We initially invested £5 million in this manufacturer of specialist down-hole hydrocarbon logging tools and associated services to ensure it could fully exploit its high engineering capability on the global stage.
With our funding, strategic and operational support Guardian's products are now used by many major oil companies, with some deploying their technology as standard.
Guardian uses a high engineering and manufacturing capability to develop a broad portfolio of products
Background
Established in 2004 by Iain Maxted and Suzannah Bourne, the South Wales-based business designs and manufactures specialist down-hole products which are used to measure variables such as pressure, temperature and flow within a wellbore in order to monitor hydrocarbon production from the oil reservoir.
The business has a reputation for responding directly to customer requirements and using a high engineering and manufacturing capability to develop a broad portfolio of products.
The investment
The opportunity to invest in Guardian came through Epi-V's own industry network. The core focus of the investment strategy was to secure greater market penetration by fully commercialising Guardian's broad product portfolio and aligning further technology development to the changing needs of the industry.
The strategy
Epi-V has been working with management to extract full value from its impressive product portfolio by introducing the rigorous business development, marketing, and financial disciplines required to increase its share of a worldwide market.
This has been underpinned by a marketing strategy which has positioned the company as a bespoke design and manufacturing house of production logging, intervention and ballast delivery systems
Outcomes
With our funding, strategic and operational support, Guardian has developed the customer-focused, commercial orientation required to successfully globalise the company.
Its products are used by many major oil companies, with some deploying their technology as standard, whilst the business continues to add high-value products to its ever-expanding range.
Most recently Guardian has started to create a new space within the perforating market with a 'Ballistics Delivery System', which is already generating strong industry interest.
"Prior to Epi-V's investment we had developed the capability to provide a flexible and rapid response to our customers' challenging requirements. Securing the backing of the team was the next stage in the scaling up of the business and we've benefitted significantly from their invaluable sector knowledge and strong track record of commercialising and marketing innovative new technology in the global oil and gas industry.
"We had been approached over the years by other investors, but none of them had the depth of knowledge of the oil and gas industry which was what attracted us to Epi-V."
