CEPS plc
- Market Cap (£m) 8.6
- Listing AIM
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Company Description
CEPS is an AIM-quoted industrial trading group, comprising a diverse range of small UK businesses that each typically rank among the leading players in their respective niche market. Business activities include sports trophies and engraving, specialist stretch fabrics and gymnastics wear, and construction services. CEPS aims to achieve capital growth through steadily growing operating profits at group companies. The group seeks to acquire growing, profitable and cash-generative companies, primarily in the ?2m to ?5m value range, using private equity-style financial structuring, usually incorporating equity and debt components. Company management teams are incentivised to grow their businesses while focusing on cash generation and the steady repayment of CEPS' capital investment. Group companies benefit from CEPS' financial backing and strategic and operational support.
Investment Summary
Restructuring of the group was undertaken during 2019 and 2020, with weaker businesses discontinued and other businesses strengthened through merger and acquisition transactions, reshaping CEPS into a smaller group with improved prospects for both profitability and growth. CEPS' more streamlined operations and reduced cost base helped it to navigate successfully through the Covid-19 crisis, and the group's 'buy and build' strategy is proving successful. CEPS has a clear strategy as to how it will grow its businesses, capturing a greater market share through operational efficiencies, marketing and strategic acquisitions.
Recent Content

H1 performance shows strategy delivering
05/10/2023 CEPS plc
CEPS has continued to make progress with its companies, and key growth drivers remain intact despite the challenging […]

Solid FY22 performance
19/05/2023 CEPS plc
CEPS continues to deliver on its key strategic initiatives and growth drivers despite a challenging economic backdrop. Total […]

Solid H1 22 but cautious outlook
11/10/2022 CEPS plc
CEPS has delivered solid H1 22 results, for the six months ended 30 June 2022, against a weaker […]

Full-year results demonstrate underlying growth
19/05/2022 CEPS plc
CEPS has delivered strong underlying growth despite the impact of lockdown regulations in the first half of the […]

Purchase of the business and assets of Impact Promotional Merchandise Ltd
13/04/2022 CEPS plc
CEPS has announced the acquisition by its subsidiary Aford Awards (AA) of the business and related assets of […]

Pension liability removed, funding headroom
21/12/2021 CEPS plc
CEPS has recently announced that the Trustees of its legacy pension scheme have entered into a buy-in contract […]

Positioned for growth
13/10/2021 CEPS plc
HY21 results demonstrate that CEPS is now a transformed entity, with its first clean set of results following […]

FY20 Resilience
23/06/2021 CEPS plc
In our view the Group’s recent FY20 results announcement reflects a creditable performance despite the extremely tough trading […]

Hickton Group acquires Millington Lord
18/03/2021 CEPS plc
CEPS has announced the acquisition by its subsidiary Hickton Group of Millington Lord, a gas and electrical safety […]

Partnering for profitable growth
01/03/2021 CEPS plc
CEPS is an AIM-quoted, industrial trading holding company that seeks to acquire growing, profitable and cash-generative specialist companies […]
Company Management Team
David Horner
Chairman
David qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984. His experience includes working for Touche Ross Insolvency and Corporate Recovery before joining 3i Corporate Finance where he advised on buying and selling typical “old” 3i unquoted companies with a value generally up to £10 million. He has also worked extensively with small public companies. He joined Strand Partners where he specialised in rescue, recovery and restructuring of small public companies before setting up Chelverton Asset Management Limited in 1998 as a UK small company investment specialist with in excess of £1 billion funds under management.
Vivien Langford
Group Finance Director & Company Secretary
Vivien qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1987. She has many years’ experience in senior finance roles in service sector companies, particularly with listed public relations and marketing companies. She possesses sound business acumen with strong team and management skills and has significant project management experience with expertise in financial analysis, contract negotiation and company acquisitions. She was appointed Finance Director in July 2010 and is our Company Secretary. Vivien is also the Finance Director for Chelverton Asset Management Limited.