Horizon Capital LLP, a private equity investor in technology and professional services, has invested more than £40m in Ridge & Partners to fund its growth strategy, which has already seen it make several acquisition in recent years.
In 2020 Ridge had 577 staff and £61m turnover; today it has 1,000 staff and forecast turnover of 2023 of £105m across its 12 UK offices. Acquisitions in the last three years have included Scott Hughes Design and Projex.
Further acquisitions are planned.
Whether Horizon has acquired control of Ridge or not, neither partner is yet willing to reveal. However, Ridge’s limited liability partnership structure remains intact at this stage.
Ridge senior partner Adrian O’Hickey said: “This is a transformational deal for Ridge – a catalyst for some of the most ambitious changes in our strategy. We’ve already been successful in turning up the dial on this business, introducing new initiatives and developing our people. We want to continue that progress, with the benefit of new investment, while maintaining our core values of quality, collaboration and agility all the way.
“Progressive growth is crucial for us and that means creating better and more sustainable places while offering cutting edge services for our clients and career opportunities for our colleagues.
“Horizon Capital’s focus on professional services and technology makes them a strong fit for Ridge and protects the personal culture of our 75-year-old business. Horizon understands the personal touch that distinguishes the Ridge culture and our willingness to exploit the latest technology to work more efficiently and more accurately.”
Through its investment in Ridge, Horizon Capital is adding built environment services to its portfolio of 14 technology services, business services, software and data companies. Horizon managing partner Luke Kingston said: “Horizon is providing the first institutional capital to Ridge in its 75-year history. Its partners have already taken opportunities for sustained growth in recent years, and we will help them to be even more ambitious in the firms and talent they reach out to.”
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London, United Kingdom – Construction consultant Adken Limited has received a £40m injection of private equity funding from a consortium of investors.
The investment is intended to help Adken expand its business and increase its capacity in the construction industry. The company currently provides administrative and professional services to the construction industry in the UK, Europe, and North America.
The additional funding will enable Adken to expand its operations to new markets, purchase additional equipment and software, and hire a larger staff in anticipation of increased demand for its services.
Adken’s CEO, Kevin Price, stated that the investment was “an exciting development for the company and its staff”, and added that “Adken has come a long way in the past few years, and with this new injection of capital, we are well-positioned to grow even further and provide the quality of service our customers have come to expect.”
With construction expected to remain an important industry in the coming years, Adken is well-positioned to take advantage of the opportunities afforded to them by the private equity injection. The company is using the funding to expand its operations around the globe, increase its staff and resources, and develop new software to improve the efficiency and quality of its services.
Adken’s additional funding and increased capabilities should significantly improve its position in the industry and help it to reach a wider range of clients. With the new investment, Adken is preparing to help construction firms to meet the needs of their clients more effectively and efficiently, positioning them as one of the leading construction consultants in the world.
