The deal

Camloc sold to private capital specialist

Our Corporate Finance has advised high-precision engineering business Camloc Motion Control Limited (“Camloc”) on its sale to private capital specialist, Macaulay Capital.

Led by Partner Dan Bowtell, along with Directors Pat Walters, Matt Field, and Executives Cameron Robertson and Ben Anstee, our team acted as lead advisers on the transaction and provided tax advice to Camloc’s directors and shareholders.

Leicester-based Camloc is a market-leading designer and manufacturer in motion control solutions. The business offers a wide range of bespoke solutions – ranging from lift assistance to lowering and counterbalancing of weights, to help ensure the safe manoeuvrability of equipment.

Camloc has an established global network of partners and distributors across the UK, Europe, North America, Scandinavia, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, and its gas struts and dampers are used in a wide range of sectors from aerospace, military vehicle, and signage to medical, speciality vehicle and rail projects.

Established in 1989, Camloc employs 40 people and has been backed by The Foresight Nottingham Fund, managed by Foresight Group, the leading listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager, since 2016. The transaction with Macaulay Capital will support the next phase of Camloc’s future growth, whilst also providing a successful exit for The Foresight Nottingham Fund. The existing management team will remain with the business, as part of the next stage in Camloc’s long-term succession planning.

Commenting on the transaction, Dan Bowtell, Partner at FRP Corporate Finance, said: “Camloc is a well-respected and ambitious British manufacturer, with strong growth prospects. This sale to Macaulay Capital not only allows the business to fulfil its succession plan, but it also demonstrates the strong appetite from private capital specialists to explore opportunities with manufacturing SMEs that are renowned for high quality products and service.

Pat Walters, Director at FRP Corporate Finance, said: “The business is now well placed to maximise the next stage of its future development and we wish Julie, Matt and the business all the very best for the future.”

Julie Barker, Joint Managing Director at Camloc, said: “This is another important step forward for our business. Over the past few years, we have successfully expanded and invested in new manufacturing equipment to increase production capability and flexibility, further cementing our position as a leading player in motion control solutions.

“This deal structure enables both ownership succession and future growth, and Dan, Pat and the team at FRP Corporate Finance were impressive throughout the sale process. Their ‘hands on’ approach meant they worked closely with us to select Macaulay Capital as the right funding provider to support our growth ambitions, and we’re excited to see what the future holds.”

David Miles, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight Group commented: “Camloc is a fantastic example of Foresight’s model of supporting the ambitions of regional UK SMEs. We are delighted to have partnered with the management team and supported them in becoming a premium and innovative provider of motion control solutions. We wish the team every success for the next stage of their journey”.

Richard Bucknell, CIO at Macaulay, commented “Camloc is a proven business with a differentiated, high quality, engineering / solution-led model that sets it apart from its peers, and we’re delighted to be working with the team to help deliver on the company’s undoubted potential over the coming years. Camloc is a great example of sort of business that appeals to our HNW investors, delivering a strong yield alongside significant capital up-side potential.”