PE-backed industrial tooling business completes double acquisition

Helix Tool Company, which was recently backed by NVM Private Equity, has completed a double acquisition as it seeks to consolidate the industrial tooling distribution market.

In undisclosed transactions, the Leeds-based business has acquired Floyd Automatic Tooling and Nsert. Helix said the acquisitions are highly complementary and have been acquired in line with its organic and M&A led strategy.

Floyd Automatic, based in Hertfordshire, is a highly specialist technical distributor of tools and consumables for the sliding head CNC market with deep technical expertise and several exclusive manufacturing partnerships.

Nsert is a regionally focussed cutting tool and industrial consumables supplier to a number of large customers in the North East of England.

The combination of the two businesses will enable the now enlarged Helix group to broaden its product range and offer enhanced value to clients in the precision engineering, automotive, aerospace and medical sectors. The new additions will also see the Helix team significantly expand both their existing locations and enlarge their geographical footprint.

Following these transactions, Helix remains acquisitive with adequate funding available to enable further consolidation across the market focussing on technical-led tooling distributors operating across the UK.

“We are thrilled to welcome Floyd Automatic and Nsert into the Helix family,” said Matt Cattell, CEO of Helix Tool’s holding company, MRO+ Solutions.

“The combined deep technical expertise in both companies complements our existing offer perfectly. Today’s announcement signifies a strong start to 2025 for Helix and we are confident that customers will see significant benefit both in terms of product offering and exceptional technical expertise.”

Charlie Pidgeon, investment partner of NVM Private Equity, said: “Consolidation of markets is an obvious driver of growth and with such a strong reputation for technical expertise we saw a clear opportunity for Matt to integrate these businesses into an enlarged Group. We are delighted to have supported them on their first two acquisitions and look forward to backing the team with more opportunities as they arise.”

Click here to sign up to receive our new South West business news...
Close