Carlton Strategy Advisors has successfully supported HSBC Corporate Banking in connection with its funding of the buy-out of DVS Ltd by its management team. Headquartered in Cardiff, DVS was formed in 2003 and has established itself as one of Europe’s leading multi-brand distributors of electronic surveillance. It is the largest independent CCTV distributor in the UK, particularly for the Hikvision range of surveillance products. Customers of the £22m-turnover company include surveillance equipment installation contractors and users of CCTV, particularly national retailers.

The buyout of DVS was led by finance director Tim Goodson with support from strategic accounts director Gavin Dunleavy. Funding to support the MBO was provided by HSBC’s corporate finance team in Cardiff with commercial due diligence provided by Carlton Strategy Advisors.

Warren Lewis, HSBC's head of corporate banking in Wales, added: "HSBC has been working with DVS for the last 13 years,  in  which  time  the  business  has  undergone  a  continued  period  of  growth.  We  wanted  to  help  the  new management team take it to the next level by providing a finance package that would give the company the flexibility it needs to expand further, develop its offering and meet its ambitions for the years ahead."

Craig Grant, HSBC Senior Corporate Banking manager, said, “The due diligence provided by CSA supported the bank’s internal  processes  by  clarifying  elements  of  our  client’s  competitive  advantage  through  independent  analysis  and customer referencing.”