Key Takeaways
- • Dalmore Capital, Apax Partners and Nordic Capital are reported by Bloomberg to be among private equity firms weighing a takeover bid for JLA Group, according to sources familiar with the situation.
- • Majority shareholder Cinven, which has owned JLA since 2018, is looking to exit, with Goldman Sachs advising on the divestment and a valuation target exceeding £1 billion.
- • JLA reported sales of £71m for the year to October 2025 but a £4.7m loss, metrics that will shape how bidders value the business.
- • Bloomberg reports discussions remain ongoing with no certainty of an agreement; Cinven previously explored an exit two years ago but rejected proposals that undervalued its medium-term earnings trajectory.
Summary
Private equity firms are reportedly circling JLA Group, the catering and laundry equipment provider, as majority shareholder Cinven looks to exit the business. According to sources familiar with the situation who spoke to Bloomberg at the weekend, infrastructure investor Dalmore Capital is among the potential suitors weighing a deal for the Yorkshire-based company. Apax Partners and Nordic Capital have also been linked to the company.
JLA, headquartered in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, supplies and services commercial laundry, commercial catering, heating and fire safety systems to institutional clients across Britain, including hospitals, care homes, universities and hospitality operators. The group employs more than 450 engineers and serves 22,000 customers across the UK. It scaled its catering equipment activities about a decade ago through a series of dealer acquisitions, including Proton Washrite, Direct Catering Products, ComCat Catering, Carford and NewCo, and also owns warewashing and icemaker supplier DC Products.
Financially, JLA recorded sales of £71m for the year to October 2025 and a £4.7m loss. Cinven appointed Goldman Sachs earlier this year to advise on the divestment and is reportedly targeting a valuation above £1 billion. Bloomberg said discussions remain ongoing but there is no certainty they will lead to an agreement.
Cinven has owned JLA since 2018 and previously explored an exit two years ago. It declined the proposals it received at that time, judging that they undervalued the company's medium-term earnings trajectory.
JLA, headquartered in Ripponden, West Yorkshire, supplies and services commercial laundry, commercial catering, heating and fire safety systems to institutional clients across Britain, including hospitals, care homes, universities and hospitality operators. The group employs more than 450 engineers and serves 22,000 customers across the UK. It scaled its catering equipment activities about a decade ago through a series of dealer acquisitions, including Proton Washrite, Direct Catering Products, ComCat Catering, Carford and NewCo, and also owns warewashing and icemaker supplier DC Products.
Financially, JLA recorded sales of £71m for the year to October 2025 and a £4.7m loss. Cinven appointed Goldman Sachs earlier this year to advise on the divestment and is reportedly targeting a valuation above £1 billion. Bloomberg said discussions remain ongoing but there is no certainty they will lead to an agreement.
Cinven has owned JLA since 2018 and previously explored an exit two years ago. It declined the proposals it received at that time, judging that they undervalued the company's medium-term earnings trajectory.
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