MBO of a Regional Logistics Business by Its Operations Director
£1,200,000 · 5 years · 7.90% fixed. The operations director of a regional logistics company with £4.2m turnover and £380,000 EBITDA had negotiated to acquire the business from the retiring founder for £1,600,000.
The Client
Operations director of a regional logistics company
The Challenge
The operations director of a regional logistics company with £4.2m turnover and £380,000 EBITDA had negotiated to acquire the business from the retiring founder for £1,600,000. She was contributing £200,000 of personal savings and needed £1,200,000 of senior debt alongside £200,000 of mezzanine from a co-investor. The business was asset-light - fleet was leased - making traditional asset-based lending difficult.
Our Solution
Doulton structured the senior debt element, assessing the lending on the business's EBITDA multiple and the buyer's twelve years of operational knowledge of the business. Long-term customer contracts - including two blue-chip logistics agreements - provided revenue visibility. The personal contribution and co-investor mezzanine gave the senior lender comfort on the equity cushion.
The Outcome
MBO completed. The new owner renegotiated one of the logistics contracts at a 12% rate improvement in her first year. EBITDA grew from £380,000 to £445,000 in year one. Loan being repaid on schedule. Key highlights: EBITDA-based lending - fleet leased, asset-light business accepted; Blue-chip logistics contracts provided revenue visibility; EBITDA grew to £445k in year one - loan on schedule.