Scott Wilson

Scott Wilson is a leading multi-disciplinary international design and engineering consultancy that can trace its roots back to 1924. Prior to flotation the company had established a track record of consistent growth through organic expansion supplemented by small acquisitions, yet Scott Wilson found that it was losing market share to competitors who had better access to capital to fund their expansion. A large pension fund deficit and the limitations of its partnership structure left Scott Wilson with significant growth opportunities and limited access to capital.

After an in depth selection process, a team from Brewin Dolphin secured the mandate to review the Company’s options to take the business forward. Working with the Company Brewin Dolphin’s Support Services team assessed a number of options including private equity funding or a potential flotation. After speaking with a number of private equity houses and institutions, the process established that private equity funding would offer significantly less flexibility and a lower valuation for Scott Wilson’s owners than could be achieved via a flotation. Brewin Dolphin advised Scott Wilson that an IPO would allow the pension deficit to be reduced, provide liquidity for existing shareholders and deliver growth capital for the business. In March 2006 Brewin Dolphin raised some £68m for the company at IPO.

The flexibility offered by flotation has allowed Scott Wilson to make nine acquisitions investing more than £50m to augment growth and expand into strategically important markets. Scott Wilson has doubled its turnover since its IPO and almost tripled profitability allowing it to consolidate its position in the UK ’s top ten design and engineering consultancies. Brewin Dolphin has acted as lead advisor throughout this period .

For more information on this transaction please contact Sandy Fraser on 0845 213 2072.