Live Business has evolved to become a leading international entertainment supplier to the travel, tourism and leisure industry. It is a prominent provider of turnkey entertainment solutions for global travel operators, specifically in holiday resorts or on cruise ships.
The business is recognised for its reputation for creating award-winning bespoke content, bringing together creative, production and digital capabilities. The capabilities of the business include everything from concept design, digital media content, to West-End style production shows and live entertainment activities.
Headquartered in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, with manufacturing and packing operations in Manchester, Dri-Pak is a leading supplier of branded and retailer own brand cleaning and laundry products and the UK’s largest independent salt packer. Dri-Pak’s product portfolio includes table salt, dishwasher salt, soda crystals, white vinegar cleaner and liquid soap, which it sells into the UK and European retail sector.
With a 50-year heritage, Dri-Pak is a third-generation family business and Quercus has been working closely with the family since 2019 to formulate an exit strategy and prepare the business for sale. Following receipt of unsolicited approaches, through our extensive relationships we identified Finfinero as a logical buyer for the business and managed the sale process from start to finish.
Founded some 20 years ago, NPLST is a dedicated schools travel provider offering a specialised range of domestic and international tours and excursions to schools and clubs across the UK. It focuses on educational and sports-based tours, together with battlefield tours and residential theatre trips, through its well-established Study Experiences, Sports Experiences brands and as official partner of the Royal British Legion for school travel.
Blackpool-based school travel specialist Next Generation Travel Limited (NGT), operates a range of brands including WST, FHT Travel and Anglia Tours. The combined business is currently responsible for over 70,000 student trips each year.
ICON is a multi-channel brand management and distribution company covering the UK and Ireland. It specializes in premium hair and beauty products and offers a bespoke service, in consultation with its brand partners, to deliver long term distribution strategies through professional salons and high street retail.
Sweet Squared supplies beauty products to more than 24,000 professionals in the UK and Ireland from its offices in Leeds, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dublin.
Qwerkity started life in 1989 as Presents for Men when the founder, Jane Hudson, noticed that it was difficult to find unusual, good quality and inexpensive presents for the male members of her family. Over the years the business has grown considerably, becoming one of the foremost mail order gift companies in the UK selling gifts for men, women and children as well as practical products for the house, garden and travel. In 2014, Presents for Men was rebranded Qwerkity to reflect this broader offering.
Private Equity backed The Book People has been looking for ways to diversify away from its core market of high volume, low margin book sales. The acquisition of Qwerkity provides an established platform in the lucrative online/mail order gifting arena.
Fabris Lane, a business with a 33-year history, is a specialist eyewear company engaged in the sale of sunglasses. It sells to a wide range of retailers and opticians groups in 20 countries worldwide. Fabris Lane holds licenses for highly recognized brands including Karen Millen®, Lipsy®, Animal®, French Connection® and Oliver Goldsmith® and owns a portfolio of established brands including Monkey Monkey®, M:UK®, Freedom Polarised® and Suuna®. Fabris Lane also provides its customers with own label solutions using its in-house design capabilities and established supply chain and testing facilities.
FGX International is a leading eyewear designer and marketer and wholly owned subsidiary of French eyewear group, Essilor International. The transaction includes Fabris Lane’s recent acquisition of fast growing on-line eyewear retailer, Red Hot Sunglasses.
