Sir Brian Souter

The firm has invested in sustainable fashion brand Celtic & Co, supported the merger of Climate Care and Natural Capital Partners and backed European mid-market private equity house Fremman Capital in its acquisition of a majority stake in VPS - a marine fuel testing and advisory services company, which assists the global shipping fleet verify fuel quality to meet environmental regulations.

Souter Investments also formed part of the b led syndicate which completed the £1.1bn take private of TalkTalk in March 2021. Under new ownership, the existing TalkTalk management team, led by Sir Charles Dunstone, will continue to strengthen the business, and increase its service levels for all customers. The group’s status as a private company will enable its management and investors to make long-term investment decisions that will bolster TalkTalk’s customer offering and market position over time.

The investment firm has partnered with successful retail executive and investor Ben Barnett to complete a buyout of Celtic & Co, aiming to capitalise on the company’s well established, successful and scalable e-commerce platform and growing international customer base whilst also accelerating investment into product volumes, new product development, and third-party retailer relationships.

Celtic & Co’s founders Nick and Kath Whitworth will continue to be involved with the business. James Williams has joined the business as CEO.

Souter Investments has also announced that it has sold its stake in Pet Network International after the business was acquired from The Rohatyn Group to A&M Capital Europe. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2021 and the terms have not yet been disclosed.

Since formation in 2006, Souter has invested approaching £500m in over 60 unquoted companies, either as the lead investor or as a partner for other financial sponsors. It currently has a portfolio of investments in more than 30 private businesses.

These transactions continue Souter Investments’ approach of investing through the cycle and follow the investment in precision engineer Newcastle Tool & Gauge, a deal led by Ignite Growth, in early 2021 plus several new investments during 2020. The successful sale of Amerplast, a flexible plastics and packaging group located in Finland and Poland, was also completed earlier in the year.