Parvalux Electric Motors Ltd
Founded in 1947, by Mr. L.J. Clark, Parvalux was one of the UK's first manufacturers of small electric motors and gearboxes. Parvalux has built an enviable reputation for offering one of the worlds most extensive and reliable ranges of customisable AC and DC geared motor units.
Parvalux prides itself in being experts in the design, manufacture and application of small electric motors and gearboxes. It has a highly qualified in-house development team who ensure that every product it produces is designed and engineered to last and a large manufacturing facility that builds the product in the UK. Its key strength is that its products are totally customisable; this flexible offering enables it's customers to realise a wide variety of industrial and commercial applications.
Parvalux acquired EMD Drive Systems in August 2008 which was in itself a large UK manufacturer of DC permanent magnet electric geared motors. Founded in 1958, the company specialised in supplying high quality, application specific products direct to the mobility, leisure and industrial sectors worldwide.
Parvalux is now the UK's largest manufacturer of sub 1kW geared motors. It is based in Bournemouth, Dorset and has distributors in 22 countries worldwide and has a turnover in excess of £15M.
www.parvalux.com
Bremont
Bremont Watch Company is the brainchild of two dynamic brothers Giles and Nick English combining their passions of aviation, adventure and timepieces. It launched its first collection in July 2007, offering a range of highly-developed timepieces of exceptional quality. Each model is designed to exacting specifications while possessing enduring aesthetic values.
Bremont's attention has always been focussed towards quality aviation wristwatches that are very much usable in the more rugged of environments. It is for this reason that Bremont watches are not only tested "beyond all call of duty" by several leading aviation organisations, but also by a unique set of individuals who continue to set records in the most extreme conditions.
Although Bremont watches are made using only the finest quality Swiss components and are hand-assembled by skilled watchmakers in a dedicated atelier in Biel-Bienne, they contain something which no comparable timepiece can match: an air of quintessential Britishness derived from the background of the brand's founders, Nick and Giles English. All the design of the watches and case finishing happen in the UK.
Bremont Watch Company had the honor of being awarded the Walpole Award for 'Best Emerging British Luxury Brand' in its very first year and has seen meteoric growth having launched in over 35 of the best retailers across the world.
www.bremont.com
Investment Case Study: Links of London
SUMMARY
Founded by John Ayton and Annoushka Ducas, Links became one of the great success stories of the 1990s and the new millennium, a jewellery brand that spearheaded the democratisation of luxury and was responsible for some iconic design.
The investment by the Clark Group was made in four tranches and funded the successful growth of Links from a turnover of £7.5 million in 1999 to sales of over £28 million in 2006. The seven-year interest was symptomatic of the culture of the Clark Group: supportive and ready to help when required while still allowing the management team sufficient autonomy to develop the business on a day-to-day basis and to drive the growth. Peter Dyoss, then Clark Group Financial Director, was its tireless champion and attended every one of its board meetings.
In 2006 Links of London sold for £46 million to Folli Follie, the Greek jewellery, watches and fashion accessories brand who were strong in the Far East. It was considered to be a satisfactory fit, again a family business with a similar structure and culture and one that brought with them the much-desired strong distribution channels throughout China, Japan and the Far East.
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Clark Estates UK
Clark Estates was established originally in September 2005 to oversee and expand the property holdings of the Clark Group of Companies and has rapidly gained a reputation as one of the South West's foremost developers of individual commercial and residential developments.
Privately funded and with a strategy for long-term investment, Clark Estates focuses on quality construction and state-of-the-art designs in premium locations in UK and Europe.
Clark Estates have comprehensive and expert in-house property knowledge and where required use partner relationships with experienced builders, design, technical and planning experts who seamlessly integrate outstanding architecture and innovation into their projects. Uncompromising over the highest standards of detailing and workmanship and demanding the best materials, Clark Estates create luxury properties with a design excellence that means they not only look stunning but are also eminently useable.
Clark Estates operates across several sectors ranging from residential build, commercial and business unit construction to large building modernisation programs; its strategic approach, to buy and hold for the medium to long-term, enables the business to operate without too much concern for property cycles.
Clark Estates currently manages a diverse holding of properties and is actively planning for and delivering landmark quality builds designed with care to detail in quality, function, appearance and environment.
Its project platform ranges from £2M to £10M.
www.clarkestatesuk.com
Annoushka
Annoushka was founded in 2009 by Annoushka Ducas and John Ayton, (formally of Links of London) and brings a new dimension of freedom and self-expression to the world of fine jewellery. It occupies a largely uninhabited position in a market presently polarised between High Jewellery and the traditional jeweller.
Annoushka offers the jewellery world a new concept in fine jewellery and encompasses new design-driven, informal approach with a strong spirit. As the element of choice is vital, Annoushka offers clients a selection of very different collections and styles, as well as a unique "Wardrobe" concept, helping women to build their own collection, their personal "parure", and giving them an understanding of how to choose, wear and most of all indulge in the joy of jewellery.
Annoushka instinctively understands the needs of the market and dreams and desires of the client and is dedicated to continual innovation and ingenuity, from design and manufacture, through to marketing, packaging and communications.
The Annoushka collections are the culmination of Annoushka Ducas' lifelong obsession with the timeless romance and sensual magic of jewels, brought together in designs which exude an irreverent sense of fun. Almost all the collections are designed in 18ct gold, using an array of precious and semi-precious stones.
www.annoushka.com
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