Kingswood nears takeover deal with PE backer HSQ Investments

HSQ initially invested in Kingswood in September 2019, injecting up to £80m in growth equity capital to support the business. HSQ currently holds 68.4% of Kingswood's voting rights. Kingswood said it has been impacted by "headwinds seen across the sector over the last couple of years", despite HSQ's investment. This resulted in the company's growth not being as strong over the period as management had expected, it set out. In conjunction with this, its acquisition strategy has seen the company's debt position increase significantly over the last two years, rising from a net cash posit...