John Henry Group

We’re pleased to have supported the management team of Cambridge-based infrastructure services provider John Henry Group as it completed a buyout of the business.

Founded by the Henry family in 1985, John Henry Group provides design, installation, maintenance and support services to across the telecoms, highways and traffic management, and power sectors.

Its executive team has now completed a debt-backed management buyout from its former private equity sponsor, Growth Capital Partners. The buyout restructures and optimises the company’s ownership to include the leadership team, which remains unchanged, supported by continued investment from existing shareholders.

The deal provides strategic autonomy and a renewed investment focus for the business, as it continues the expansion and diversification of its services across new and existing sectors to support critical national infrastructure.

Our Corporate Finance team advised the management team at John Henry Group on the transaction, leading on the commercial negotiations with Growth Capital Partners. Meanwhile our Debt Advisory practice ran a competitive debt process concurrently, securing funding from HSBC to facilitate the transaction.

Dave Howes, Partner at FRP Corporate Finance, said: “There are significant opportunities for businesses across the UK’s infrastructure sector today. High-quality service providers like John Henry Group will play a vital role in delivering the projects that are driving the country’s economic growth, with the business now in a strong position to capitalise on that demand as the leadership team embarks on this new chapter.”

Tom Cox, Partner at FRP Corporate Finance, added: “Any buyout is as much about the strength of the management team as it is the business itself, and the team at John Henry Group has proven in recent years it has the ambition and experience to continue developing the business. It’s an exciting time for all involved and we look forward to watching the team seize the opportunities ahead.”

John Farrell, CEO at John Henry Group, said: “The MBO gives us the freedom and focus to accelerate. We have the capability, the customer base, and the track record to scale significantly. This ownership model allows us to invest in new technologies, expand into adjacent and diversified markets, including power and water and compete for larger, more complex programmes.

“I’m grateful to the team at FRP Corporate Finance for supporting us to complete this transaction. Its advice was invaluable, both in agreeing the terms of the buyout with Growth Capital Partners and in securing the financing needed to fund it.”