03/02/2021

One week. Two private equity deals.

In the last week, our private equity team supported WestBridge Capital on the investment of £10m to assist in the MBO of London-based Channel 3 Consulting Limited, which designs, implements, and optimises digital transformation programmes for the health and care sector.

Just days earlier, we supported WestBridge-backed Bespoke Health & Social Care, a buy and build investment in the complex home care sector, on its first acquisition since receiving investment from WestBridge in June 2020. The acquisition of Southampton-based Team Healthcare Acquisitions will extend its geographic reach to the south, and expand its service to include expertise in acquired brain injury and neurological disorders.

WestBridge has now completed four transactions in just seven months, demonstrating that despite the wider economic uncertainty, the private equity market continues to seek out investment opportunities, supporting growing businesses and ambitious management teams.

James MacLeay, senior investment manager at WestBridge comments:

Channel 3 represents everything we look for in a company – a strong business model with excellent client relationships in a resilient, niche and growing market, coupled with a highly experienced senior management team which is united in its ambition.”

Ed Minton, senior investment manager at WestBridge, added:

From the off, we viewed Bespoke as an exciting investment proposition. The market in which it operates is highly fragmented so we knew there would be compelling opportunities to pursue a focussed acquisition strategy. Despite the challenges of the pandemic, growth has continued since our investment, so we were delighted to support their first acquisition and look forward to exploring further opportunities in the future.”

Two teams of lawyers from our private equity team, including Tom Kelleher, Philip Barratt, Angelina Drljaca-Chandler, Gareth Williams-Davies, Melanie Williams, Ellie Shanahan, and Cerith Bevan, together with specialist support from across the firm, worked with WestBridge on these transactions.

Capital Law’s private equity team has advised on more than 20 private equity and venture capital transactions in 2020. With over 30 years’ experience in private equity and venture capital – including in-house – our private equity team has a practical understanding of the role it plays in the business it’s invested in. We advise at every stage of the investment life-cycle, so whether you’re an investor, management team, vendor, or an investee company, please do get in touch if you’d like to discuss a potential transaction.