Further Investment in LEBC Holdings Limited

RNS Number : 4615Z

B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

06 February 2014

 

Date:                            6^th February 2014

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

Immediate release

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

Further Investment in LEBC Holdings Limited ("LEBC")

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc (AIM: BPM), the niche venture capital provider to early stage financial services businesses, is pleased to announce that on 31^st January 2014 it acquired a 12.02% stake in LEBC, from an exiting former employee shareholder, for a cash consideration of £1m. B.P. Marsh will also be providing LEBC's Employee Benefit Trust with a further £1m of funding via a secured short term loan facility (repayable within 12 months) in order to allow the management team to increase their shareholding in LEBC. B.P. Marsh view this management team as  highly skilled professional partners who are capable of taking the business forward in line with its expectations, to become the pre-eminent independent financial adviser in the UK.

The B.P. Marsh Board is confident that this further investment in LEBC will be value accretive and, as a result of this transaction, the Group's stake in LEBC has increased from 22.89% to 34.91%.  B.P. Marsh believes that this is a commercially prudent opportunity to increase its shareholding, alongside the incumbent management team, in a growing specialist financial services company, further solidifying the longstanding partnership.

By way of background, LEBC, established in 2000, is an Independent Financial Advisory company providing expert financial advice to individuals, blue chip corporations and partnerships, with B.P. Marsh originally investing in 2007.

Since B.P. Marsh's investment LEBC has grown to an organisation with eleven branches across the UK with funds under influence approaching £2 billion, turnover of £10,175,180 as at 30^th September 2012, and a profit before tax for the same year of £543,783.

Commenting on the transaction, Jack McVitie, Chief Executive of LEBC, stated: "This transaction marks a new stage in the growth and development of LEBC. I look forward to working with my management team in company with B.P. Marsh to achieve continued success in the future."

B.P. Marsh Chairman, Brian Marsh OBE commented "I am pleased to conclude this transaction and look forward to the next stage of growth as we continue to develop our partnership with LEBC on strong foundations for the future."

For further information:

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

Brian Marsh OBE / Camilla Kenyon                                                        [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 twelve 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 15 years' experience in the financial services industry. Jonathan advises investee companies, has a number of non-executive appointments over two 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 six 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.

Natasha Dunbar has over 18 years' experience in the financial services industry. Having joined the Company in 1994 she was made managing director in March 2002, subsequently becoming a non-executive director of the Company in 2008, a position she held for five years. Natasha was reappointed as a Director in February 2013 and holds a non-executive appointment at one of our investee companies.

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