'New chapter' as decking firm undergoes buyout

A safety decking firm says it has laid a platform for growth after completing a management buyout.

Fall Protection UK is under new leadership.

Bosses say the move “marks the start of a new chapter” for the Gateshead-based company.

The deal was supported by FRP Corporate Finance. 

Founded in 2003, Fall Protection UK supplies safety decking and fall bags to the construction sector, supporting housebuilding and commercial projects across the North East and North Yorkshire. 

FRP Corporate Finance’s Newcastle team, led by partner Abu Ali and supported by associate director Graham Brown and manager Niall Choat, developed and delivered a succession plan to allow founder and former managing director John McGowan to retire.

It designed the buyout structure and introduced third-party debt adviser CCBS to support the management team with a finance raise, liaising with the debt adviser, leading legal negotiations and designing a mechanism that would provide price certainty for all parties.  

John said: “FRP Corporate Finance gave us confidence this was the right option for the business.

“The team helped secure an excellent outcome for all parties.”

Abu Ali, partner at FRP Corporate Finance, added: “Management buyouts can offer company founders an attractive alternative to taking the business to market.

“With growth in UK housebuilding high on the national agenda, this is an exciting time for Fall Protection UK’s management team to step into an ownership position and apply their skill and experience to take the business to the next level.”

Further sale-side advisers included Sintons and 1st Cloud Accountants.

Buy-side advisers included Savage Silk and CCBS.

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