Sella Controls is sold to HIMA Paul Hildebrandt

CWI-admin 20min read
Posted in: Selling your Business

Case Study

Sella Controls sold to HIMA Paul Hildebrandt.

The deal.

We were engaged by the shareholders of Sella Controls to explore the proposed exit of one of the significant minority shareholders and support the remaining shareholders’ growth aspirations.

Sella Controls is one of the UK’s leading systems integrators specialising in the design, installation and maintenance of functional safety and process control systems. They work across high-risk and high-security environments specialising in the rail, O&G, chemicals and nuclear sectors.

The current shareholders joined the business through a management-buy-in in 2007. The business grew significantly under their ownership, and is now recognised as an international functional safety and process control systems expert with a suite of trademarked products and world leading expertise.

It’s a win-win-Situation for HIMA and Sella Controls, with multiple synergies: HIMA will benefit from the long-term experience of Sella Controls in the development of solutions for the rail industry and we at Sella Controls will be able to utilise HIMA’s global sales and service to boost our international business.

Eddy Turnock, CSO, Sella Controls

Our role.

Our original brief sought to find an exit for one of the three key shareholders, with the other two retaining their interest within the business with a view to a future exit following the full execution of their growth plan.

We were initially appointed in 2021, and invested the time to fully understand the objectives of the shareholders, and ensure the business was ready for investment. An extended phase of preparation took place prior to a formal process launch in mid-2022, during which time the business received unsolicited approaches from several strategic trade parties.

Prior to launching our external marketing campaign in mid-2022, it was agreed with the shareholders to explore the interest of strategic trade parties alongside the potential of raising investment via a private equity transaction. As such, we engaged a select group of trade buyers and alternative private equity firms that could provide the new cash-out expectations.

After receiving and evaluating multiple offers from both strategic trade and private equity investors, HIMA Paul Hildebrandt was chosen as the preferred acquirer in December 2022, offering both an attractive strategic proposition to the business and a deal structure that was attractive for both leaving and remaining shareholders.

What our client said.

“It’s a win-win-Situation for HIMA and Sella Controls, with multiple synergies: HIMA will benefit from the long-term experience of Sella Controls in the development of solutions for the rail industry and we at Sella Controls will be able to utilise HIMA’s global sales and service to boost our international business. The whole transaction experience was made simpler by working with an adviser who understood our requirements and vision for the future from the get-go. The deal team instilled us with confidence and our business always felt like it was in safe hands. We’re looking forward to what the future holds.”

Eddy Turnock, CSO, Sella Controls