CUSTOM WYTELYNE DEAL TICKS “A LOT OF BOXES” FOR BAMUK

A perfect strategic fit was achieved as KBS Corporate oversaw the sale of Custom Wytelyne Powder Coating to a group it already served as a supplier, BAMUK.

Custom Wytelyne was the result of a 1998 merger between two powder coating companies and has become a market leader in its industry, specialising in the preparation, pre-treatment and electrostatic powder coating of steel, aluminium and galvanised products.

Based in Chatham, Kent, the company had an existing connection to its acquirer, BAMUK Group, which also has Contracts Engineering and Furnitubes within its portfolio and invests in businesses focused on manufacturing and the marketing and sale of design-driven products that can be manufactured by group companies.

“Custom Wytelyne was already one of our coating suppliers,” explained Troy Barratt, CEO of BAMUK Group.

“We have two other businesses – one is a manufacturing services company that manufactures other companies’ products, and the other is a street furniture business that uses Custom Wytelyne quite a lot. When we learned the business was up for sale, it made a lot of sense for us to take a good look and it benefits both of our other businesses to have coatings in-house.

“It was very much a strategic decision for us, as opposed to, say, a financial investment or something of that nature. It really makes sense for us to be able to coat our products in-house and to offer the coating service to third-party companies that we manufacture for. It ticked a lot of boxes and made a lot of sense for us to own this business.”

BAMUK, also based in Kent, has ambitious plans for Custom Wytelyne with the target of establishing the company as the undisputed number one in its sector within its region of the country.

“We’ve brought in a highly capable general manager who has decades of experience in coatings to run the business for us,” added Troy.

“Custom Wytelyne was already one of the biggest, if not the biggest, third-party coatings businesses in the South East of England and our plan is to make it definitely the biggest and to offer the best service for industrial coatings in the South East.

“We also have a great team in the office and running the coatings factory which is staying in place, and we are eager to provide a top-class service.”

Troy has posted a five-star review of KBS Corporate’s services on Trustpilot and elaborated on BAMUK’s satisfaction with how the sale had been conducted by Will Griffiths, Corporate Transaction Adviser – with a view to making potential further acquisitions down the line.

“We were really happy with KBS Corporate and Will Griffiths, who did a great job managing the process, getting due diligence organised and keeping both parties onside,” commented Troy.

“The transaction took a bit of time as every deal has twists and turns – this one was no different and I thought Will did a great job managing through that.

“We would absolutely use KBS again, but for the next four to six months the real focus is on getting this business integrated to where we want it before we charge into the next thing too early.”

Will Griffiths, who praised Jai Singh of Alston Asquith law firm for his “incredibly efficient” service, added: “I’m very pleased with the sale. It was a great outcome for both parties involved.”