Past Investments

Racal Acoustics is a UK based manufacturer and supplier of 'ruggedised' specialist personal communications equipment for the defence and avionics sectors. Following several years of continuing growth, the business was sold to Esterline Technologies Corporation in January 2009 for £115m. www.racalacoustics.co.uk  

Having grown sales strongly at 18% per annum to £80 million, profits at 28% per annum and doubled employment from 300 to 600, M and M Direct was sold for £86m to T A Associates in Oct 2007. www.mandmdirect.com  

Nuaire, a leading manufacturer of innovative, energy efficient ventilation equipment, was acquired by ECI and management from its founder in a £34m MBO in 2004. Following three years of strong growth, the company was successfully sold in 2007 to Electra Partners, producing an 80% IRR. www.nuaire.co.uk  

ECI invested in this full service environmental consultancy business in a £14m buyout in 2001. The business was sold to Alfred McAlpine for £30 million in 2007. www.enviros.com  

Management buy-in of an upmarket, bespoke tour operator from the founders. Having successfully broadened the product offering into a wide range of new, complementary destinations, the business was sold to Kuoni in 2006. www.kirkerholidays.com  

Landsdon is the UK's largest contract flooring distributor specialising in smooth floorings, carpet tiles and broadloom carpet. Final exit through MBO.  

Management buy-in of four packaging related companies from Wassall plc in 1996. Successfully sold in 2005.  

Management buyout of a communications outsourcing and data solutions business based in Bristol. Acquired by SR.Teleperformance in 2004 for £32m.  

£22 million management buyout from family vendors of one of the UK's best known holiday brands. The company was sold in 2003 to HgCapital in a £40 million transaction having doubled its earnings during ECI’s investment period. www.hoseasons.co.uk  

£6 million management buyout of NCC Services, the commercial arm of Manchester based National Computing Centre. NCC is the UK market leader in the escrow deposit of computer source code and also provides IT consultancy, largely to public sector customers. www.nccglobal.com  

Management buy-in to this replacement glass business headquartered in Norwich; sold to South Staffordshire Group in 2002 for £36m. www.highway-glass.co.uk  

Expansion financing for the UK's leading sailing holiday and charter company headquartered in Port Solent, Hampshire. Sold to First Choice  

Applied Digital Solutions - Buyout from FKI Plc comprising of five digital solution divisions: Radio - search and rescue beacons, Alarms, Relays, Traffic products and mobile data  

Manufacturer of coupling systems for specialised applications in heavy engineering - principally in oil exploration and power generation  

Buyout of two steel fibre manufacturers, Derbyshire based Fibre Technology Ltd and US based Ribbon Technology Corp; sold to a financial buyer in 1998.  

Investor-led buyout from ICL plc of this disaster recovery business based in Weybridge; floated in 1998 and subsequently acquired by SunGard.  

MBO out of Whitbread. 223 tenanted estate of traditional community public houses HQ in Bristol  

Buyout from Hazelwood PLC. Established in 1982 Chaucer Foods was the leading manufacturer of croutons for instant soups  

Buyout from Unilever of the Leeds based manufacturer of predominantly impulse products including ice creams and ice lollies. Treat Ice Cream sold both own brand and white label to supermarket groups. Exit via IPO  

Direct Vision Rentals - Expansion financing for this direct marketing and TV/ Video Rental company which was sold to Granda  

Buyout of an exhibitions and events company from Emap plc; sold to management in 1997. www.richmondevents.co.uk  

Venture quoted investment for the UK’s market leader in combination boilers; sold to Robert Bosch in 1992.  

Financing to facilitate the acquisition of Hanson's waste disposal division; floated in 1988.