Plumbworld has been acquired by H.I.G. Capital’s Highbourne Group

Arrowpoint Advisory’s Consumer, Retail and Leisure team has advised the shareholders of Plumbworld Limited, one of the UK’s leading e-commerce specialists for bathroom, kitchen, plumbing and heating products on its sale to H.I.G. Capital’s Highbourne Group.

Following a MBO backed by Panoramic Growth Equity in December 2018, Plumbworld, led by CEO and founder James Hickman, has delivered exceptional growth. Underpinned by proprietary technology, its pureplay online business model and market leading customer proposition continues to drive both new and repeat customers, with 1.7m customers served since inception.  

The combination with Plumbworld will strengthen Highbourne’s leading omni-channel capabilities for both trade and retail customers. Plumbworld’s proposition is highly complementary to Highbourne and will enable the group to expand its footprint in the UK and Ireland, while maintaining its commitment to providing the highest quality services and convenience to its customers.

James Hickman, CEO and founder at Plumbworld, commented: “Throughout the project we were very impressed by the Arrowpoint Advisory team. From identifying potential acquirers, preparation of marketing materials right through to final terms negotiation, they consistently added value. Perhaps most importantly they were able to keep us on track during the inevitable roller coaster ride that this sort of process entails!”

Jamie Hutton, Director at Arrowpoint Advisory, added: “It has been an absolute pleasure working with the Plumbworld team and we are thrilled to have delivered an outstanding result for all the stakeholders. James and the team have created an exceptional business with market leading digital capabilities. They have a clear and exciting vision both for the business and wider sector and, in Highbourne, have a partner who will help them accelerate growth, whilst also benefiting themselves from Plumbworld’s invaluable e-commerce experience. We wish them every success on the next phase of their journey.”

Patrick Groarke, Managing Director at Arrowpoint Advisory concluded: “We are delighted to have advised the shareholders of Plumbworld on this transformational transaction. With the support of Panoramic the business has significantly outperformed the market and we look forward to watching the business continue to go from strength to strength under new ownership.”

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