Transactions
Our Approach to Confidentiality
Most of our transactions are not publicly announced.
Business owners value discretion, especially when selling a company they’ve built over decades. They don’t want competitors, customers, or employees hearing rumors before a deal is finalized. We respect that. In many cases, we sign agreements that prevent us from disclosing names, locations, or detailed financials even after completion.
What we can share are anonymised examples of the types of businesses we’ve acquired and the structures we’ve used. These provide a sense of our focus and approach without compromising the confidentiality we owe to the owners who’ve trusted us.
If you’d like to speak with a business owner we’ve worked with directly, we can facilitate introductions on a case-by-case basis with their permission.
USA – Facility Services
Business profile
- A regional janitorial and facility maintenance company serving commercial and institutional clients across multiple US states. The business scaled through disciplined operations, contract retention, and margin control rather than aggressive leverage or short-term optimisation.
Operating characteristics
- Multi-state footprint across the United States
- Recurring contract revenue with national and regional clients
- Consistent gross margins exceeding 25 percent
- Strong operating cash flow supporting reinvestment and stability
Ownership approach
- Built for durability, with a focus on people, systems, and customer retention. Leadership and frontline teams were prioritised as long-term assets rather than costs to be optimised.
USA – Specialty Cleaning Services
Ownership and operation of a niche commercial services provider
Business profile
A specialised commercial cleaning business focused on a single end market with repeat, high-frequency service requirements. The company developed a strong reputation through reliability and consistency rather than price competition.
Operating characteristics
- Hundreds of active customer locations
- Gross margins consistently above 30 percent
- Predictable demand driven by regulatory and operational necessity
Ownership approach
Maintained steady growth through operational discipline, contract structure, and tight cost control. Emphasis placed on keeping service quality high and customer churn low.
USA – Transportation & Logistics
Long-term ownership of a regional transportation services company
Business profile
A legacy transportation and logistics operator with decades of trading history, serving time-sensitive commercial supply chains across multiple US states.
Operating characteristics
- Operations across several Western and Central US states
- Tens of millions in annual revenue
- Meaningful adjusted EBITDA supporting reinvestment
- Large employee base with union and non-union roles
Ownership approach
Focused on reliability, route density, and workforce stability. Capital allocation prioritised fleet maintenance, compliance, and long-term customer relationships over short-term expansion.
USA – Foodservice Support Services
Ownership of a national restaurant services platform
Business profile
A commercial services business providing critical support functions to national and regional foodservice operators. The company has operated profitably for over a decade with no interruption to service or customer relationships.
Operating characteristics
- Customers operating across 20 or more US states
- Consistent operating margins in the low-to-mid 20 percent range
- Long-standing relationships with national accounts
Ownership approach
Run as a steady, cash-generative platform with an emphasis on operational consistency, safety, and client trust rather than rapid expansion.
UK – Industrial, Services, and Consumer Businesses
In addition to US operating experience, Charter Lane principals have owned and co-owned multiple UK-based businesses across engineering services, manufacturing, professional services, and consumer brands. These businesses are operated with the same long-term ownership mindset and confidentiality standards.
Common Themes
Across all our transactions, a few principles hold true:
- We acquire businesses we intend to own for decades, not years.
- We keep teams intact and honor existing commitments to customers and suppliers.
- We work with owners to design transitions that respect their concerns and priorities.
- We move at the owner's pace, not ours.
If you’re considering a sale and want to understand how we’ve approached similar situations, we’re happy to discuss in detail.
