Shade Tree Capital is a fund seeking to buy and run one company in South Africa
APPROACH
The founder, Aengus Stanley will partner with an owner to give them a straightforward exit that protects their team & culture and keeps the business and their legacy growing
- Looking to buy out a business owner that wants to exit their business
- Aiming to find one single company to acquire
- Targeting long-term growth and value creation building upon the existing legacy of the business
- Aengus will join the management team as CEO and take care of your team & customers
CRITERIA
FINANCIAL
- R10m - R50m annual earnings
- Operating Margins >15%
- Annual Revenue growth last 3 years
- Stable and diversified client base
- Low customer concentration
- Repeat customers / revenue
INDUSTRY AND GEOGRAPHY
- South Africa based
- B2B preferred over B2C
- Established niche
- B2B services, light manufacturing etc.
OWNER
- Has owned business for >10 years
- Looking to exit daily management
- No succession plan in place
- Wants to see business continue
WHY SELL TO SHADE TREE
Shade Tree Capital is not your typical investor. I am an experienced entrepreneur who will work with you to transition your business, and keep your legacy alive.
LONG-TERM FOCUS
Focus on the long-term growth and success of the business and will take care of your customers
TEAM
I will join the management team and take care of your team and treat them as long-term partners
FLEXIBLE AND FAIR
I can offer fair and flexible conditions for acquiring your company
EXPERIENCED
I am an experienced operator and professional, backed by a group of investors with over 100 years of management experience between them
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
WHO I AM
Aengus is an experienced professional, having worked as a CEO of a mid-sized company, top tier management consulting and managing large construction teams in challenging operating environemnts. He is a civil engineer and holds an MBA from a top business school. He has experience in manufacturing, mining, construction, FMCG and private equity across 11 different countries and three continents.
Aengus was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland in to a family of four. He has a family connection to South Africa and Kenya and has travelled to 35 countries on the continent.
Aengus initially worked in East Africa as a country manager for a mid-sized construction company in South Sudan. This job taught him how to manage large teams and operationally “get things done” in some of the harshest working conditions in the world. Aengus loved working in mid-sized business, thriving in an environemnt where daily he could get his hands dirty, work closely with his teams and see the output of his work as the projects developed.
He then completed an MBA at one of the leading business schools in the world – London Business School and worked as a member of the leadership team at the top tier global management consulting firm, Bain & Company based in the Johannesburg and New York offices. This experience gave him the professional training he needed to think at the highest strategic levels, learn how to communicate and negotiate with the most sophisticated business leaders.
Aengus yearned to return to the “real world”, and regain the connection with a team, customers and product he had at the start of his career in medium sized business. He was given the opportunity to step in as CEO of a mid-sized business in Namibia to lead them during a challenging turnaround.
Outside work, Aengus’ passions include travelling to the remoter parts of the African continent and doing as much running and cycling as his legs will allow.
WHAT'S IN A NAME
One day while travelling in Northern Kenya – a particularly barren and rocky desert near Lake Turkana, Aengus drove in to a small town called South Horr. Propped up against some rocks was a sign, pointing off the track advertising “Shade tree – conference shade for rent”. A person was renting out their tree, a rare niche in a barren landscape, and an opportunity for people have their meetings out of the burning sun.
In one of the most desolate places in Africa, an entrepreneur had found his niche – a lone tree recognized for its value and marketed as ‘conference shade.’ Aengus often thinks of this business person. Aengus is looking for his “Shade Tree”.
Warren Buffet would also appreciate this entrepreneur, having once said “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Shade Tree Capital is looking to acquire and grow a great business in South Africa
Thinking of selling? Or know a business that fits the criteria? Please get in touch.