Cooper Turner Beck (CTB) Group, the world’s leading provider of safety-critical fastener solutions for the energy, construction, and heavy industries, has formed a strategic partnership with
Waterland Private Equity.
Waterland has acquired a majority stake in CTB Group and will work with the company’s management team — led by CEO and founder Anthony Brown — to further build on the company’s strong growth. Harnessing Waterland’s expertise in international expansion, the partnership will help the company open up new markets, including through acquisition, for the company’s products.
CTB Group has established itself as the first truly global manufacturer of safety-critical fastening applications serving a broad range of end markets including renewable energy, oil and gas, power generation, nuclear, rail, tunnelling, construction, and heavy equipment. CTB Group’s precision-engineered fasteners provide the backbone for some of the world’s most critical construction and infrastructure projects, where safety, reliability and performance are critical.
With its headquarters in Sheffield, CTB Group operates a global footprint of 21 strategically located facilities across Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, employing over 1,000 people. In the last financial year, increased global investment in infrastructure, particularly to support the transition to clean energy, contributed to CTB Group achieving revenues of £170 million.
The partnership with Waterland ensures the continuation of the successful history of CTB, which began in the 1800s in Sheffield and remains an important part of the region’s industrial heritage. The transaction supports CTB Group’s long-term strategy of investing in its manufacturing capabilities, expanding internationally and continuing to serve customers operating in safety-critical environments.
Platform to accelerate growthAnthony Brown, Group CEO and founder of CTB Group, said: “Waterland is the right partner for CTB at this stage of our development. It understands the fundamentals of our business and the long-term growth drivers in the markets we serve, particularly infrastructure and the energy transition. Waterland’s strong experience in supporting international expansion and selective mergers and acquisitions gives us the right platform to accelerate growth, while continuing to invest in our people, our manufacturing capabilities and the service we provide to customers worldwide.”
For CTB Group’s customers, the partnership will further enhance the company’s ability to support increasingly complex and international projects. Expansion into new geographies and end markets will enable CTB Group to serve existing customers more consistently across global footprints, while strengthening product availability, technical expertise and responsiveness. Customers will benefit from working with a trusted global partner capable of supporting their growth across multiple markets.
Waterland was selected as partner due to its strong understanding of CTB Group’s markets. The company has consistently supported specialised manufacturers in scaling operations internationally, strengthening industrial capabilities and executing disciplined buy-and-build strategies. Its portfolio includes companies such as Van Vulpen (Netherlands), a specialist in underground infrastructure for electricity, gas and water networks; Writech (Ireland), a manufacturer and provider of advanced fire-protection systems for critical facilities; PGB Group (Belgium), a leading manufacturer and distributor of fastening systems for industrial and construction applications.
Waterland recognises the structural growth drivers underpinning CTB Group, including continued investment in global infrastructure and the transition to cleaner energy systems, and brings a hands-on partnership model aligned with CTB Group’s entrepreneurial culture.
Wendy McMillan, a partner at Waterland, concluded: “CTB Group has established itself as a global leader in safety-critical fastening solutions, supported by a highly skilled workforce and serving industries that are fundamental to infrastructure and the energy transition. We are excited to partner with Anthony Brown and the management team to support their ambitious growth plans, including expansion into new markets and continued investment in manufacturing excellence. Waterland’s experience in international expansion will help accelerate CTB Group’s next phase of growth.”