Based in London with operations in Glasgow and Singapore, Sabio is a market-leading service provider of contact centre technology solutions, delivering transformational technology and managed services to some of the UK's largest call centres such as the AA, together with major global organisations including DHL.
The business was founded in 1998 and now supports customers in over 51 countries around the world. It has successfully grown revenues to in excess of £40 million by focusing on the delivery of exceptional customer service and partnering with leading technology vendors including as Avaya, Nuance and Verint.
With a UK market share of 7.1%, Sabio is the largest independent provider of its services and has delivered average annual growth of 15% for each of the past three years.
The buyout has secured a majority exit for the four founding shareholders who will remain involved in the business through the next phase of growth, which will include a number of selected acquisitions supported by additional committed capital from Lyceum as part of their buy-and-build strategy.
The £50 million transaction will see Lyceum take a majority shareholding in the business, with the COO, Andy Roberts, becoming CEO.
Lyceum is a leading UK mid-market private equity firm that typically invests between £5 million and £50 million of equity in growth businesses. Since inception in 1999, it has raised over £800 million and acquired more than 100 companies including Adapt, Clearswift and Isotrak in the technology space.
We acted as Lead Advisors to the shareholders on the sale of the business as well as providing SPA advisory services and shareholder tax advice.
My fellow Founders and I had committed our last 18 years to Sabio and the transaction had to provide a strong platform for the future of the business and its people. Furthermore none of us had previously been involved in such a transaction. It was therefore essential that we had top quality advisers who would take the time to understand all of our objectives and guide us through to completing the right transaction. Grant Thornton supported us throughout the process, negotiating extra value in the deal and doing what was required to complete the deal within a tight timeframe through drawing upon a range of specialists. It was a pleasure to work with the Grant Thornton team through to the completion of a transaction that achieved all of our objectives.
Seb Henkes Founder and former Managing Director, Sabio Limited
