Croxden Capital Partners is a vehicle set up by Philip Horsnall and Jonathan Prutton with the aim of acquiring established manufacturing, engineering and contracting businesses. Target companies with revenue in excess of £10 million are particularly relevant, profitability is less significant. The business must however be more than five years old, be established in its core markets, be well invested and have solid organic growth prospects. CCP has already bought out a Ashbourne-based narrow fabrics business, Bowmer Bond, Leeds-based earthworks and demolition contractor Moorhead Group and POS plastics manufacturer Lighthouse Display International. CCP’s investment philosophy is based on supporting companies that can be developed and grown for the long term in partnership with the incumbent management team. CCP should therefore represent an attractive exit for a number of vendors including established family businesses where family members may be keen to see the future of their business secured. CCP has access to its own sources of equity in addition to asset finance and cash-flow loans to fund suitable deals. Significant sources of non-institutional private equity is also available for larger transactions. The principals will play an active role in running the acquired companies post-acquisition though very much through the support of incumbent management. Both Philip and Jonathan have extensive experience of implementing turnarounds, re-structurings, international sales development and buy and build strategies, both in the plc and privately owned sectors (including PE backed). CCP is headquartered in Derbyshire and while it considers the East and West Midlands and south Yorkshire as its core target territories it will look at opportunities on a nationwide basis.