Acquisition

RNS Number : 7337Z

HgCapital Trust PLC

15 December 2014

 



15 December 2014

HgCapital, the Manager of HgCapital Trust plc, has agreed the acquisition of A-Plan Insurance ("A-Plan"),a leading UK insurance broker. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

HgCapital Trust plc will participate in the acquisition of A-Plan alongside other institutional clients of HgCapital, who will participate through the HgCapital 7 fund. The Trust, whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange, gives private and institutional investors the opportunity to participate in all HgCapital's investments. The Trust will contribute a total of approximately £14.9 million.

The acquisition of A-Plan represents the third new platform investment completed by the Services team in the last eighteen months, underlining the team's ability to find high quality businesses and develop relationships with their management teams over the long term. A-Plan has a strong fit with HgCapital's investment strategy, through its high level of recurring revenues, low customer churn and sector-leading customer advocacy, achieved through excellent service. This is the fourth investment from the HgCapital 7 Fund, and following completion, the Fund will be approximately 31% invested.

Based on the 30 November 2014 reported NAV (and after adjusting for the impact of the acquisition of Allocate Software) the Trust's liquid resources available for future deployment are estimated to be £49 million (11% of the adjusted 30 November 2014 NAV). The transaction will reduce the Trust's outstanding commitments to invest in HgCapital deals to approximately £194 million.

Equistone sells A-Plan Insurance to HgCapital

Equistone Partners Europe Limited ("Equistone"), one of Europe's leading mid-market private equity investors, today announces it has entered into an agreement to sell its majority holding in A-Plan, a UK based, independent insurance broker to HgCapital.

Founded in 1963, Oxfordshire based A-Plan provides products from a wide range of insurers, including SME commercial, motor and home, and high net worth insurance.  The Company currently operates 73 branches nationwide, and serves over 580,000 policyholders.

Since Equistone backed the management team in a primary buyout in 2008, the company has realised strong growth, increasing revenues from £44m in 2008 to around £73m for the financial year ending February 2015. During its investment period, Equistone worked alongside A-Plan's management team to develop the business, opening 19 new branches and increasing headcount by 380 to over 970 employees.

Andrew Land, Partner at HgCapital commented:

"We are delighted to be backing Carl and his team in this transaction and will endeavour to support the business as it continues to pursue its growth strategy. With its high levels of recurring revenue and customer retention, alongside impressive customer advocacy, we have been hugely impressed by the quality of A-Plan's service offering; we see great potential in further developing its branch network and specialist lines. Insurance distribution has been a key area of sector focus for us, and we believe we have invested in a true industry champion through this transaction."

Carl Shuker, Chief Executive Officer at A-Plan, said:

"We have enjoyed considerable growth over the last six years, with new branch openings and the development of specialist insurance lines. We have really appreciated our partnership with Equistone, who have been proactively supportive of our growth and investment objectives.

"We are very excited about the next chapter in A-Plan's growth and look forward to working with HgCapital as we continue to expand our national footprint and embark on the next phase of delivering A-Plan's leading levels of service to a larger number of clients. On a day to day basis, it's very much business as usual for our clients, staff and insurer partners."

Andrew Backen, Partner at Equistone Partners Europe, said:

"We are proud to have been partners with A-Plan since 2008, when we identified a unique insurance distributor with significant growth potential. We have relished working alongside an experienced and entrepreneurial management team, to support them in successfully driving the growth of the business and further differentiating it from its peers, despite the competitive market conditions of recent years. With a loyal and growing customer base, longstanding insurance relationships and a good brand, A-Plan is well positioned to continue its growth under new ownership. We wish Carl and his team every success in the future."

Completion of the transaction remains subject to FCA approval.

- Ends -

For further details:

HgCapital

Stephen Bough                          [phone]

Maitland

Peter Ogden                              [phone]

About HgCapital Trust plc

HgCapital Trust plc is an investment trust whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: HGT.L). The Trust is a client of HgCapital, giving investors exposure to a portfolio of high-growth private companies, through a liquid vehicle. New investments and existing portfolio companies are managed by HgCapital, an experienced and well-resourced private equity firm with a long-term track record of delivering superior risk-adjusted returns for its investors. For further details, please see www.hgcapitaltrust.com

Neither the contents of HgCapital Trust's, HgCapital's, Equistone's or A-Plan's websites nor the contents of any website accessible from hyperlinks on these websites (or any other website) is incorporated into, or forms part of, this announcement.

 

END

 

 

ACQUVONRSSAUARA