Kelso Group Holdings

Kelso Group Holdings PLC is a publicly listed activist investment company on the London Stock Exchange that focuses on acquiring significant stakes in undervalued UK small and medium-sized enterprises. The firm's strategy involves identifying quoted companies where the market valuation does not fully reflect the intrinsic value of the underlying business. Kelso then takes an active role, working with the management of these companies to unlock shareholder value through strategic, operational, or corporate governance improvements.

The company was founded in 2022 by John Goold, who serves as the CEO, and Mark Kirkland, the Executive Chairman. Goold has an extensive background in small and mid-cap stockbroking, having previously been the CEO of Zeus Capital. Kirkland brings considerable public market experience, having co-founded and served as CEO of CIRU, a UK-listed investing company. The firm's first major investment was a 5.6% stake in THG Plc, an e-commerce company, which was later sold. Subsequently, Kelso acquired a stake in the UKNCC (The UK National Curry Competition), which it later decided to sell to focus on its core strategy of investing in undervalued quoted companies.

Kelso's business model is centered on generating returns for its shareholders through the appreciation of its investments. It operates in the UK financial market, specifically targeting companies it believes have the potential for significant growth or a re-rating in their market valuation. The firm's approach is not to take majority control but to be an influential and constructive shareholder. Keywords: activist investment, undervalued assets, shareholder value, UK equities, small-cap investing, mid-cap investing, public markets, corporate governance, strategic investment, portfolio management