YFM backs buyout of synthetic sports surface specialist with £6.5m investment

YFM Equity Partners (YFM) has backed the management buyout of Replay Maintenance - one of the UK’s leading providers of synthetic sports surface maintenance and installation.

The company, which is headquartered in Long Bennington, East Midlands, has a 20-year track record in delivering service and maintenance contracts for synthetic sports surfaces across the UK. It has established itself as a market leading specialist in the maintenance of athletics tracks, 3G pitches, tennis courts, water-based hockey pitches and sand-filled/dressed sports surfaces.

Replay’s expert team of field operatives uses a range of specialist equipment and machinery to service a diverse array of clients, including universities, schools, leisure centers, and various county football associations. The company has also been entrusted with preparing athletics facilities for major international competitions held in the UK, such as the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 and 2022 Commonwealth Games.

YFM's £6.5 million MBO investment will help Replay to achieve further growth by building upon its existing client base, pursuing new business and cementing its position as UK market leader.

YFM is supporting incumbent Managing Director, Nick Harris, in leading the buyout. Nick Harris has been with the business since 2012, initially joining as Business Development Manager. Nick is joined by Amy Hart, Tony Aitchison, and Sean Cook to form the management team.  

Commenting on the deal, Nick said: "With YFM’s support, we are now primed to continue our scale up – leveraging our long-standing reputation for service delivery and expertise to open up opportunities with new clients and boost our offering for our existing clients. The YFM team will help to steer our progress, offering expert commercial insight every step of the way."

Stephen Murray, Investment Director at YFM added: "Replay has already nurtured a really strong position as a go-to provider of synthetic sports surface services in the UK. The business is a major player in the market, and with YFM’s backing and Nick’s leadership, it can now capitalise further on its reputation – achieving its growth ambitions faster."

Garry Martin, on behalf of fellow vendors Rob Carroll (Chair), Richard Hills (NED), and Nigel Allen (NED), said, "Replay is a fantastic high-growth business with a loyal customer base. We wish the management team, staff, and operatives all the very best for the continued success of the business."

The YFM team included: Stephen Murray, Christina Tymviou, Alex Neale and Jamie Roberts.

Advisers on the deal included: Heligan Group (Buyside Advisory); Cooper Parry (Financial Due Diligence); Freeths (Legal Due Diligence); PMSI (Commercial Due Diligence); Partners& (Insurance Due Diligence); Actons (Management Advice); Claritas (Tax Due Diligence); Confidas (Management Due Diligence); Grant Thorton (IT Due Diligence); Bishopsgate Corporate Finance (Sell-side Advisory) and Browne Jacobson (Sell-side Legal Advisors) Somerbys (Sell-side Tax Advisors).