H.I.G. Capital, the US alternative investment firm, has acquired Torque Holdings Limited, a Leeds-based UK provider of omni-channel fulfilment services, in partnership with Torque's management team. The deal gives a fulfilment specialist for premium and high-growth consumer brands a private equity backer with plans to add capacity and international capability.

H.I.G. Capital describes itself as a global alternative investment firm with $75 billion (approximately €64.5 billion) of capital under management. Torque reported turnover of £128.5 million in its most recent filed accounts, with Stewart Firth continuing as chief executive.

Torque provides warehousing and fulfilment, inventory and returns management, and international freight forwarding across eCommerce, retail and wholesale channels. It operates a substantial network of fulfilment sites across the UK and serves customers with complex requirements.

The structural driver is the push for scale and technology in UK fulfilment. Torque plans to expand its service offering, add capacity and develop international fulfilment capabilities, both organically and through strategic acquisitions, supported by the deployment of warehouse technology.

Stewart Firth, CEO of Torque, said, "H.I.G. shares our ambition for the business and brings significant experience helping companies to grow, both in the UK and internationally. We look forward to working together to invest in our people and capabilities, broaden our service offering, and continue delivering the highest standards of service our customers expect from Torque."

Adam Taylor, managing director in H.I.G.'s London office, said, "Torque is a strong fit with H.I.G.'s strategy of partnering with high-quality businesses, where we can use our operational resources, international network, and M&A capabilities to support the next phase of growth."

Management will continue to lead the business, which has built long-standing customer relationships over more than three decades and a reputation for service accuracy, flexibility and partnership.

For the sector, the transaction shows private equity continuing to back UK fulfilment providers that combine premium brand customers with room to grow through capacity, technology and acquisitions.

Source: Multimodal / H.I.G. Capital / Endole