Exponent

Today, we welcome Hippo to the Exponent portfolio. This transaction marks our fourth platform investment in twelve months and underscores our continued commitment to partnering with market-leading, founder-owned businesses.   Hippo is a leading digital transformation provider of user-centric design solutions to both the public and private sector, with clients such as NHS England, Department for Education, Ministry of Justice, the BBC, among others.   Mark Taylor, Partner, Exponent: “We are excited to be supporting a business that will play a critical role in unlocking the government's strategy of digitising public services. Hippo has established itself as a leading and trusted digital transformation provider and exemplifies the best of UK tech innovation, with an outstanding reputation in its core public sector market. We see a tremendous opportunity for the business to meet a wider range of customer needs.” Exponent's plan for the business is centred on significant investment in Hippo’s engineering, data, and AI capabilities and a scaling of the company’s operations.   Welcome, Adam Lewis (CEO and co-founder) and your talented team to the Exponent portfolio.    Read more about the transaction here: https://lnkd.in/eg82bdbD

Today we announce the sale of a minority stake in H&MV Engineering in a transaction that values the business at €750 million. Since Exponent’s investment in H&MV two years ago, revenues have quadrupled to over €500 million. We look forward to continuing to work closely with founder and CEO P.J. Flanagan and his brilliant team and welcome aboard new investors LGT Capital Partners and Hamilton Lane. Together, we will accelerate H&MV’s international growth, enhance its design and delivery capabilities, and advance its business development agenda.   H&MV is a differentiated business, ideally placed to answer the growing demand for critical infrastructures in the highly attractive energy transition and digital sectors. We are proud to support the business and team for its next phase of growth.    H&MV Engineering is the latest in a series of industrial services investments made by Exponent, including: Pattonair (aerospace supply chain), V Group (marine services), and the recently exited Enva (environmental services). Read more: https://lnkd.in/eGcpcXB4

Exponent fully exits its investment in Moonpig Group, securing a 7.5x return for investors. David McGovern and Simon Davidson, Partners at Exponent, commented: "Our journey with Moonpig, the leading gifting platform, and its fantastic team has now reached its conclusion. We leave behind a truly important and loved brand, known for differentiated customer service and product range, a market leading mobile app, growing at home and internationally. Now a member of the FTSE 250, Moonpig exemplifies the best of British e-commerce leadership and innovation." E-commerce is an Exponent sector specialisation, also demonstrated by investments in European market leaders Trainline, Storio and Go City. All of these businesses were founder or corporate owned at the point of Exponent's investment. For more contact IR@exponentpe.com

Exponent welcomes Kingsbridge Healthcare Group as its first investment in Northern Ireland and eighth investment in Ireland. “Kingsbridge” is a leading private healthcare provider in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, providing surgical and diagnostic services across 4 hospitals and 11 clinics. Exponent acquires the business from its two founders, who will reinvest alongside Exponent.   David McGovern, Partner, Exponent: “Kingsbridge is a special business, doing important work in a differentiated way. The strength of the company's culture and patient focus was apparent on our first visit to Kingsbridge Belfast. Through its high-tech facilities and thoughtful operating model, Kingsbridge is strategically well positioned to address the growing demand for healthcare services in NI and across the island of Ireland. We look forward to working closely with Mark and his impressive team to build on its success in the coming years by investing in its capabilities, expanding its presence, and exploring new growth initiatives. Together, we will strengthen the Company’s crucial role in supporting Ireland’s healthcare network.”   Mark Regan, Kingsbridge: “We welcome this significant investment and vote of confidence. The team at Exponent is committed to supporting our local healthcare sector and has an impressive track record of backing great businesses across the island. Our aim from the very outset two decades ago was to improve access to healthcare, be that through supporting the public sector…or those who wish to access our services using self-pay or private medical insurance. In Northern Ireland we have the longest healthcare waiting lists in Europe. By working in partnership with both the NHS and the HSE as well as the burgeoning private healthcare market, I believe that together we can make a real and lasting difference to the outcomes for many more patients. Our singular aim going forward is to continue to build on the legacy we’ve already established and to serve the healthcare needs of the population of Ireland, north and south.” Jeroen Regeur, Partner, Exponent: “We are excited to make this investment, supporting Kingsbridge in the provision of excellent healthcare to patients, while partnering with insurers and the public sector. Our joint priority will be on investing further in people, equipment, and technology in order to provide a wider range of healthcare services across both existing and new facilities.”   Richard Lenane, Managing Partner, Exponent: “We look forward to building on the success of founders Suresh and Ashok to further enhance the range of services and highest standards of patient care that Kingsbridge is renowned for. We see huge potential for growth in the healthcare sector in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland as demand for accessible and more technologically advanced healthcare services increases.” https://lnkd.in/g-EMKfky

Exponent announces successful exit from Isio Tim Easingwood, Partner at Exponent, said: “Isio’s journey, from the original carve out and stand up of the independent business in 2020, to the powerful advisory business of scale today, has been hugely gratifying to be part of. During our investment, Andrew and the management team have created a market-leading proposition centred on exceptional client service and an entrepreneurial approach, resulting in strong growth and an exciting outlook. We are confident that Isio will continue to thrive with Aquiline’s investment and keep delivering on its ambitious goals. We wish the whole Isio team every success in the next stage of the business’ exciting journey.”   Andrew Coles, Chief Executive of Isio, commented: “We have had an exceptional four years working in close partnership with Exponent from the carve out and set up phase and to then support us and to grow our business, creating opportunities for our people and clients. We are grateful for their belief and support which has enabled our success today. Our clients and our people have responded well to Isio bringing a bold and innovative approach to the market with a willingness to do things differently. “This new investment from Aquiline will enable us to continue the journey of bringing high quality service and better outcomes to our clients.” https://lnkd.in/e6Gb5pX7

Industry news - Exponent has been nominated for 'PE House of the Year - 2023' in the ‘Upper Mid-Cap' category for this year’s Real Deals Private Equity Awards. 2023 was a productive year, we: - acquired Natara Global, a global leader in flavours and fragrances in a corporate carve-out from NYSE listed IFF  - ⁠invested in founder-led TestingCo, the leading independent software testing in the Netherlands - ⁠backed portfolio company SHL to acquire SHL Japan, one of the first mid market public-to-private transactions in Japan by a foreign sponsor. …and concluded our journeys with and exited: - Enva, a leading provider of recycling and resource recovery solutions; and, - Meadow, a leader in sustainable dairy, confectionary, and plant-based ingredients. We also opened an office in Dublin - demonstrating our commitment to the Irish market and building on 7 investments already made in Ireland. 2024 has already had a busy start, with our latest fund’s investments in: Chanelle Pharma and Ethos Engineering. We wish all nominees the best of luck. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the industry and our peers this week.

Industry news - Exponent has been nominated for 'PE House of the Year - 2023' in the ‘Upper Mid-Cap' category for this year’s Real Deals Private Equity Awards. 2023 was a productive year, we: - acquired Natara Global, a global leader in flavours and fragrances in a corporate carve-out from NYSE listed IFF  - ⁠invested in founder-led TestingCo, the leading independent software testing in the Netherlands - ⁠backed portfolio company SHL to acquire SHL Japan, one of the first mid market public-to-private transactions in Japan by a foreign sponsor. …and concluded our journeys with and exited: - Enva, a leading provider of recycling and resource recovery solutions; and, - Meadow, a leader in sustainable dairy, confectionary, and plant-based ingredients. We also opened an office in Dublin - demonstrating our commitment to the Irish market and building on 7 investments already made in Ireland. 2024 has already had a busy start, with our latest fund’s investments in: Chanelle Pharma and Ethos Engineering. We wish all nominees the best of luck. We look forward to celebrating the achievements of the industry and our peers this week.

Congratulations to Lizzie Stazicker, our Head of ESG and Responsible Investment, for being recognised as one of Private Equity News' "Twenty Most Influential in ESG 2024".   Lizzie has played a pivotal role in guiding Exponent towards alignment with the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures. Additionally, she has spearheaded the development of our firm's net-zero strategy and has been at the forefront of our commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative.   Read more: https://lnkd.in/erVh-ypP

Today we welcome Chanelle Pharma, Ireland’s largest manufacturer of veterinary and medical generic pharmaceuticals, to the Exponent portfolio.      Alongside this, we are also delighted to announce that Carsten Hellmann has joined the company as Chair and a co-investor in the transaction.    Carsten brings a wealth of experience in pharmaceuticals and life sciences having held roles at Novo Nordisk, ThermoFisher and Chr.Hansen. Most recently he was a member of the Executive Committee of Sanofi and CEO of Merial, Sanofi's animal health company, leading to the sale to Boehringer Ingelheim and subsequent to this was CEO of ALK-Abello A/S.   In his capacity as Chair, Carsten will work alongside Exponent, bringing strategic and operational perspectives, supporting Chanelle on its growth journey. The Chair role is an essential one in all Exponent investments, and we are delighted by Carsten's involvement.   Welcome aboard Chanelle Pharma and Carsten.