Creative Graphics International is a leading designer and supplier of technical self-adhesive branding solutions to the automotive and aerospace sectors.

We led the buyout of CGI. The vendor had handed over operational control to the managing director and was keen to partially realise value, but also to benefit from the future potential of the business. We introduced experienced management to work with the incumbent team to deliver this objective.

We have provided a combined debt and equity investment of £6.2m as part of a £11.3m deal, investing alongside both existing and new management and a significant rollover from the vendor. We also introduced a South African co-investment partner in order to provide local expertise and resource on the ground. At an early stage in the transaction, we introduced Operating Partner and automotive industry specialist Kevin Finn, who joined as investing Executive Chairman. We also introduced buy-in Sales Director Mel Goodliffe and Finance Director Simon Barrell.

Investment rationale

CGI is a world leading graphics and branding solutions provider, offering a complete branding position to enhance products and digital marketing collateral.

With almost 40 years’ experience and a client portfolio of global blue-chip motor manufacturers, airlines and engineering conglomerates across 6 continents and in more than 30 different countries worldwide, they have manufacturing operations in the United Kingdom and South Africa together with sales and support resource across the world.