The acquisition provides significant growth opportunities for both trading entities to expand their specialist services to existing and new customers located across the UK.
The main driving force behind AMCO in recent years, Managing Director Steve Bentley, has joined the PHS Board of Directors, led by Russell Steelyard, and also purchased a significant equity stake in the Buyer as part of the transaction.
PHS Founder and Managing Director, Russell Steelyard, said:
“I am delighted to have completed the acquisition of AMCO and welcome Steve Bentley and the team to the PHS family. This acquisition puts us in a unique position in the marketplace and will accelerate our future growth.
Special thanks to Patrick Lynch and Joe Potts of Castle Square, Michael Hall and Lucy Dougall and the Knights Team and Tim House and the SME Capital Team whom we look forward to working with over the coming months and years, all of which worked tirelessly to enable the acquisition to complete in a timely fashion.”
After receiving multiple funding offers from a range of funding institutions across banks, challenger banks and debt funds, SME Capital emerged as the preferred funding partner, providing a bespoke 5-year term facility to support the acquisition.
Tim House, Relationship Director at SME Capital, said:
"From our first meeting with Russell it was obvious he was committed to growing the PHS business and developing a group able to tackle the demand for renewables, We wish Russell success with the group and look forward to working with him moving forward.
Castle Square’s involvement as Corporate Finance Advisor was superb, providing a detailed level of initial information allowing us to make quick decisions and providing follow on detailed documents as part of our full credit underwriting process.
Led by Director Patrick Lynch and supported by Joe Potts, Yorkshire based dealmakers Castle Square Corporate Finance led on deal negotiations on behalf of the Buyer and ran a competitive funding process, seeking acquisition and growth capital finance to successfully complete the transaction.
Patrick Lynch, Director at Castle Square Corporate Finance said:
“Having advised PHS in 2020 on a development capital fundraising it is impressive to see their journey over the last three years and the substantial growth the PHS management team have achieved in this short time, as they now emerge as the UK’s leading renewable heating technologies specialist.
The acquisition of AMCO forms a key strategic acquisition and the recruit of Steve Bentley will ensure continuity as well as providing the extensive expertise to help take the business to the next level.”
Knights PLC provided corporate legal advice services to the Buyer, performing legal due diligence on the AMCO before delivering the legal merger and acquisition advice services to successful execute the transaction.
Other advisors acting on the transaction included; Clarion Leeds office who provided legal advice services to SME Capital, Morton Legal advised the shareholders of AMCO and Smith Wilson provided financial advice services to the shareholders of AMCO.
If you would like to discuss acquisition financing in more detail or our wider funding capabilities do get in touch.
About SME Capital
SME Capital was founded to support the growing number of SMEs who face difficulty or frustration in accessing capital through traditional methods. We understand the importance of real and trusted relationships in the SME lending market and have dedicated Regional Directors based across the UK. By combining traditional lending expertise with the latest in data analytics, we are supporting established UK SMEs with their long-term objectives and business ambitions.
