Key Takeaways
- • KB Event, a Nottingham-based live event logistics specialist founded in 1992, completed a private equity-backed management buyout (MBO) as of April 17, 2026, with CEO Richard Burnett leading the transaction alongside Sales Director Matt Jackson and the broader management team.
- • H2 Equity Partners joined as a major co-investor alongside Oakley Capital Investments, providing significant financial backing and operational expertise to support the company's growth trajectory in the live events sector.
- • The deal includes strategic investor Bob Harbey, a former 30-year shareholder and director at Microlise, who previously collaborated with Burnett on Road to Logistics, a non-profit skills development initiative for logistics professionals.
- • KB Event operates across the UK and Ireland, specializing in event transport, storage, logistics, and customs services for high-profile clients including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé tours, with recognized leadership in sustainable logistics innovation including electric HGV deployment.
- • The MBO marks a leadership transition for the business, which was founded by Stuart McPherson, with Burnett bringing 41 years of logistics experience including prior roles at Wincanton, Samworth Bros, and as Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association.
Summary
KB Event, the UK and Ireland-based live event logistics specialist, has completed a private equity-backed management buyout effective April 17, 2026. The MBO was led by CEO Richard Burnett, a 41-year logistics veteran, alongside Sales Director Matt Jackson and the broader management team. The transaction marks a significant ownership transition for the Nottingham-headquartered company, which was founded in 1992 by Stuart McPherson and has become a logistics partner for major global touring acts and live events.
H2 Equity Partners has joined as a major co-investor alongside Oakley Capital Investments, providing both capital and operational expertise to drive the company's next growth phase. The deal structure also includes strategic investor Bob Harbey, whose 30-year tenure as a major shareholder and director at Microlise brings deep industry experience. Notably, Harbey and Burnett previously collaborated as co-founders of Road to Logistics, a non-profit organization providing funded skills development and employment pathways for individuals facing barriers to careers in the logistics sector.
KB Event specializes in event transport, storage, managed logistics, project management, and customs services for concerts, world tours, festivals, exhibitions, and corporate events. The company has serviced major touring productions, including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé's tours. The business has established a competitive differentiation through sustainability initiatives, including HVO and fully electric truck deployment. This commitment has earned recognition including IQ Magazine's Green Guardians award in 2022 and 2024, as well as the 2025 Greener Innovations Award for its use of fully electric HGVs on Sam Fender's People Watching tour.
The MBO was facilitated by advisory support from BDO and Gateley Legal, with transaction professionals Ben Dawson (BDO) and Matthew Hussey (Gateley Legal) acknowledged as key advisers on the deal structure. Burnett's appointment as CEO in 2022 preceded this buyout, bringing extensive prior experience from senior positions at Wincanton, Samworth Bros, and a seven-year tenure as Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association. The transaction underscores continued private equity appetite for live events logistics infrastructure as the touring and experiential events sector continues to expand post-pandemic.
H2 Equity Partners has joined as a major co-investor alongside Oakley Capital Investments, providing both capital and operational expertise to drive the company's next growth phase. The deal structure also includes strategic investor Bob Harbey, whose 30-year tenure as a major shareholder and director at Microlise brings deep industry experience. Notably, Harbey and Burnett previously collaborated as co-founders of Road to Logistics, a non-profit organization providing funded skills development and employment pathways for individuals facing barriers to careers in the logistics sector.
KB Event specializes in event transport, storage, managed logistics, project management, and customs services for concerts, world tours, festivals, exhibitions, and corporate events. The company has serviced major touring productions, including Taylor Swift and Beyoncé's tours. The business has established a competitive differentiation through sustainability initiatives, including HVO and fully electric truck deployment. This commitment has earned recognition including IQ Magazine's Green Guardians award in 2022 and 2024, as well as the 2025 Greener Innovations Award for its use of fully electric HGVs on Sam Fender's People Watching tour.
The MBO was facilitated by advisory support from BDO and Gateley Legal, with transaction professionals Ben Dawson (BDO) and Matthew Hussey (Gateley Legal) acknowledged as key advisers on the deal structure. Burnett's appointment as CEO in 2022 preceded this buyout, bringing extensive prior experience from senior positions at Wincanton, Samworth Bros, and a seven-year tenure as Chief Executive of the Road Haulage Association. The transaction underscores continued private equity appetite for live events logistics infrastructure as the touring and experiential events sector continues to expand post-pandemic.
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