In October 2004, CBPE backed the £82.5m management buy-out of Aqualisa, a leading supplier and distributor of domestic showers in the UK. Established in 1976, the company currently employs 340 staff. The business was acquired from Baxi Holdings Ltd, the leading European heating products manufacturer. Its product range comprises mixer, power and electric showers, distributed through plumbers’ merchants and independent showrooms, house builders and DIY retailers. In particular, it has a dominant market position in the rapidly growing power shower segment, reflecting the increasing consumer preference towards premium power showers. The majority of its core products are based on proprietary technology. One of its key growth products is the Quartz digital power shower.