Category: News

Loughborough, UK: Energy engineering solutions company BRUSH Group has acquired iDESo Group, home of industrial switchgear specialists Allenwest Limited and Baldwin & Francis Limited from Longacre Group, the UK-based evergreen B2B investment company, in a deal which will see the Group’s switchgear manufacturing capabilities increase significantly.

The takeover boosts BRUSH’s product range and aftermarket service capabilities and enables the Group to develop a nationwide OEM-agnostic service platform that will both benefit and allow growth beyond BRUSH’s established, predominantly DNO,customer base.

Allenwest, established in 1918 and based in Prestwick, Scotland, employs around 40 people and specialises in electrical control and hazardous area equipment. Baldwin & Francis, founded in 1919 in Sheffield, England, also employs circa 40 and is best known for its expertise in electrical equipment for the toughest of environments – including industrial, utilities, energy and rail.

By combining the two businesses’ field service engineering expertise, which includes maintenance, repair, overhaul and 24/7 technical support, BRUSH can deliver flexible, end-to-end power engineering solutions, across a broader range of core industries such as energy, water, technology, transport, manufacturing, and commercial development.

Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH Group, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the teams from Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis into the BRUSH family. It is apt that in a year when we are celebrating 150 years of innovation that we welcome these highly respected, pioneering brands to our Group.”

“Along with engineering expertise, these acquisitions bring complementary market positions and expand our portfolio into new areas, enabling us to build a more diversified and resilient organisation that is focused on exceeding customer expectations.”

He concluded:

“The additional expertise of our new colleagues means BRUSH is well-placed to deliver an enhanced aftermarket service offering across an even broader range of products and geographical locations, something we know is important to our customers, and to the energy security of the UK.”

The integration of Allenwest and Baldwin & Francis also allows BRUSH to leverage established production, assembly and distribution systems as well as certifications and accreditations which strengthen BRUSH’s already impressive technical expertise.

In addition, the acquisition expands BRUSH’s product portfolio to include equipment certified to ATEXand IECExstandards – widely recognised certifications ensuring equipment safety in hazardous and explosive environments. These accreditations unlock entry into new, high-growth markets for BRUSH while enhancing credibility across regulated industries.

Neil Shailer, CEO of Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest said: “BRUSH is a well-established player with a strong reputation across the sector, and we are incredibly excited to become part of this dynamic and future-focused business.”

He added “It’s a fresh chapter and one that we relish as we look to collaborating and innovating with our new colleagues. I’d like to extend my thanks to Longacre Group for their support over the years in positioning our businesses ready for even further growth.”

Stani Schmidt, CEO of Longacre Group added: “During our ownership, we built iDESo into a UK leader in mission-critical switchgear, bringing together Baldwin & Francis and Allenwest, sharpening the Group’s focus on premium specialised solutions for blue-chip customers, nearly doubling revenues over six years. We are proud of what the team has built and confident that BRUSH, with its scale and technical reputation, is the ideal partner to take that story forward.”

For the second year in a row, BRUSH Group is heading to Data Centre World to share its innovative range of electrical power products, services, and solutions.

Held at the ExCeL, London, between 4 and 5 March, Data Centre World is a one-stop event for the data centre industry, and provides the perfect opportunity for manufacturers and suppliers to the sector to meet with clients and project partners. On stand E35, the BRUSH team will be on hand to discuss the company’s capabilities, including their end-to-end engineering solutions, innovative products portfolio and aftermarket services, which together help to meet the demands of mission-critical data centre projects.

BRUSH Group Sales Director, Rob Clarey, who will be on the stand, said of the event: “This is a special event for us, last year we chose it as the place to launch the latest addition to our switchgear portfolio, CRYNO, and this year, we’re marking our 150years of innovation as we celebrate 150 years since our namesake, Charles Frances Brush, invented his electric dynamo, from which the brand we are today grew!”

He continued:

“Last year’s event was a great success, providing the opportunity to interact with many visitors and we look forward to this year demonstrating what BRUSH has to offer to an even wider range of visitors.”

Visit BRUSH at stand E35 to learn more.

UK engineering leader BRUSH Group brought festive spirit and community pride to Loughborough as the headline sponsor of the town’s Christmas Lights Switch-On. The annual celebration, attended by residents, marked the official start of the Christmas season and reinforced BRUSH’s deep ties to the community.

The event was organised with Charnwood Borough Council and Fosse 107 radio. It featured live entertainment, a countdown led by the mayor, and the illumination of Loughborough’s Christmas lights.

Kellie Tillyer, Marketing Manager at BRUSH Group, said: “As a business with deep roots in Loughborough, we’re proud to be part of such a cherished tradition. Supporting the Christmas Lights Switch-On is our way of giving back to the community and celebrating the spirit of togetherness that defines our town.”

BRUSH is a long-standing champion of innovation and community investment. It used the occasion to highlight its commitment to sustainability and local engagement.

Founded in 1879, BRUSH Group has grown into a UK leader in power engineering, with a reputation for championing technical excellence. “Events like this showcase the best of Loughborough,” added Tillyer. “We’re delighted to help light up the town and bring people together to celebrate.”

The Christmas Lights Switch-On remains a highlight of the Loughborough calendar. With BRUSH Group’s support, this year’s event captured the magic and unity of the festive season.

BRUSH Group Ltd, (“BRUSH” or the “Company”) a leading engineering solutions provider for UK electrical infrastructure projects, announced today that funds managed by Greenbelt Capital Management L.P. (“Greenbelt” or “Greenbelt Capital Partners”) have signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Company from funds managed by OEP Capital Advisors, L.P. (“One Equity”). 

A true UK success story, BRUSH has greatly contributed to the UK’s electrical energy infrastructure for almost 150 years and operates from multiple locations across the UK as well as in Italy. 

A trusted provider of power transformers, electrical switchgear, and engineering solutions for the transition to net zero, this transaction will see the firm build on the strong and sustained growth it has enjoyed in recent years, with reported revenue of circa £150M annually.

Through its innovative range of engineered products and engineering solutions, BRUSH supports both grid resilience and grid extension, enabling infrastructure upgrades, renewable energy integration, and capacity expansion to meet ever-increasing demand. 

Nicolas Pitrat, CEO of BRUSH, said: “This deal represents a brilliant opportunity for BRUSH. From the outset, Greenbelt has liked what we do, and they are committed to supporting us as we continue to build on our enviable reputation for engineering excellence and technical know-how. 

What makes this deal genuinely exciting is that Greenbelt has a wealth of expertise in the energy sector and are experts on growing businesses operating within the energy transition.” 

He added, “On behalf of the BRUSH team, I would like to thank One Equity, who have been transformative for BRUSH over the last four years. We now look to the future with a new partner who are primed and ready to take us to the next level as we continue to deliver ever-more innovative and customer-focused solutions.”

Andy Hopping, Partner at Greenbelt, said: “Grid enablement and energy resilience are core themes at Greenbelt. We believe BRUSH plays a vital role in enabling the UK’s evolving electricity infrastructure—providing the equipment and engineering expertise needed to integrate renewables, upgrade aging assets, and meet rising demand. We are excited to partner with BRUSH’s seasoned leadership team and bring our sector experience to help support the company’s next phase of growth.”

Speaking on behalf of One Equity, Ori Birnboim, Partner, said: “One Equity is proud to have supported BRUSH through a remarkable journey of strategic growth since 2021. We thank Nicolas, the entire management team, and all of BRUSH’s employees for their unrelenting commitment to delivering best-in-class solutions for customers while keeping to their core values of safety, quality, and customer satisfaction.”

Notes for editors: 

About Greenbelt Capital Partners

Greenbelt Capital Partners is a private equity firm with offices in Austin, TX and New York, NY. The firm focuses on investing in leading middle-market companies that are enabling the transition to a more resilient and electrified energy future. With $2.5 billion in assets under management, Greenbelt aims to partner with exceptional management teams to drive growth and build lasting value across its portfolio. The senior team at Greenbelt has committed approximately $6 billion of equity capital across multiple portfolio companies and consummated over $70 billion of M&A and financings in over 260 transactions. For more information, visit www.greenbeltcapital.com.

About One Equity Partners 

One Equity Partners (“OEP”) is a middle market private equity firm focused on the industrial, healthcare, and technology sectors in North America and Europe. The firm seeks to build market-leading companies by identifying and executing transformative business combinations. OEP is a trusted partner with a differentiated investment process, a broad and senior team, and an established track record generating long-term value for its partners. Since 2001, the firm has completed more than 400 transactions worldwide. OEP, founded in 2001, spun out of JP Morgan in 2015. The firm has offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit  www.oneequity.com.

BRUSH Group has been named as a double winner at the prestigious East Midlands Business Masters Awards 2024.

At a ceremony held on 3 October at Nottingham’s Crown Plaza, BRUSH was announced as the winner of not one, but two, awards. The company beat stiff competition from several other successful firms in the region to win both the Investment Award and Large Business of the Year Award.

The Investment Award recognises the major investments made by BRUSH in recent years in its people, facilities, products and services that deliver long-term benefits. And the Large Business of the Year Award recognises BRUSH’s impressive growth trajectory and the positive impact it makes in the sector.

Part of the fabric of the East Midlands since making Loughborough home in 1889, through both organic growth and acquisition, today BRUSH employs around 630 people at locations across the UK, including at the South Wales switchgear manufacturing facility.

Following the award ceremony BRUSH CEO, Nicolas Pitrat, said: “We are delighted to have won these Business Masters Awards – it’s a testament to the vision and belief of our investors, the drive and determination of our managers, and above all the talent and dedication of our workforce that we are in such a strong position.

“Our power transformers and market-leading switchgear are critical to the futureproofing of the UK’s electricity network, and our end-to-end engineering solutions support our customers at every stage of their project. That means that any new infrastructure or built development – from housing and hospitals to rail and renewable energy – can partner with BRUSH to ensure their project needs are met as efficiently and sustainably as possible.”

The Business Masters Awards is hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com, a leading voice in the regional business community for more than a decade.