Trustmarque bosses could attempt 2016 MBO - sources

Rumours follow completion of integration with sister firm Trinity

Management at Trustmarque are keen to attempt a buyout of the software licensing reseller and services firm next year away from private equity backers Endless, according to sources.

Led by chief executive Scott Haddow (pictured) and marketing director Angelo Di Ventura, Trustmarque performed an MBO in June 2013 but 15 months later was sold to Endless-backed Liberata after previous backer Dunedin pulled out.

Since then, Liberata has merged Trustmarque with another VAR it bought from administration in 2013, Trinity Expert Systems, and the integration process was completed in August. Haddow recently told CRN that the combined firm's services revenues are set to top £50m in its current financial year.

According to sources, Endless may look to review the strategic options for the enlarged business next year, opening up the possibility of another MBO.

"Endless may look to review the strategic options on Trustmarque and there may be some sort of transaction next year," said the source. "There might not be; the market may not be right for it."

CRN understands that no formal process has begun and nothing is likely to begin happening until the firm has a completed set of audited results, which are expected around the end of May 2016.

Results filed on Companies House show for the year ending 31 December 2014 that Trustmarque's revenues were £135.4m, compared with £151.4m in the 16 months before.

Analyst Megabuyte said the results show Trustmarque has turned a corner.

"While 2014 was clearly a year to forget for Trustmarque, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, and the company now seems to be well on the way to recovery," the analyst said. "While the profit line may take longer to recover than had originally been hoped, the company's financial performance is clearly on the mend."

As well as backing Liberata, Endless has supported the MBO of technical services provider Imtech UK and Ireland in August 2015. According to its website, the private equity house invested in Liberata in 2010, "at a value of £23m".

At the time of publication Endless was unavailable for comment and Trustmarque declined to comment.