Further Investment

RNS Number : 4752Q

B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

17 June 2015

 

Date:                            17^th June 2015

On behalf of:                 B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

Immediate release

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc

("B.P. Marsh", "the Company" or "the Group")

Further Investment in Nexus Underwriting Management Limited

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 subscribed for a further investment in Nexus Underwriting Management Limited ("Nexus"), an independent specialty Managing General Agency ("MGA"), for a total consideration of £1,554,000. B.P. Marsh has acquired new Preferred Ordinary shares representing 5% of the enlarged share capital of Nexus, and the acquisition takes B.P. Marsh's shareholding in Nexus to 9.8% for an aggregate consideration of £3,108,000.

Nexus is one of the largest independent specialty MGAs in the London Market with a forecast Premium Income in excess of £65m for 2015. It operates across the major insurance sectors, including Financial Lines, Trade Credit & Political Risk, Accident & Health and various other niche areas of insurance, where its specialist skills come to the fore.

The Group acquired an initial shareholding in Nexus of 5% in August 2014, with the intention to increase its shareholding over time, in support of Nexus's growth aspirations. As such the Group has provided this finance in connection with a proposed acquisition by Nexus, which will add significantly to its Gross Written Insurance Premium Income, and also its profitability and its geographical footprint across Europe. The Company will announce further details of this transaction in due course.

Nexus Group CEO Colin Thompson stated "We are delighted to conclude this funding with B.P. Marsh as it provides further access to capital on agreeable terms. The capital will not only be used to conclude a specific transaction but also underpins our wider M&A agenda which will take Nexus into new product lines and new geographic areas, in order to pursue our growth strategy."

Daniel Topping, the Company's nominee director on the Board of Nexus commented "I am pleased to conclude this round of funding which will allow Nexus to pursue their ongoing growth strategy and, we anticipate, will continue to deliver significant underlying growth to the Group's Net Asset Value. This investment underlines B.P. Marsh's strategy of providing growth finance to specialist financial intermediaries, to which we have unrivalled access through our niche area of operation."

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 thirteen 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 seven 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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