Investment in Mark Edward Partners LLC

RNS Number : 5720T

B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

16 October 2017

 

Date:                16 October 2017

On behalf of:    B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc ("B.P. Marsh", the "Company" or the "Group")

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

Investment in Mark Edward Partners LLC 

The Board of B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc, the venture capital provider to early stage financial services businesses (AIM: BPM), is pleased to announce an investment into Mark Edward Partners LLC ("MEP"), taking a 30% equity stake and providing a $2m loan facility available for future growth.

Mark Edward Partners LLC is a specialty insurance broker offering a wide range of risk management services to both commercial and private clients. MEP is a national U.S. firm with licenses to operate in all 50 states and has offices in New York, Palm Beach and Los Angeles.

Founded in 2010 by Mark Freitas, its President & Chief Executive Officer, MEP provides core insurance products in Financial & Liability, Property & Casualty, Personal Lines, Life Insurance, Cyber and Affinity Groups. The B.P. Marsh investment in MEP will be used to expand MEP's current market footprint and for opportunistic M&A activity.

By investing in MEP, B.P. Marsh is entering into partnership with Mark Freitas, who has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. Having begun his career at American International Group ("AIG"), Mark joined Crystal & Company, the U.S. based Insurance Broker, where he subsequently became President & Chief Operating Officer, and saw the business increase its revenues significantly. He then left Crystal & Company in 2009 to establish MEP.

Commenting on the investment Brian Marsh, B.P. Marsh Chairman stated, "We are pleased to announce a further investment in the United States. Mark Edward Partners is a strong established broker with a knowledgeable Management Team and ambitions for the future."

Dan Topping, B.P. Marsh Chief Investment Officer, who has been appointed to represent the Company at MEP commented, "We are delighted to be making this investment in MEP, and I am looking forward to working alongside Mark Freitas and his Management Team to help them achieve their growth plan."

Commenting on the investment, Mark Freitas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mark Edward Partners LLC stated, "We are extremely pleased to be partnering with B.P. Marsh who brings an abundance of experience and expertise on an international basis. We look forward to expanding our footprint globally and working with a group who shares our vision, not to mention working together with such a successful entrepreneur as Brian Marsh."

For further information:

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc                                                               www.bpmarsh.co.uk

Brian Marsh OBE / Camilla Kenyon                                                     [phone]

Nominated Adviser & Broker

Panmure Gordon

Atholl Tweedie / Charles Leigh-Pemberton / Adam James                     [phone]

About B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

B.P. Marsh's current portfolio contains fifteen companies. More detailed descriptions of the portfolio can be found at www.bpmarsh.co.uk.

Since formation over 25 years ago, the Company has assembled a management team with considerable experience both in the financial services sector and in managing private equity investments. Many of the directors have worked with each other in previous roles, and all have worked with each other for at least five years.

Prior to Brian Marsh's involvement in the Company, he spent many years in insurance broking and underwriting in Lloyd's as well as the London and overseas market. He has over 30 years' experience in building, buying and selling financial services businesses, particularly in the insurance sector.

Alice Foulk joined B.P. Marsh in September 2011 having started her career at a leading Life Assurance company. In 2014 she took over as Executive Assistant to the Chairman, running the Chairman's Office and established herself as a central part of the management team.

In February 2015 she was appointed as a Director of B.P. Marsh and a member of the Investment Committee. In January 2016 Alice was appointed Managing Director of B.P. Marsh.

In her position as Managing Director, Alice is responsible for the overall performance of the Company and monitoring the Company's overall progress towards achieving the objectives and goals of the Company, as set by the Board.

Dan Topping is the Chief Investment Officer of B.P. Marsh, having been appointed as a Director in 2011. He joined the Company in February 2007, following two years at an independent London accountancy practice. Dan is the Senior Executive with overall responsibility for the portfolio and investment strategy of B.P. Marsh.

Dan graduated from the University of Durham in 2005 and is a member of the Securities and Investment Institute and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Dan is a standing member of the B.P. Marsh Investment and Valuation Committees and currently serves as a Board Director across the portfolio.

Camilla Kenyon was appointed as Head of Investor Relations at B.P. Marsh in February 2009, having four years' prior experience with the Company. She was appointed to the main board in 2011.  Camilla is Chair of the New Business Committee evaluating new investment opportunities. She acts as a nominee director and is a standing member of the Investment Committee. She is a Member of the Investor Relations Society.

Jonathan Newman is a Chartered Management Accountant and is the Group Director of Finance and has over 17 years' experience in the financial services industry. Jon graduated from the University of Sheffield with an honours degree in Business Studies and joined the Group in November 1999, following two years at Euler Trade Indemnity and two years at a Chartered Accountants. Jon is a Member of the Chartered Global Management Accountants, the Chartered Management Accountants and the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.

Jon was appointed a Director of B.P. Marsh & Company Limited in September 2001, and Group Finance Director in December 2003 and was instrumental in the admission of the Group to AIM in February 2006. Jon is a member of the B.P. Marsh Investment and Valuation Committees and currently serves as a Board Director for Walsingham Motor Insurance Limited, and provides senior financial support and advice to all companies within the Group's portfolio as well as evaluating new investment opportunities.

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