News

FRP acquires Hilton-Baird Group

Monday May 13, 2024

Commercial finance and risk management specialist becomes part of FRP

We’re pleased to announce the acquisition of The Hilton-Baird Group as we continue to expand our support for clients nationally.

Southampton-headquartered Hilton-Baird provides commercial finance and credit insurance brokerage, outsourced risk and receivables audit, as well as credit management and commercial debt collection services to a national client base.

Established in 1997, Hilton-Baird’s clients include independent lenders, banks, SME and corporate businesses as well as insolvency practitioners from across the UK and Europe. The deal will generate significant additional value across our Corporate Finance, Restructuring and Financial Advisory practices, with the two businesses having developed shared relationships with a number of key clients, most notably asset-based lenders (ABLs).

Hilton-Baird will continue to operate under its existing brand while sitting within our Debt Advisory offer. Four of the firm’s Directors, Alex Hilton-Baird, Evette Orams, Graham Bird and Ian Tramaseur will join FRP as Partners. The rest of the Hilton-Baird team will also join us, including 36 colleagues.

The deal represents our ninth acquisition since listing on AIM in 2020.

Geoff Rowley, Chief Executive Officer at FRP, said: “I have worked with Alex and the team for over 15 years and know they share our values. Their reputation in the market is for hard work, honesty and integrity in providing the highest level of service to clients. With a track record of over 25 years, they have built an impressive client base which is testament to the quality of their team and dynamic business model. We are delighted to welcome new FRP Partners Alex, Evette, Graham and Ian together with all other Hilton-Baird colleagues to FRP.

This is our ninth acquisition since admission to AIM in March 2020, demonstrating the continued delivery of our strategy to generate sustainable profitable growth by combining a focus on organic growth with acquisitions that meet the Group’s selective criteria. The combination with Hilton-Baird provides opportunities to support growth across several of FRP’s service pillars and I have no doubt they will make a strong contribution to the Group, as we continue to grow profitably.”

Alex Hilton-Baird, Founder of Hilton-Baird, said: We are delighted to join FRP and are excited to embark on a shared journey, alongside likeminded professionals, who share our passion and drive in delivering the best possible outcomes for clients, colleagues and shareholders.

“Building on the strength of our fantastic team, joining FRP will enable us to continue to attract and grow the talent necessary to deliver our market leading brokerage, ABL audit and commercial debt collection services on a national basis, while continuing to grow our direct services to SME, corporate and advisory clients.”

Related team

Geoff Rowley

Geoff Rowley

Geoff Rowley

  • Chief Executive Officer
  • Restructuring Advisory