Energize splashes out on baby swimwear firm

ENERGIZE Capital, the Warrington-based turnaround and private equity business run by former Ford Campbell partner Jeremy Carr, has taken a majority stake in Splash About International.

The newly-acquired business, which is based in Berkshire, designs and distributes swimwear for babies and toddlers.

It has developed a reusable swim nappy that is used by the Water Babies franchise, as well as a range of swimwear jackets and clothing aimed at keeping children safe while in the water.

Splash About was set up by co-founder Desri and Robin Goodwin ten years ago. Carr said that the business had been built on the back of the Water Babies business, which uses the firm’s products exclusively, but added there were opportunities to roll the products out to high street retailers and to improve the company’s website in order to drive more sales over the web.

“We’ve built a team of investors and non-executives who have experience in this area:- of dealing with retailers, web sales and of product sourcing,” he said.

“It’s a nice business which has a brand that’s dying to be developed and there’s a big opportunity to do something in this space.”

Founder Desri Goodwin will continue as managing director of the company. She Splash About swimwearsaid: “I had reached a crossroads with the business but Energize Capital assembled a team of individuals which will really help Splash About expand our offering at just the time I needed it.

“This has allowed me to have a partial sale and will enable me to realise my dreams for the business.”

Energize Capital typically provides debt, mezzanine and equity packages to businesses of between £100,000 and £5m. The deal is the fifth investment made since it was set up by Carr 18 months ago. Other investments include Bury-based Trumeter, Manchester-based Name Your Number and the Denby Dale Pie Company.

RSM Tenon and Irwin Mitchell acted on behalf of the vendors, while Geldards acted for the purchaser and Page & Co acted for Energize. Debt provider NatWest was advised by Turner Parkinson.

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