BRIDGEPOINT takes majority stake in ZENITH
Context
HgCapital has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its entire majority shareholding in Zenith to private equity firm Bridgepoint. This divestment follows a highly successful investment cycle initiated by HgCapital's acquisition of Leasedrive in December 2013 and its subsequent strategic merger with Zenith in February 2014, a corporate consolidation engineered to capture substantial economies of scale. Under the new ownership structure, Bridgepoint will assume full control of the business, partner with the incumbent management team, and establish a new institutional framework to fund the company's next phase of commercial expansion. The acquisition provides to Bridgepoint operational control over a best-in-class vehicle outsourcing asset that features an unbroken track record of growth and a resilient business model, with future revenues highly predictable due to long-term commercial contract lock-ins. The post-closing corporate strategy will be led by the existing executive team under CEO Tim Buchan, focusing on sustaining double-digit compounding growth through continuous capital allocation toward proprietary system developments, enhanced customer service frameworks, and targeted international M&A and acquisition activity. The transaction was signed in January 2017 and is subject to customary closing conditions.
In the past, the company had already been the subject of several LBOs, notably led by Morgan Stanley Private Equity in 2010 and Hg Capital in 2014. This succession of buyouts highlights the strong attractiveness of the company's business model.
ZENITH, which reported an EBITDA margin of LOGIN in 2016, is valued in this transaction at an EV/EBITDA multiple of LOGIN, representing a LOGIN to the average currently observed in the Financial Services sector (13.1x).
Note that this data is based on contribution from our growing community, composed of M&A and Private Equity professionals, and has been verified by our team to ensure its accuracy.
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Target
Zenith Vehicle Contracts Group Limited operates within the mobility sector as the UK’s largest independent provider of vehicle leasing, fleet management, and vehicle outsourcing solutions. Backed by an operational history spanning over 25 years, the company’s business model centers on delivering integrated mobility services to corporate enterprises and individual clients. The platform’s core asset infrastructure relies on the management and optimization of a scaled commercial risk fleet encompassing 27,300 vehicles.
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Historical Financials (GBP)
Other operations with ZENITH
| Date | Acquirer | Target | Country | Sector | Deal Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/2014 | HG CAPITAL | ZENITH | UNITED KINGDOM | Specialty Finance | HgCapital has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a majority ownership stake in the parent company of Zenith Vehicle Contracts Group Limited from Morgan Stanley Global Private Equity (MSPE) |
| 08/2010 | MORGAN STANLEY PRIVATE EQUITY | ZENITH | UNITED KINGDOM | Specialty Finance | Morgan Stanley Private Equity (MSPE) has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 60% majority controlling stake in Zenith Vehicle Contracts Group Limited. The equity interest is being acquired through a management buyout from funds advised by Barclays Private Equity (BPE) and Zenith’s management team |
REFERENCES
Valuation range: EV 500M - 1.5b GBP
Revenue range: 250M - 500M GBP
EBITDA range: 50M - 100M GBP
Note: This page provides detailed data on a private equity M&A transaction. Detailed and exact financial metrics for the acquisition of ZENITH by BRIDGEPOINT are reserved for mynth community members. Register for free to unlock full data.
Authors: verified mynth contributor (mynth data is contributed by M&A / PE professionals and systematically cross-verified with private deal documents and official press releases).
Target: zenith
Acquirer: bridgepoint