nZero Group, the UK’s leading measurement and control partner across the natural gas, petrochemical and biomethane markets, has been sold to industrial services provider Bilfinger. The deal provided an exit for NVM Private Equity.
Commercial law firm Hill Dickinson advised the various shareholders of nZero Group on the sale led by corporate partner Matt Noon, together with legal director Phil Wallbank and trainee solicitor, Nick O’Shaughnessy.
The sale of nZero Group, which employs around 240 people, included its two subsidiaries, Orbital Gas Systems Ltd and Thyson Technology Ltd and has offices in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, as well as further locations in Staffordshire and Bristol. The deal will allow Bilfinger to expand its footprint in the UK gas and hydrogen sectors.
The sale of nZero involved numerous stakeholders, including NVM, whose investment in nZero in 2016 helped drive a level of growth that led directly to interest from Bilfinger. We’re very pleased to have been entrusted with the provision of legal advice to all selling shareholders and to have seen this deal successfully concluded. It’s a great result for all parties.Matt Noon
Corporate Partner at Hill Dickinson
Matt Noon said: “The sale of nZero involved numerous stakeholders, including NVM, whose investment in nZero in 2016 helped drive a level of growth that led directly to interest from Bilfinger. We’re very pleased to have been entrusted with the provision of legal advice to all selling shareholders and to have seen this deal successfully concluded. It’s a great result for all parties.”
Matt Allen, managing director of nZero Group, said: “We are excited to become part of Bilfinger and their journey to drive innovation and sustainability with combined forces. Matt and his team at Hill Dickinson were an integral part of the transaction team and did a brilliant job on the legal side throughout. They were great to work with – really accessible, responsive and commercial.”
nZero specialises in gas measurement, analysis and control systems and offers proprietary solutions in clean energy, CO2 quality and quantity measurement as well as digital services and consulting. The Group generated revenue of approximately £30 million in 2024.
The transaction also marks a successful conclusion to a growth partnership between nZero and NVM, delivering a 2.6x return for the fund.