Global Autocare Leeds management team buys out private equity investor after six-year partnership that more than doubled revenue and tripled profits

Leeds fleet management company Global Autocare Leeds has completed a management buyout from private equity investor LDC, with founder Geoff Bloore and his executive team taking full control of the business backed by a new eight-figure funding package from NatWest. The deal marks the end of a six-year partnership during which Global Autocare Leeds more than doubled its annual revenue and tripled profits, while establishing itself as one of the UK’s leading independent corporate mobility and fleet management providers.

WHY THIS MATTERS FOR LEEDS

Global Autocare is a Leeds business that operates at national scale without much local fanfare, a fleet company founded in the city in 1997 that now supplies vehicles to major corporate clients and elite sporting events. The MBO from LDC is a clean exit story: private equity invested, revenue doubled, profits tripled, and the founder’s team takes back full control with NatWest backing. The deal was led from LDC’s Leeds office on King Street, reinforcing that PE activity in the city.

The Six-Year Growth Story

LDC, the private equity arm of Lloyds Banking Group, invested in Global Autocare in December 2019. At that point the company had already been growing organically by more than 20% year-on-year since 2010 from its base on Gelderd Road in Leeds. During the six-year partnership, the business expanded its national presence, developed sustainable fleet solutions including work as official vehicle supplier for the 2024 World Athletics Indoor Championships, and built cross-portfolio relationships — supplying more than 600 vehicles to 17 LDC portfolio companies past and present.

The management team taking the business forward consists of Geoff Bloore (founder and managing director), David Sadler (finance director), Stephen Chater (commercial director, formerly head of product at BMW UK), and Joseph Bloore (fleet director). The LDC exit was led by managing partner John Garner and Dan Smith, partner and head of Yorkshire, from LDC’s Leeds office at 12 King Street. Womble Bond Dickinson advised LDC, while NatWest was advised by Addleshaw Goddard.

“The past six years have been a huge success for Global. LDC’s investment and partnership enabled us to accelerate our growth ambitions, while maintaining our focus on exceptional client service and innovation. We’re now well-positioned to take the business forward and build on this strong platform.”

— Geoff Bloore, Founder and Managing Director, Global Autocare

A Leeds Business Through and Through

Global Autocare was founded in Leeds in 1997 as a vehicle maintenance centre and has grown into a fully integrated fleet solutions provider covering daily rental, contract hire, fleet management, mobility solutions, maintenance, vehicle movements, and storage. Global Autocare Leeds operates from a ten-acre site on Gelderd Road with 260,000 sq ft of indoor storage. It is a long-standing sponsor of Leeds United Football Club and Leeds Rhinos. The NatWest-funded buyout means the business returns to fully independent ownership, with the management team now free to pursue the next phase of growth on its own terms.