Exit
Mission accomplished...
When
The market will tell when it's time to sell. As your business grows so will your profile. Competitors and other investors will start to take notice. When the inbound interest arrives, it's often a sign that the time to sell is close.
How
Every exit is unique but all have the same outcome in mind – for shareholders to receive maximum value and for the business to continue on its growth trajectory. One of the benefits of having an equity partner like Key on board is that we're able to maintain an unwavering focus on this outcome, even as plans evolve and change.
Who
We've worked with owners and managers to exit to public markets, other investors and trade buyers in the UK and overseas. Some founders and management teams want to exit alongside us, others want to keep going. This requires careful planning to enable your objectives to be met, and is arguably the point at which our experience and contacts are most valuable.
Combined exit statistics
100%
Employee growth
39%
EBITDA growth
74%
Revenue growth
£129m
Amount invested
40%
Average Key stake on exit
56%
Equity value growth
Examples
Avantis Education
Sale to larger private equity investor.
Following interest from a number of buyers, we worked with management and an advisory team to explore both trade and private equity opportunities. The business eventually entered a new partnership with a mid-market private equity investor, delivering a significant return to our investors.
Nurse Plus
Sale to larger private equity investor.
We recommended a firm of specialist corporate finance advisers to manage the sale of the business. 12 offers were received from both trade and private equity, with the eventual buyer being a private equity investor.
CMO Group
IPO.
We developed relationships with a corporate finance advisor and broker with leading experience in the digital and consumer markets and supported the team through the intensive flotation process, successfully listing in July 2021.
Alliance in Partnership
Trade sale.
A number of larger competitors expressed interest in the business and we worked with the management team to engage an advisor to run a targeted sale process. The business was successfully sold to French catering giant Sodexo for an undisclosed sum, with management receiving cash for all their shares and continuing in their roles on enhanced terms.