Severn Thermal Solutions, founded 20 years ago, has become a trusted name across industry and academia, recognised for its engineering excellence and innovative environmental testing solutions.
Severn’s founders, Nigel and Tracy Ryder, Peter Collett and Jason Grout, were looking to secure the long-term future of the business while planning for their own retirement.
Tracy commented, "The Watersheds team made everything so easy. They really understood what mattered to us, not just the financials, but the future of our people and the legacy of the business. They helped us see what was possible and supported us through every step."
John Stopher, Partner at Watersheds, led the transaction. His deep understanding of the business, its niche market, and the personal goals of the founders helped deliver the best possible outcome. John added, "From day one, we knew Severn was something special. It was incredibly important to find the right fit, support the retention of their highly skilled engineers and ensure future growth, while helping the founders realise the value they had built.
We worked closely with Severn to help them demonstrate the level of business credibility required to attract the larger corporate acquirers they were seeking.
We’re proud to have created a strong, competitive sales process and to have secured a result that exceeded our client’s expectations on timing, value, and cultural fit."
Severn has been acquired by SDI Group plc, a specialist in high-tech businesses across the science, technology, and medical sectors. With a shared focus on quality, innovation and autonomy, SDI’s decentralised model allows Severn to continue operating independently, while gaining access to investment and global customer networks, supporting future growth.