Built by a business owner, for business owners
Oceanus Group was founded on a simple belief: we buy great businesses and help them grow. Selling should not mean handing your business over to people who will strip it apart, load it with debt, and flip it in five years.
Stephen Hackett — Founder & Managing Director
Stephen has spent his career working inside and alongside small and medium-sized businesses across the UK. He understands what it takes to build something from nothing — and what it means to be ready to pass it on.
Having seen too many good businesses fall into the wrong hands through the traditional broker process, Stephen founded Oceanus Group to offer something different: a direct, personal, and transparent route to exit for owners who care about what happens after they leave.
Stephen is based in Redditch, Worcestershire, and works with businesses across the UK.
Why Oceanus Group?
The word "oceanus" comes from the ancient idea of a boundless, sustaining sea — something that endures, that flows, and that connects. We chose it because it reflects how we think about business ownership: not as a transaction, but as a continuum.
When you sell to Oceanus Group, you are not disappearing into a portfolio. We are buying your business because we see its value — and because we want to see it grow.
How we are different
- We are not private equity. We do not manage a fund with external investors or a fixed exit timeline. Decisions are made by Stephen, not an investment committee.
- No broker fees. We deal directly with owners. That means no intermediary marking up the process and no percentage skimmed from your sale.
- Debt sized to reality. We use acquisition finance — as most buyers do — but we only put debt on a business that it can comfortably service based on its existing performance. We do not leverage businesses beyond their means in pursuit of quick returns.
- Your legacy matters. We take care of the staff, the customers, and the reputation you have spent years building.
- Complete confidentiality. We sign NDAs before any detailed discussions. Your competitors, your staff, and your suppliers will not know you are considering a sale unless you decide to tell them.
What we look for
We acquire established, profitable businesses with annual turnover typically between £200k and £20m. We are sector-agnostic — if a business has good fundamentals, a loyal customer base, and an owner who has built something worth preserving, we want to hear from it.
We are particularly interested in businesses where the owner is the key driver of relationships and operations, as these are exactly the situations where a well-managed transition makes the biggest difference.