Omega buyout from 3i

Omega Red Group has agreed to buy out all interests in its business held by private equity firm 3i, ending a 17-year partnership.

The partnership began when Nottingham-based Omega was set up in 1989. 3i provided 25% of the original share capital and other financing. The other five original shareholders raised the rest of the money needed to set up Omega as a specialised electrical earthing and lightning protection company.

Following the buyout, all issued shares in the business are held by the five remaining original shareholders plus two others who joined shortly after the company started. In 2004 Omega declared a turnover of £7.8m for the year to April and bought rival AW Elliott & Company with 3i then holding 34.7% of the issued share capital in the enlarged business.

The company employs more than 220 people across the UK, with branches in Edinburgh, Manchester, Bristol, London and its Nottingham head office in Bulwell. During the negotiations with 3i, Omega Red was advised by PriceWaterhouseCoopers with Freeth Cartwright acting as the company's solicitors.