NVM Private Equity (NVM) has fully realised its investment in international marketing communications group MSQ Partners (MSQ) following a £37.5 million management buy-out by LDC, providing NVM funds with a 2.7x return. NVM first supported MSQ Partners with a £7.8 million investment in July 2014.
MSQ Partners is a multi-disciplinary group of digital, marketing and creative agencies that specialises in marketing communications for consumer and B2B brands. The group, which includes Holmes & Marchant (branding & design), Smarts Communicate (PR and content), Stack (customer activation and engagement), Stein IAS (B2B marketing), The Gate (creative and media) and twentysix (digital), employs more than 600 people with offices in the UK, Asia and USA.
Under the leadership of co-founder and CEO Peter Reid, MSQ Partners has grown rapidly and today supports an international client base which includes blue-chip and household names such as PSA Groupe, Diageo and Unilever.
With LDC’s support, Peter and his existing management team will build on the momentum they have created by further investing in talent and services to expand and develop the group’s capabilities. This will be organically and potentially through acquisition, to drive further international growth and help the group to consolidate its market-leading position in delivering effective multi-channel campaigns.
David Rolfe, Partner at NVM, said: “It has been a pleasure working with the MSQ management team and the individual agencies over the last five years. The group has developed significantly during this time and is perfectly placed to embark on the next phase of their growth journey. I wish Pete and the team all the best.”
Peter Reid, CEO of MSQ Partners, said: “Our team has worked incredibly hard within their agencies and collectively to strengthen and refine our client offering. We maintain a laser-like focus on quality and creativity and with the on-going support of our employees, clients and NVM we have been able to deliver double digit annual growth over the period. I would like to personally thank David and the rest of the NVM team for their invaluable support.”
John Clarke, Investment Director at LDC in Manchester, said: “Peter and the team at MSQ have built a truly formidable business that is able to provide full-service, marketing communications services on an international scale. The business retains its independence, agility and a culture that continues to attract some of the best talent in the market. It is this combination that continues to drive MSQ’s growth and we’re looking forward to partnering with the team as we support them with our expertise and significant investment on the next phase of their journey.”
NVM was provided with legal advice by Browne Jacobson (Gareth Davies) and corporate finance advice from GP Bullhound (Simon Nicholls).
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NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information please contact:
- Natalie Dickinson (NVM: PR & Marketing) – 0118 951 7021 natalie.dickinson@nvm.co.uk
- David Rolfe (NVM: Investment Partner) – 0118 951 7013 david.rolfe@nvm.co.uk
NVM Private Equity is independently owned with over 30 years’ experience of investing in unquoted UK businesses. NVM is a generalist investor, managing approximately £440 million of funds, and is differentiated by having executives living and working in regional business communities throughout the UK. NVM seeks investment opportunities of between £1 million and £15 million in UK businesses which have the right mix of growth potential and market vision. They may be looking to grow organically, acquire another business or secure a management buy-out. www.nvm.co.uk
MSQ Partners is a group of creative agencies with 15 international offices. It comprises six agencies – Holmes & Marchant (branding & design), Smarts Communicate (PR and content), Stack (customer activation and engagement), Stein IAS (B2B marketing based in Bollington), The Gate (creative and media) and twentysix (digital) – and is the fastest growing multi-disciplinary group in the UK. Clients are offered the choice of working with individual agencies or with a multi-disciplinary team designed around their specific needs. Unique to an international group of its scale and reach, 65 most senior employees are all shareholders in the group, providing a strong incentive for effective collaboration across agencies.
MSQ and its agencies operates from offices in the UK (London, Belfast, Bollington, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Leeds), the USA (New York and San Francisco), Asia (Shanghai and Singapore) and Paris.
