W Corbett & Co. (Galvanizing) Limited

KBS Corporate Finance has advised upon the acquisition of W Corbett & Co. (Galvanizing) Limited, the UK’s leading independent hot dip galvanizing specialist.

Located in Telford, Shropshire, Corbetts has been at the forefront of the UK galvanizing industry for over 200 years, and is renowned for the quality of its work and exceptional levels of customer service.

The company’s main service offering involves providing hot dip galvanizing to a range of international engineering, manufacturing and industrial clients based throughout the UK. Hot dip galvanizing involves the coating of steel with a layer of zinc, by immersing the metal in a bath of molten zinc at temperatures of around 450°C. When exposed to the atmosphere, the pure zinc reacts with the oxygen to form zinc oxide, a strong, protective material that acts as a cost-effective alternative to stainless steel.

The company was acquired by Canadian-headquartered private equity firm, Ardenton Capital, who recently opened an office in Manchester as it set to invest in the UK mid-market. Ardenton differs from most private equity firms by investing with a long-term focus, usually for a period of around 20 years. The acquisition represents Ardenton’s first UK transaction.

KBS Corporate Finance’s proactive approach in finding an acquirer from outside of the immediate M&A market ultimately led to a highly successful deal, in which the sole shareholder of Corbetts was able to exit the company swiftly in order to retire, in a multi-million pound transaction.

Dave Gardner, of KBS Corporate Finance, advised on the deal and commented, “The success of this acquisition can be attributable to the strong, professional relationships we held with both Corbetts and Ardenton, and through developing a deep understanding of Ardenton’s new acquisition strategy here in the UK. I know that Corbetts will continue to flourish under the direction of Ardenton, and I wish them all the best for the future.”