Our Investments
Founded in 2010 and based in Banbury, Building Supplies Online is an online distributer of building products, offering competitively priced building supplies and tools to trade and retail customers. With over 50,000 SKUs, BSO offers one of the largest ranges of building products available online in the UK.
In addition to financial support to strengthen technology, infrastructure and marketing, as a strategic partner Cairngorm Capital will provide specialist sector and operational expertise to support Building Supplies Online’s directors in their pursuit of growth and transformation.
Cairngorm Capital’s investment in BSO was made in 2017 from its first fund Cairngorm Capital Partners I LP. Working with a number of our Operating Partners, who bring specialist sector and online distribution expertise, we aim to develop Building Supplies Online to become the leading online distributor of building supplies in the UK.
For more information on the transaction, please see the BSO investment press release.
You can also download the pdf version of the press release here: Cairngorm Capital Press Release 28.11.2017 pdf
Established in 1980, Customade is a specialist manufacturer of high-quality aluminium and PVCu windows, doors and conservatory roof products. Best known for its proprietary and market-leading REAL, Atlas and Fineline aluminium brands, the company operates from 100,000 square foot, state-of-the-art production and storage facilities near Gloucester. In 2016 it employed 320 people and achieved turnover in excess of £35 million.
Following earlier investments in Polyframe, WB Group, and Stevenswood’s manufacturing facility, the Customade acquisition was Cairngorm Capital’s fourth proprietary, off-market transaction in the window and door manufacturing sector since July 2016.
Customade subsequently merged with these three other Cairngorm Capital businesses, to create Customade Group – the UK’s largest independent trade windows and door manufacturer with the industry’s most comprehensive product offering, over £100m revenues, 900 employees and 10 manufacturing sites.
This development of the Customade Group is consistent with Cairngorm Capital’s strategy of investing in well-performing UK companies to support ambitious management teams in driving transformation, introducing new technology, broadening customer offerings and extending geographic reach.
For more information on the transaction, please see the Customade Group acquisition press release.
You can also download the pdf version of the press release here: Cairngorm Capital Press Release 15.02.2017 pdf
Founded in 1972, MJ Wilson is a leading independent distributor of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (“MRO”) components. The company sells technical Process and Instrumentation products (such as valves, flanges and gaskets) from five regional branches. It employs highly-trained staff who serve a diverse range of long-standing customers.
Cairngorm Capital invested in MJ Wilson in January 2018, as the first in a series of investments within the MRO industry to create a new national and full-service business led by highly experienced industry executives. Through a series of accelerated investments in technically focused companies across the MRO product range, the aim is to develop the MRO platform to become a UK-wide industry leader.
In collaboration with an expert management team, MJ Wilson will serve as the initial platform for a national, technically focused, MRO business that serves small-to-medium size enterprises. Our strategy involves:
- Consolidating leadership through further acquisitions
- Broadening product and service offerings across bearings, fluid power and industrial supplies
- Achieving revenue synergies through cross-selling to an enlarged group
- Collaborating with supply-chain partners to drive efficiencies
- Enhancing business development and sales initiatives to accelerate growth
For more information on the transaction, please see the MJ Wilson acquisition press release.
You can also download the pdf version of the press release here: Cairngorm Capital Press Release 05.02.2018 pdf
Parker Building Supplies is a leading independent builders’ merchant based in the South East of England. Founded in 1984, the business serves trade and retail customers with its core offering of heavyside building materials plus an array of ancillary product lines including, plumbing, joinery and architectural ironmongery.
In 2017 the company employed just under 300 staff, and generated revenues of £67m from 15 core branches across Sussex and Kent.
Four new senior managers, led by Cairngorm Capital operating partner John Declerck, joined the company in conjunction with this investment. Our aim is to drive up revenue and margins through improved merchandising, thoughtful supply chain management and geographic expansion.
Cairngorm Capital’s investment, from its first fund Cairngorm Capital Partners I LP, is the first in a series of planned investments in the builders’ merchant industry, which will combine specialist sector operational expertise with financial support from Cairngorm Capital.
For more information on the transaction, please see the Parker Building Supplies investment press release.
You can also download the pdf version of the press release here: Cairngorm Capital Press Release 14.03.2018 pdf
Established in 1997, Stevenswood is the UK’s leading national, multi-profile distributor of windows, doors and conservatories. The company has over 30 trade counters in England, Scotland and Wales, generating revenues of over £40m with 165 employees.
The Stevenswood group has been built through a series of six proprietary off-market investments completed with the support of Cairngorm Capital over a twelve month period during 2016 and 2017.
Cairngorm Capital’s investment, from its first fund Cairngorm Capital Partners I LP, is representative of its ethos of actively partnering with management teams to provide operational expertise as well as financial support to accelerate growth in industry leading companies.
For more information on the transaction, please see the Stevenswood acquisition press release.
Established in 1992, Thornbridge is one of Scotland’s leading timber processors and distributors. The company has a processing and distribution hub in Grangemouth plus eight regional branch outlets across Scotland.
Cairngorm Capital’s investment in Thornbridge in November 2017, from its second fund Cairngorm Capital Partners II LP, was the first in a series of planned investments in timber distribution, designed to combine specialist sector operational expertise with financial support from Cairngorm Capital. We aim to create a UK-wide industry leader in its sector.
The investment in Thornbridge was followed by the investment in North Yorkshire Timber and Rembrand Timber in February 2018 and June 2018 respectively. The enlarged group is the leading independent timber distribution company in Scotland and the North of England, with 35 branches, revenues exceeding £100 million and over 600 employees.
The enlarged group serves a diverse and varied customer base including joiners, regional housebuilders, commercial construction companies and infrastructure projects. Its substantial warehousing, processing, manufacturing and distribution capabilities enable the business to respond rapidly with an exceptionally wide range of high quality, timber, sheet and joinery products.
For more information on the transactions, please see the Thornbridge acquisition press release, NYT acquisition press release and Rembrand acquisition press release.
