.

Solution

Key insights and actions included:

• Defined the brief for a new strategic CFO that could stand up to rigorous PE standards.

• Used Rowan’s best-in-class search and assessment process to identify candidates aligned to the value creation plan and new people structure.

• Appointed CFO Colin White, who had significant B2B investment and exit experience. Colin appointed FC Jonathan Robinson to help maximise exit value..

What makes Rowan different:

Knowledge of PE, given Rowan’s own journey as an investee.

• Extensive experience in the manufacturing sector.

• Rowan’s unparalleled network of PE-eligible candidates based in the North-West.

• Consultative approached focused on the process: finding the right solution, not a ‘quick fix’.

Impact

Outcome:

Value Creation Plan defined with clear route to achieving optimal structure

• Able to deliver successful exit for LDC

Strengthened Board with the ability to drive & integrate acquisitions. Colin exited and Jonathan stepped up to CFO, and then MD.

• Owner/founder able to exit, with the business in prime position for future growth

Value to customer:

• Mini-Cam were able to approach potential buyers with a strong, well-balanced SLT

Significant ROI for LDC, which far exceeded expectations

• Colin went on to integrate Mini-Cam to tech group Halma, as well as other another integration process. New MD Jonathan continued Mini-Cam’s acquisitive growth strategy, and partnered with Rowan to appoint replacement CFO Carly Bray.

Significant wealth creation for owner/founder and positive career trajectories for Rowan appointees.