In a bid to establish a broad-spectrum manufacturing and engineering group, Tanaka Holdings is actively seeking new businesses to acquire and merge into a tightly integrated group of companies across a range of industry sub-sectors.
During our coverage of 2023’s UK Metals Expo, we had the pleasure of meeting Daniel and Isabelle Bryan, Shareholders in Tanaka Holdings Ltd, a newly established holding group which aims to build a portfolio of manufacturing and engineering businesses that can come together and overcome the economic challenges of today. Primarily targeting SMEs that might have struggled to adapt in the face of challenges presented by the climate crisis, industry-wide talent shortages, and challenges within their own market segments, Tanaka Holdings aims to unlock the potential of such firms and provide the necessary investment and cross-sector expertise to overcome these challenges.
According to Daniel Bryan, the intention behind attending the UK Metals Expo was to gain a better understanding of the different players within the industry, the innovations they sought to bring, the challenges they might be facing, and ultimately network with businesses that might benefit from operating within a wider group of companies. To learn a little more of his experience at the show and feedback on the conversations had with manufacturing and engineering businesses, we spoke with Daniel as a representative of Tanaka Holdings.
As Daniel explained: “We attended the UK Metals Expo to gain a deeper understanding of what’s happening now, what different businesses are doing and their motivations going into the future. It excited us to see the innovation, and more being done to be not just net-zero, but also to be net-negative. These are things which, since starting out, have been very high on our priority list.”
Although we met Tanaka Holdings at the UK Metals Expo, it is worth noting that the company is not exclusively looking at acquiring businesses within the metals field, but is looking across a range of manufacturing and engineering sub-sectors so as best to develop a diverse portfolio of businesses with links into a range of differing markets. Ultimately, this will allow for the organisation to create a bridge for knowledge sharing, supply chain consolidation, and the ability to open up new market opportunities through collaboration within the group. Notably, the company also intends to maintain the initial brand and identity of such companies, not looking to reinvent the wheel and instead to open up new opportunities and provide a funnel of investment into innovative firms.
Important to note is that there are a number of key focal areas which Tanaka Holdings aims to bring to the fore in any would-be acquisition. Firstly, the company aims to be a catalyst for education and training, driving apprenticeships and helping to develop a pipeline of talent across the group portfolio. Secondly, Tanaka Holdings has ambitions to drive the sustainability agenda of SMEs and provide the infrastructure required to overcome rising energy costs and tackle climate change. Finally, the firm wishes to access and unlock the potential of ideas which might never have been possible within the confines of an SME, but might be via collaboration and investment within Tanaka Holdings itself.
Daniel enthused: “We are disciplined investors with a highly experienced and effective deal team. If anyone feels it is the right time to exit their business, and leave it in the hands of a very experienced team who can guide it into the future, Tanaka Holdings can help you achieve that exit. We are looking for well established businesses, with management teams in place or with the ability to promote from within.”
“We can offer speed and certainty, once a deal is agreed we can move quickly and confidently to complete with M&A Lawyers and Accountants. Although the group would be under Tanaka we very much intend to keep the name of the business and its good standing in the sector,” he added. “We believe very strongly in being collaborative in acquisition but also in company culture. Doing things right the first time is often the most efficient and cost effective way of doing anything.”
For further information, we’d advise getting in touch with Tanaka Holdings directly via: thebryanspartnership@tanakaholdings.co.uk.
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