The M&A team at Interpath has advised Merino Capital and the shareholders of Stacatruc on the sale of the business to YFM Equity Partners in a management buyout that will support its expansion into new markets.
Stacatruc is a national forklift truck hire, sales, finance, and maintenance group that provides new and used machines, support and aftercare.
The Berkshire-headquartered business was acquired in 2021 by Merino Capital. The investment backed the growth of the business amidst growing demand for an independent, service-led provider with national scale. In 2022, the shareholders supported Stacatruc’s acquisition of Knightsbridge Mechanical Handling, which further supported its market position as a leading vendor of Clark forklifts in Europe.
The YFM Equity Partners-backed MBO will support the continued acquisitive and organic growth of the business, building on recent acquisitions in the hire and service sector, and further expand into new markets.
The Interpath team led by Neil Sumner and supported by Nick Hill, Reuben Taylor and Luke Thomson, provided lead sell-side M&A advisory to the shareholders, including Merino Capital, on the transaction.
Neil Sumner, Managing Director at Interpath Advisory, said: “The investment made by Merino Capital has been instrumental in supporting the growth of Stacatruc and enable it to capitalise on surging demand for a truly independent and service led provider of materials handling equipment. This transaction marks a successful exit, but also aligns the business with ideal investors at YFM to build on that legacy and take Stacatruc into the future.”
Ben Reavley, Investment Director at Merino Capital, said: “We’ve had an incredible journey working closely with Phil and Paul, and the rest of the team, to build and grow Stacatruc into one of the UK’s leading independent forklift dealers that it is today. We are delighted to have grown the business during this period and to have worked with such a great team. With the support of Interpath, we’ve not only realised our investment, but also found the perfect platform to take the business on in its next stage of growth. We wish the team all the best of luck.”
Matt Gordon-Smith, YFM Investment Director, added: "As an investment prospect, Stacatruc demonstrated a winning combination of longevity and ambition. We are excited to be backing a management team who are highly entrepreneurial and have delivered growth by responding successfully to market conditions and live acquisition opportunities. We look forward to supporting the team as it builds upon this success."
