Inflexion Private Equity have announced that they have completed a minority investment in strong performing Huws Gray Limited (“Huws Gray”), for which The Quinn Partnership provided Management Due Diligence support. Huws Gray is one of the largest independent builders merchants in the UK with aims to bolster its position in the market.

Huws Gray, founded in 1990 on Anglesey, Wales, with one location, now operates from 57 trading locations with almost 800 staff. Over recent years, the company has achieved strong growth organically and through acquisitions.

Huws Gray will continue to be majority owned and led by the existing management team led by John Llewelyn Jones and Terry Owen. The company is well placed to benefit from the consolidation of the builders merchants market and to expand its geographical reach across the UK.

The investment by Inflexion co-incides with Huws Gray’s recent acquisition of Penrith Building Supplies, a well-respected, builders merchants, and Huws Gray’s first acquisition in the Cumbria area.

Simon Turner, Managing Partner of Inflexion, commented,“We are delighted to partner with the team at Huws Gray as they embark on further growth. The business has been driven by an exceptional management team, which has grown from a standing start three decades ago, to become one of the largest independent builders merchants in the UK. The sector is at an exciting stage of development, with Huws Gray well placed to seek out and select add-on acquisition opportunities as it scales. We look forward to working together to expand Huws Gray’s footprint over the coming years.”

Terry Owen, Managing Director of Huws Gray, commented,“We’ve built something very special at Huws Gray and we are excited to partner with Inflexion, a like-minded company who share the same values and objectives as Huws Gray. Inflexion has taken the time to understand our business and how we envisage its future. Unusually for a private equity firm, they were willing to take a minority stake, meaning we stay in control as we work together to accelerate our growth. The management team and I look forward to drawing upon the skills and experience of Inflexion as we seek to grow our business even further.”

The Inflexion deal team comprised Stuart Robinson, Richard Booth, Fabrizia Rizzi, Nick Rosenberg and David Whileman.

This deal was made by affiliated funds advised by Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP.

Paul Quinn, Director at The Quinn Partnership, said,“Terry has instilled a hard-working ethos of commitment that is at the heart of Huws Gray’s success. The business has shown remarkable stamina and appetite and this has allowed the company to generate a momentum to carry it to further growth and continue to reinforce its place as a leader in its market and retain its competitive advantage. We congratulate Terry and the team on their well-earned success.”