Go Outdoors
Sector Retailer of outdoor clothing and equipment
Location Sheffield with stores throughout the UK
Transaction MBO
Deal size £1.3m
Investment rounds 1998, 2002
The business
• Acquisition of first store
• Selling everything for the outdoors under one roof
• Innovative approach to market selling through out of town superstores with a paid-for discount card
The strategy
• Backing a serial entrepreneur and high energy CEO
• Once proven, to roll out this exciting store concept across the UK
The developments
• Rollout from 1 to 30 stores, making GO Outdoors the market leader in outdoor clothing and equipment
• Turnover increased from £2m to £115m
• Minority stake sold to 3i plc in 2011 realising £6.5m in cash for YFM Equity Partners’ funds
• 14% stake still held
• Total return to date represents 30x cash invested
“Without the active involvement and strategic advice from YFM Equity Partners, GO Outdoors wouldn’t be the business it is today. We have grown from one store in 1998 with sales of £2m to 30 stores with sales of £115m.”
John Graham, CEO, GO Outdoors