Barclays Private Equity goes green with £85m investment in Gardman Holdings Limited

Barclays Private Equity - the pan-European mid-market private equity house - has acquired a major stake in Gardman Holdings Limited, the UK’s leading supplier of wild bird care and garden products, in a deal valued at £85 million.  

Based in Moulton, Lincolnshire, with rapidly growing subsidiaries in America and Australia, Gardman was originally founded 15 years ago by current chairman and owner Paris Natar. Employing nearly 300 staff, Gardman has been voted Garden Industry Manufacturers’ Association’s (GIMA) “Supplier of the Year” for six years running due to its industry-leading service levels. The company supplies the majority of independent garden centres throughout the UK including Wyevale, as well as DIY stores such as B&Q, Focus, Homebase and Wickes.  

The corporate finance team at Deloitte in Nottingham initiated and introduced Barclays Private Equity to the transaction.  

Phil Griesbach, Director at Barclays Private Equity commented: “We have known Gardman for a number of years and have been impressed with the way that it has developed over that time. The company has demonstrated it has a robust business model based upon design innovation and providing its customers with good quality, affordable products. Its success is down to an excellent management team with whom we look forward to working.”  

Paris Natar, Chairman of Gardman Holdings Limited added: “I am delighted to have Barclays Private Equity on board as an equity partner. Their investment in the business will allow Gardman to continue both our organic and acquisitional growth as well as to move into new product areas and expand overseas.”  

David Jones, corporate finance associate partner at Deloitte in Nottingham and Nick Carr, assistant director led the team advising Gardman Holdings Limited. Legal advice was provided to Gardman Holdings by Eversheds in Cambridge.  

Mr Jones said : “Gardman is an outstanding business in its sector with a fabulous track record of growth. The management team remain hugely ambitious and the investment from Barclays Private Equity will give the company a major boost towards achieving their exciting growth plans and strategic goals.”