22 Jun 2026
Investcorp, a leading global alternative investment firm, today announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in Smart Managed Solutions (“Smart” or the “Company”), a fast-growing UK provider of mechanical and electrical (“M&E”) facilities management services. As part of the transaction, Smart’s co-founders will retain a meaningful minority stake in the business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in London, Smart is a specialist provider of critical M&E maintenance services, including HVAC, electrical, fire, water and gas systems. The Company focuses on high-quality commercial office buildings and technical end-markets such as life sciences, education, digital infrastructure and public sector assets. Smart has built a differentiated reputation through consistently high service quality, data-led delivery model and strong relationships with blue-chip managing agents and direct clients. The business has delivered strong performance, generating over £100 million in revenue and achieving over 30% annual organic growth in recent years, driven by increasing demand for high quality, reliable, mission-critical facilities management services in a large, resilient and highly fragmented market.
Under Investcorp’s ownership, Smart is expected to pursue further organic growth, alongside a targeted M&A strategy to expand into new end-markets and regions across the UK. Investcorp will support the business in its next phase of development, including continued investment in technology and further professionalisation of the organisation.
José Pfeifer, Head of European Private Equity Buyouts at Investcorp, said: “Smart represents a compelling opportunity to invest in a high-quality business operating in a large, resilient and growing market. Its strong track record, differentiated offering, and position in mission-critical services, provide a solid foundation for further expansion. We look forward to supporting the organisation in its next phase of growth, including through continued investment and targeted acquisitions.”
Owen Li, Managing Director at Investcorp, added: “We are excited to partner with Smart, its founders and management team at this exciting stage of growth. Having built a strong relationship, we are aligned on a clear vision for the business and look forward to working closely together to scale the platform and continue delivering best-in-class, client-centric services.”
Lee Bainbridge and Alex Wilkin, Co-Founders of Smart, said: “Smart has built a strong reputation for service quality and customer delivery, supported by an outstanding team. We are excited to partner with Investcorp as we enter the next phase of growth, benefiting from their experience in supporting founder-owned businesses and scaling platforms in this sector.”
Lee Metcalfe, CEO of Smart, added: “We look forward to working with Investcorp as we continue to grow the business. Their strategic support and sector expertise will enable us to further strengthen our offering, invest in our capabilities, including technology, and pursue new opportunities across the UK market.”
The transaction further strengthens Investcorp’s track record in the UK, building on recent investments including Stowe Family Law in 2024 and Outcomes First Group in 2023, and reinforces its continued focus on investing in high-quality, differentiated and mission-critical service businesses. It also complements Investcorp’s broader activity in the commercial services sector globally, including its investments in RESA Power in the US and Kee Safety in the UK, underscoring the firm’s conviction in resilient, essential service platforms across key markets.