"The market was still growing strongly enough - in double digits - to fuel demand for blinds, so we stuck with a simple and clear strategy, playing to our existing strengths."
Laurie Cooke, Thomas Sanderson
Thomas Sanderson Blinds
Sector |
Consumer |
|---|---|
Status |
Realised |
Deal Type |
Management Buy-in/BIMBO |
Leading supplier of conservatory blinds and custom-made awnings. Founded by husband and wife, Bob and Norma Thomas.
ISIS acquired 56% of the business in 2001 as part of a £25m BIMBO and began working with buy-in team Laurie Cook and Trish Whiston. Sanderson was sold to its biggest supplier, Hunter Douglas, in 2003 after 25% year-on-year revenue growth.
"Margins grew from 12% to 17% over the investment, but the real secret behind this deal was replacing the extraordinarily successful founders with buy-in partners able to take the business to a new level."
Mark Turner, ISIS
Timeline
2001 - ISIS acquires 56%
2002 - Outperforms plan
2003 - Hunter Douglas buys Sanderson
