Gordons advises shareholders on the sale of Forensic Testing Service to Limerston Capital’s Forensic Access Group
Monday 13th November 2023
Gordons has advised the shareholders of Forensic Testing Service (FTS), a provider of toxicology testing services, on the sale of FTS to Limerston Capital’s portfolio company, Forensic Access Group.
A team from Gordons led by corporate partner Amy Pierechod and solicitor Andrew Moore advised FTS on the acquisition. Leeds-based financial advisors Clearwater International and accountants, BHP also advised on the deal.
Founded in 2009, West-Yorkshire based FTS provides forensic support for local authorities and the family legal sector. The company specialises in forensic evidence relating to substance abuse alongside DNA testing around childcare proceedings.
Limerston Capital is a private equity firm targeting control investments in UK businesses with EBITDA of between £5m and £15m. It partners with management teams to help build them into industry leaders through buy-and-build and operational transformation.
The firm acquired Forensic Access Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of analytical services to the legal, policing and clinical sectors, in 2020 through a MBO.
Since then, the Group has completed four bolt-on acquisitions adding to its scope of services. These include toxicology with ASI Ltd; anthropological, ecological forensics and external training with Alecto Forensics; and digital and cyber investigations with IntaForensics and Faraday Forensics.
The acquisition of FTS will provide the opportunity to increase capacity of Forensic Access Group’s existing toxicology business as well as expand and diversify the client base.
Gordons corporate partner, Amy Pierechod, commented: “It’s been great to work with the team at FTS and support this latest expansion for Forensic Access Group.
“Since it was founded, FTS has undergone an impressive growth journey to become an established Yorkshire business and a leading name in the forensics sector. The business will become a significant asset to Forensic Access Group and Limerston Capital.”
You can learn more about Gordons’ corporate, M&A and banking expertise here.