Alantra advises LDC and Solid Solutions on international sale to TriMech
SECTORTechnology
ServiceM&A
London – Alantra, the global investment banking firm and asset management specialist, has advised LDC and the shareholders of Solid Solutions, a market leading reseller of 3D design software, on the sale of Solid Solutions to TriMech, a US-based technology and business solutions partner for designers, engineers, and manufacturers.
Founded in 1998 and with headquarters in Leamington Spa, Solid Solutions is the UK and Ireland’s leading independent provider of SOLIDWORKS, a 3D computer-aided design (CAD) package.
It supports a community of more than 16,000 customers across the UK and Ireland, which includes product designers, mechanical engineers, manufacturers, and educational institutions, and provides an extensive range of 3D CAD and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) software tools, as well as comprehensive training and support services.
LDC backed Solid Solutions’ management team, led by CEO and Founder Alan Sampson, CTO Simon Turner and CSO Kathy Sampson, in 2020. Since then, the private equity firm has helped the business to deliver an organic and acquisitive growth strategy.
Over the past two years, Solid Solutions has grown revenues by more than 35%, up to £73 million in its latest financial year. Today, the business employs more than 250 people and was recently rated as one of the 75 best companies to work for in the Midlands by its employees.
TriMech will now support the next stage of Solid Solutions’ growth journey. As part of the transaction, Solid Solutions’ CEO Alan Sampson will be appointed President of TriMech’s UK and European business and the wider management team will remain in place.
Alantra’s team was led by Richard Sanders, who is based in Alantra’s Birmingham office. He was supported by Oliver Parker, Sanjit Benawra, Oliver Wratten and Will Fenby.
Richard Sanders, Partner at Alantra who led the deal, commented, “We’re delighted to have advised on a deal that successfully brings together the UK and Ireland’s leading SOLIDWORKS CAD design software with a major global peer that can support Solid Solutions’ ongoing growth. This transaction highlights our cross-border M&A expertise and significant experience in the software market. It also continues Alantra’s strong performance in the Midlands in the first half of 2022, having advised on deals worth over £1.2 billion.”
Alan Sampson, CEO of Solid Solutions, added: “Rob and the rest of the team at LDC fully supported our strategy to grow our business. They encouraged us to be bold with our plans, and to act quickly and efficiently for the benefit of our customers. We could not have asked for a more supportive and engaging partner.”
Rob Schofield, Partner at LDC, said: “Our partnership with Solid Solutions is a fantastic example of how private equity investment can support a founder-owned family business to realise its growth plans. Its success is down to the hard work of the management team and its employees. This transaction finds a good home for the business and represents an excellent outcome for everyone at Solid Solutions. We wish them all the best for the future.”
