Swansea family-owned engineering firm Afon acquired in management buy-in deal

A Swansea-based and family-owned engineering, fabrication and machining business has been acquired in a management buy-in deal.

Formed in 1979 by Mr Anthony Beaujean, Afon Engineering was run by Tony, before passing the reins to his sons Carl and Andrew. After decades of managing the business, which employs more than 50 people in Llansamlet, the family has welcomed on board an experienced new leadership team.

The deal, the value of which hasn’t been disclosed, has been supported with a £2.5m mixed loan and equity investment from the Development Bank of Wales.

The team includes new managing director Jason Thomas, formerly of Llanelli-based Teddington Engineered Solutions, and Julian Vance-Daniel, founder of Bridgend-based Vessco Engineering.

Mr Thomas said: “We are proud to be the new custodians of Afon, this marks a momentous and proud occasion for us and we have clear intentions to let the world know about Afon across many industry sectors.

"Together, we will usher Afon into a new era, one that is marked by ambition and professionalism. We believe there are exceptional people working at Afon who show commitment and dedication, which has been inspiring to see and provides a great foundation for us to build on.

“Thanks to the invaluable support from the Development Bank of Wales, we’re excited to step in and ensure a smooth transition for the business. Our goal is not just to preserve the legacy of Afon, but also to explore opportunities for growth and development on a global scale.”

The deal was completed by Scott Hughes, senior investment executive with the Development Bank of Wales, with support from Clare Sullivan, regional manager for new investments.

Mr Hughes said: “Our investment will enable the family to step away from a successful business they have worked hard to build. The new management team is skilled, with a strong track record, and is well-positioned to support the business in achieving its planned future growth.

“We’re grateful to the Beaujean family for their dedication, and support throughout this transition, which has been instrumental in setting us up for a promising journey ahead.”

The deal was supported by Geldards, acting for development bank, with JCP, Azets and Harvey Business Support advising Afon.

Alex Butler, corporate partner at Geldards said: “We were delighted to work with Scott and the team at the Development Bank of Wales on this transaction. This latest investment demonstrates the Development Bank’s continued commitment to supporting Welsh businesses with their succession planning – helping those businesses secure a sustainable future here in Wales for future generations.”