Orbis Partners has transferred majority ownership to an Employee Ownership Trust. The deal represents the latest development of a business story that goes back over 25 years.

The journey started in 1999 when James Grenfell and Chris Gregory set up Invex Partners as Birmingham’s first independent corporate finance boutique. They were shortly joined by Gary Ecob, a newly qualified ACA, and after a strong period of growth Invex was sold to Kroll Inc in 2003 and Kroll Corporate Finance was formed.

Shah Zaki joined the business that year and after a successful period under Kroll’s ownership the business was re-acquired by James and Chris in 2006, with Gary and Shah joining the partnership under the new name of Orbis Partners.

We have always been focused on our people and creating opportunities for the talent within our team to flourish and receive the right recognition and financial rewards.  We are proud of the team and the culture we have created, and in a people driven business feel that this is better developed under a wider ownership structure.

James Grenfell, Partner

Since Orbis was formed the team have worked on over 150 deals valued at over £3 billion and completed 34 investments through their investment vehicle Intrinsic Equity.  In 2010, Orbis entered a partnership with Clairfield International providing access to 300 colleagues and 30 associate offices around the world.

We are genuinely excited about the next chapter as the partner group commits to widening our ownership and jointly delivering an ambitious growth plan.  The timing is perfect after an exceptionally busy period for the team and the recent promotions of Tom McCarthy to Partner and Peter Waplington to Director.

Gary Ecob, Partner

The move to an EOT caps off a record period with recent deal activity including the sale of ICC Group and HL Smith to overseas acquirors; Bramble Foods to LDC; the secondary buyout for long standing client, Stuart Turner with Epiris and the cross border acquisitions of Scientia by Technology One and UK Customs Solutions by Castik backed Customs Support Group.

Registered in England No.9098428 Registered Office: One Eleven, Edmund St, Birmingham B3 2HJ
The statutory directors of Orbis Partners Ltd are Chris Gregory, James Grenfell, Gary Ecob and Shah Zaki.