Management Buyout of Professional Music Technology

The Management team of Professional Music Technology (“PMT”) has completed a Management Buyout of the business, with financing provided by YFM Equity Partners and the founders of the business.

Founded 28 years ago by Simon Gilson and Terry Hope, PMT is the UK’s leading multi-channel retailer of Musical Instrument (MI) and Professional Audio products. The business operates through 15 stores across the UK and has a web presence at www.pmtonline.co.uk.  PMT employs more than 200 staff across its business and generates revenue in excess of £40 million per annum.

The Buyout has been led by David Black who becomes Managing Director of the business.  David first joined PMT some 18 years ago and has had day-to-day leadership responsibility for the business over the last four years, having opened six new stores in that time.  David is supported in the buyout by Carly Scott (Commercial Director) and Andrew Ball (Operations Director), who joined the business in 2010 and 2012 respectively.  The Board will be supplemented by Peter Moss, who joins as Finance Director.  David Garratt, former CEO of Wex Photo Video, the leading multi-channel retailer of photographic and video equipment, joins the Board as non-executive Chairman.

Simon Gilson and Terry Hope will continue to support the Management Buyout team as Founder Advisors and retain a significant investment in the business.

Over the coming years, the management team plan to take advantage of the continued strong demand for musical instruments and pro-audio products from hobbyists and professional musicians alike. The business will focus both on the selective opening of new destination stores and the further development of its multi-channel proposition.

Simon Gilson commented:  “Terry and I have spent nearly thirty years building PMT into the strongest and most successful business in the sector of which we are both extremely proud.  Going forward we felt that some new thinking and strategies are necessary to fully exploit the many opportunities that the current market presents and that this is the ideal time to let our younger talent, led by David Black, take this amazing company into its next phase of growth”

David Black commented: “I am very pleased to complete the buyout of PMT with the rest of the team.  The founders have done a fantastic job of establishing a market leading position and we look forward to building on that in the future.  YFM have impressed us from the start and quickly understood the plan to continuing opening new stores whilst growing the online presence.  In choosing YFM, we have an investment partner with a wealth of experience and notable success investing in the hobbyist retail sector.”

Jamie Roberts of YFM added:  “The founders have done a great job in building a market leading business in a growing niche.  We are bucking the wider high street trend with the plan to open new physical stores but see huge opportunity to continue the impressive growth to date by doing this alongside investing in the existing online presence.

About Professional Music Technology

Professional Music Technology is the trading name of S&T Audio Ltd. Founded 28 years ago, it is now a market leader in the Musical Instrument (MI) and Professional Audio retail sector. The business operates nationwide, from an online platform and via 15 award-winning stores, which are located in major cities throughout the UK. Customers include consumers, but also encompass enterprises and government & educational organisations. In addition to the 15 store locations, Professional Music Technology holds offices in Liverpool and Southend-on-Sea.

For more information, please visit www.pmtonline.co.uk or follow us on Twitter @PMTHouseOfRock

About YFM Equity Partners

YFM Equity Partners are specialist, independently owned, private equity investors.  With over 30 years of experience we seek to unlock value and growth potential by providing up to £10 million of equity to fuel the development of established business throughout the UK regions.  We do this by helping our portfolio companies grow niche businesses, launch new initiatives, make transformative acquisitions and upgrade technologies and systems.  Through our offices in Leeds, London, Manchester, and Birmingham, we are dedicated to working alongside management teams to create long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in and a positive economic impact for the communities in which we work.  We manage and advise funds in excess of £300 million which include venture capital trusts and private equity funds.  YFM Equity Partners conducts its investment business through its subsidiary YFM Private Equity Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN: 122120).

For more information, please visit www.yfmep.com or follow us on Twitter @YFMEP.

Media enquiries

Professional Music Technology: David Black: david.black@pmtonline.co.uk

YFM Equity Partners: Jamie Roberts: jamie.roberts@yfmep.com