We are pleased to announce that we have invested in Contollo Group (Contollo), a newly formed built environment consultancy group, backing management to build a national professional services platform that supports clients across a range of sectors to achieve their regulatory and sustainability targets in the built environment.
Our investment will allow Contollo to undertake a UK-focused buy and build strategy, which will support the business to serve the rapidly increasing demand for tech-enabled smart buildings. This demand is driven by board-level ESG agendas and underpinned by growing regulatory pressure on built environment stakeholders to progress towards Net Zero. We are backing Oliver Dennis, Executive Chair, and Ruth Percival, CEO, who both bring significant M&A and Private Equity experience in the professional services sector to build the platform.
Upon completion of the investment, Contollo secured its first acquisition, a sector-leading Manchester-based cost management consultancy, Abacus. Ellis Goodfellow, Co-Founder of Abacus, will join Contollo as Chief Commercial Officer.
Ruth Percival, CEO of Contollo, said: “We are thrilled to be partnering with the highly talented and experienced team at Abacus. Our mission is to build a market-leading, integrated building consultancy that helps our clients achieve their Net Zero ambitions in the built environment. This acquisition lays a robust foundation of experience and expertise for further acquisitions and growth.”
Oliver Dennis, Executive Chair of Contollo, added: “Alongside completing our first acquisition, we are delighted to be partnering with NorthEdge to support us both financially and strategically on this journey. I am confident that our combined experience will enable us to build a leading UK professional services consultancy that improves sustainable outcomes in the built environment.”
The deal was funded from NorthEdge SME Fund I and led by Ray Stenton, Managing Partner; Liam May, Director; Matthew Mellon, Investment Manager; and Sam Allen, Investment Manager. Liam May will join the board on behalf of NorthEdge.
Liam May, Director at NorthEdge, said: “This investment brings together a number of NorthEdge’s focus areas: Contollo is another example of a regionally-based company with national reach; our Business Services sector team have been tracking the built environment for a number of years; the investment strategy is highly aligned with our ESG and sustainability commitments; and Contollo represents another buy and build investment in our portfolio following the successful completion of a number of bolt-on acquisitions to accelerate growth across the portfolio over the last decade.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Ruth and Oliver to support them to deliver their ambitious growth plan over the coming years.”