NVM Private Equity (NVM) today announces that its fund, NVM Private Equity Vintage III LP, has completed the management buy-out of Mobius Networks Limited (MNL), a market leading mobile virtual network operator, providing data connectivity services for Internet-of-Things (IoT) and Machine-to-Machine (M2M) applications across healthcare, transport and retail sectors. The investment from NVM will help to accelerate Mobius’ growth and drive continued development of its software and sales expertise.
Formed in 2004 and headquartered in Leicestershire, MNL has created an differentiated means of data provision that is highly secure and flexible whilst offering highly reliable connectivity and availability. The market for IoT and M2M operations is growing extremely quickly and Mobius has developed an excellent strategic positon to take advantage of this growth. Customers include a host of local councils, regional and national transport providers and high-profile entities including Manchester Airport and the Highways Agency. Retail and industrial customers cover a range of household names including Google, IBM, Dunelm, Aldi and Siemens.
MNL is the second buy-out announced in as many weeks by NVM, following on from the MBO of Secure Retail, with both businesses having been acquired from similar shareholder groups. James Arrowsmith, Andy Leach and Liam May led the investment for NVM, with Leach and May joining the MNL board at completion.
Managing Director of Mobius Networks Doug Gilmour said: “Mobius Networks is delighted to be partnering with NVM. The opportunity to rapidly scale Mobius in the vast and vastly growing IOT and industrial internet market is compelling. The technical capability of the Mobius team and its value proposition is exceptional. This combined with the support and expertise of the NVM team, means that there are even more exciting times ahead for Mobius Networks.”
James Arrowsmith, Investment Partner of NVM Private Equity commented: “NVM is delighted to be backing Doug and the rest of the Mobius team. The company’s focus on high uptime, mission critical applications differentiates Mobius from the wider IoT market and we are pleased to be coming on board at such an exciting stage in the company’s development. As NVM’s third deal in the Midlands in recent weeks, this further demonstrates our continued commitment to the region.”
Andy Leach, Investment Partner of NVM Private Equity said: “Mobius’ focus on high uptime, mission critical applications differentiates it from the wider IoT market. With both IoT and M2M markets forecast to exhibit strong growth characteristics over the next few years, Mobius is well positioned to expand its customer base and introduce its products into a wider range of end-user markets. Consequently, we are delighted to be backing Doug and the rest of the Mobius team at what is an especially exciting stage of the company’s development and evolution.”
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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
- James Arrowsmith (NVM: Investment Partner) – 0118 951 7016 james.arrowsmith@nvm.co.uk
- Andy Leach (NVM: Investment Partner) –0191 244 6022 andy.leach@nvm.co.uk
NVM was provided with:
- Legal due diligence and legal advice by DWF (Alasdair Outhwaite & Rosie Spencer)
- Financial due diligence by Dow Schofield Watts (Ed Brentnall)
- Commercial due diligence by CIL (Tom Fletcher & Mike Hallett)
- Tax due diligence by Deloitte (Arran Simpson & Lee Dehkordi)
- Management due diligence by Continuum (Steve Wycherley)
MNL were provided with corporate finance advice from Stuart Lees and David Gardner at KBS Corporate and legal advice from Peter Mayhew and Laurence Matthews at Shakespeare Martineau.
NVM Private Equity is independently owned with over 30 years’ experience of investing in unquoted UK businesses. NVM is a generalist investor, managing approximately £430 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