Investment

RNS Number : 8625R

B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

01 July 2015

 

Date:                 1^st July 2015

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

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

Investment

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc (AIM:  BPM), the niche venture capital provider to early stage financial services businesses, is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 20% Cumulative Preferred Ordinary shareholding in Property And Liability Underwriting Managers (PTY) Ltd ("PLUM"), a Managing General Agent based in Johannesburg, South Africa.

This investment is a joint venture alongside our existing partners in South Africa.

The Group acquired this stake in PLUM from existing shareholders for an initial consideration of £0.3m. The total consideration could increase to £0.6m subject to PLUM achieving EBITDA of ZAR 8,300,000 (c. £0.43m) over the first year of the Group's investment. This should be achievable if PLUM hits its budget over the same period:-

Gross Written Premium income:            ZAR 150,000,000 (c. £7.9m)

Commission income:                             ZAR 15,000,000 (c. £0.79m)

PLUM specialises in large corporate property insurance risks in South Africa. The underwriting team with PLUM has over 40 years' experience in the insurance sector in South Africa, with the lead underwriter having held senior positions in the reinsurance and insurance sector there over a 20 year period. 

PLUM is supported by both domestic South African insurance capacity and A-rated international reinsurance capacity.

Dan Topping, who has been appointed to the Board of PLUM as the Company's nominee director, stated: "We are pleased to conclude this acquisition of shares in PLUM, further developing our position in the fast growing insurance market of South Africa, in what we anticipate should prove to be a high quality, well managed investment delivering meaningful shareholder returns to the Group whilst providing further international diversification to our investment portfolio."

For further information:

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

Brian Marsh OBE                                                                                  [phone]

Nominated Adviser & Broker

Panmure Gordon

Fred Walsh / Charles Leigh-Pemberton / Atholl Tweedie                         [phone]

Notes to Editors:

About B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

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

Since formation over 20 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.

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. Jonathan advises investee companies and has a number of non-executive appointments over three investee companies and evaluates new investment opportunities.

Daniel Topping is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment (MCSI) and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ACIS), having graduated from the University of Durham in 2005. Dan joined B.P. Marsh in February 2007 having started his career at an accountancy firm. In 2011 he was appointed as a director of B.P. Marsh and currently has a number of non-executive appointments over eight investee companies and evaluates new investment opportunities.

Camilla Kenyon was appointed as Head of Investor Relations at B.P. Marsh in February 2009, having four years' prior experience with the Company. Camilla has a number of non-executive appointments over two investee companies, is Chair of the New Business Committee and is a Member of the Investor Relations Society.

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 in December 2014 was appointed interim Head of New Business.

 

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