Business Post – February 26st, 2023
Melior Equity Partners co-founders Peter Garvey and Jonny Cosgrave, two of the most experienced deal makers in Ireland, look at deal volume and business valuation trends over the past two years and give their forecast for the rest of 2023.
In December last year, Peter Garvey and Jonny Cosgrave said yes to an offer they couldn’t turn down. The co-founders of Melior Equity Partners, the Dublin-based private equity firm, had received a number of offers to buy BHP Insurance, a corporate insurance brokerage business they had bought themselves just over a year before, in August 2021.
It wasn’t part of the original plan to sell the insurance company so soon after acquiring it, but the offer on the table was simply too good to pass up.
“Normally we hold our investments for about five or six years. We acquired BHP as a buy and build play, thinking that we could build something to sell on to the consolidators in the insurance industry,” Garvey told the Business Post.
“We spent a lot of time trying to acquire other businesses in that space, but we were getting a little frustrated because we were getting outbid on acquisition opportunities. The market for insurance companies was just so hot.
“And then we got a tap on the shoulder from a number of players to see if we wanted to sell BHP. We got some very good offers and we decided to go ahead and sell. We made almost three times our money in under a year-and-a-half on that deal. We were pretty happy.”
Garvey and Cosgrave are two of the most experienced deal makers in Ireland. Having previously worked in M&A and corporate finance roles in London, the pair returned to Ireland in 2014 to lead the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCIF), which was a €292 million fund backed by Cardinal Capital, the Dublin-based alternative finance fund, and Carlyle, the US private equity giant.
Over a six-year period investing the CCIF fund, Garvey and Cosgrave oversaw 11 deals to acquire Irish businesses in a range of sectors, including well-known companies such as Carroll’s Cuisine, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy and AA Ireland.
The pair went on to establish Melior in January 2020 and raised a new €160 million fund from a variety of backers, including Carlyle and three of the US fund’s original founders: Bill Conway, David Rubenstein and Daniel D’Aniello.
On top of its acquisition, and subsequent sale, of BHP Insurance, Melior has completed two further deals in the past year, acquiring majority stakes in Salmon Software, the Dublin-based treasury management software company, and Rose Confectionery, a sweets, snacks and freeze pops manufacturer in Co Offaly.
With around €100 million of the Melior fund still to be deployed, Garvey and Cosgrave said they are targeting six or seven more deals over the next three years. The M&A investment market has, however, seen enormous change and volatility in the two years since Garvey and Cosgrave first founded the firm.
An influx of international capital, coupled with a bull run in the technology space, drove business valuations to record levels in almost every sector over the last two years. Unsurprisingly, this saw deal volumes almost double in the same period as more and more business owners took the opportunity to de-risk and take some cash off the table.
An analysis carried out by Melior shows there were over 300 deals completed in Ireland during 2021 and again in 2022 – significantly higher than the previous three years, which averaged 180 deals a year between 2018 and 2020.
The last six months, however, have seen a significant readjustment in the corporate finance landscape as interest rates began to rise and Central Banks tightened monetary policy. According to Melior’s figures, the number of M&A deals completed in Ireland last year was down 5 per cent at just over 300 transactions.
Cosgrave said 2022 was a tale of two halves, with a significant slowdown in deal volumes in the final months of last year.
“In the first half of last year there was still a lot of optimism in the market. Deal volumes in the first six months of last year were up 8 per cent year on year, with over 150 transactions completed,” Cosgrave said.
“But the second half of the year was a completely different story due to the war in Ukraine, record energy prices, high inflation and rising interest rates. This combination saw deal volumes for the second half of last year fall 16 per cent on the same period in 2021, and I expect that trend to continue this year.
“There’s still a lot of strategic capital and private equity money out there in the market looking to be invested. But deals are taking longer to complete. I think deal volumes will probably fall to the low 200s this year, but will still remain above pre-pandemic levels.”
‘Equity is stuffed with cash’
Aside from the higher volume of deals, Garvey and Cosgrave said the rise in activity in the market drove company valuations to very expensive levels. The surge in business valuations during 2021 and early 2022 even prompted Denis O’Brien, the billionaire founder of the Digicel Group, to encourage business owners to sell up.
“Right now the markets are so hot, private equity is just so stuffed with cash, that they’re trying to buy businesses all over the world,” O’Brien said in December 2021.
“This is a time where people can sell their businesses at higher multiples than they ever, ever expected. I’m always a great believer that if somebody gives you a big valuation of your business, take it. In the space of a year, things can change, and you can spend the next five years with your business and not grow the value of it.”
The M&A market is quite different in the 12 months since O’Brien made those comments, and valuations are now starting to correct. That said, acquiring companies is still quite expensive when compared to the long-term average, according to the Melior co-founders.
“Valuations got quite frothy over recent years, but with all the volatility last year from the war, higher interest rates and all that stuff, we estimate valuations came back about 15 per cent on average in 2022,” Garvey said.
“But if you compare last year’s figures with 2020 or before the pandemic, valuations were still about 10 per cent higher. So valuations were quite frothy and now they’re coming down a bit, particularly in the second half of last year. But they’re still above long-term valuation averages.”
In the last 12 months, Garvey and Cosgrave said the valuations for tech companies alone had plunged 50 per cent from their peak, which underscores the uncertainty that continues to hang over the global tech industry.
“There were a lot of companies out there that had good underlying business models, but the founders drove their business way too fast such that the quality of people or revenue they added over that time was just lower. And so, the incremental return is lower,” Cosgrave said.
“Interest rates at zero created a massive misallocation of capital. How that will unwind itself should present opportunities.”
Garvey and Cosgrave said that Melior will likely complete two or three deals this year, with a number in the pipeline that are at an advanced stage. The firm typically invests €10 million to €35 million in equity into a company, depending on its size.
Garvey said the firm generally goes for businesses in any sector that are owner-founder led and are making at least €2 million in profits.
“The types of companies we like are recurring revenue technology businesses, healthcare businesses and, to a lesser extent, financial services firms. We’re also very comfortable buying what are classed as more traditional businesses in the food sector,” he said.
“Sometimes we will invest in businesses that are break-even but have really good growth stories, but in general we go for profitable companies. We don’t do distressed acquisitions. We don’t feel that’s a space that we’re properly resourced to do as it can be quite labour intensive.
“We’re very much growth capital investors. We want to sit down with management teams to create a plan with them that they will drive to double or triple the size of the business in a four- or five-year period. We’re really looking for four or five shots on goal to make that happen.”
The pair said their investment offer to business owners is both a means to help them take some cash off the table, and also help de-risk important business decisions for the future growth of the company.
“A lot of Irish entrepreneurs have an illiquid asset that is very valuable but very concentrated. If we come in, it allows the business owner to take some cash off the table, but we also want owners to roll in a big chunk of equity alongside us. We want them to be highly motivated,” Garvey said.
“We talk about creating the conditions for growth in a business. That’s fundamentally about getting a business owner to change their appetite for what they see as risk but what we see as sensible business decisions.
“We used to worry about business owners not coming into work the next Monday after we did a deal. But actually what we find is that they come to work the next week and they’re ready to go. It gives them the chance to take a good bit of money off the table and go again.”
February 1st, 2023
Jonathan Dalton spoke to Emmet Oliver on this morning’s Newstalk Breakfast Business show about the results of Melior’s Funding for Growth Survey and the broader SME environment.
January 29th, 2023
The majority of Irish small-to-medium sized enterprises are optimistic about the business environment in Ireland for 2023 despite the myriad challenges facing the economy, a new survey has found.
Despite difficulties including high inflation and falling consumer demand, 70 per cent of Irish SMEs said they were either “quite optimistic” or “very optimistic” when asked about their outlook for 2023 in a recent survey carried out by Melior Equity Partners, the Dublin-based private equity firm.
Almost a third of SMEs (30 per cent) said expansion into new export markets would be the main driver of growth this year, while just over 25 per cent expect to drive growth through increased sales to existing customers. Just 15 per cent of SMEs believe growth will be fuelled by acquisitions this year, suggesting a reluctance to pursue M&A given the high valuations for businesses over recent years.
“The optimistic outlook of Irish SMEs underlines their resilience despite current market challenges and is also a positive indication for the Irish economy going into 2023,” Jonathan Dalton, managing director of Melior, said.
“New market entry being the primary growth driver is no surprise. It reinforces our own first-hand experience that Irish entrepreneurs are hungry for international expansion, a factor that has led to many previous Irish success stories.”
The findings of the survey, which included responses from more than 50 business owners and senior executives across a range of sectors including consumer, business services, technology and healthcare, also found that inflation remained the greatest challenge for Irish companies this year.
A third of SMEs said inflation was the most pressing challenge facing their business today, while 31 per cent of respondents identified weakening consumer demand as their main concern. Just over 20 per cent said staff retention or recruitment would be the biggest challenge, while only 10 per cent said it would be rising interest rates.
January 12th, 2023
Esmond Greene discussing with Deirdre Morrison about how private equity works and why it can often be the right choice for motivated management teams and founders.
January 8th, 2023
Peter Garvey Co-Founder and Partner at Melior Equity Partners
“Private equity will comprise an increasing share of Irish M&A activity in 2023 as business owners look for experienced partners to help them accelerate their growth. Macroeconomic uncertainty, interest rate hikes and the resulting reduction in valuations led to declining deal volumes in 2022. That trend is expected to continue in 2023. Nevertheless, good companies will always attract capital. Melior Equity Partners was delighted to invest in three great Irish companies over the past 18 months. We will likely make a similar number of investments in 2023.”
Business Post – February 26st, 2023
Melior Equity Partners co-founders Peter Garvey and Jonny Cosgrave, two of the most experienced deal makers in Ireland, look at deal volume and business valuation trends over the past two years and give their forecast for the rest of 2023.
In December last year, Peter Garvey and Jonny Cosgrave said yes to an offer they couldn’t turn down. The co-founders of Melior Equity Partners, the Dublin-based private equity firm, had received a number of offers to buy BHP Insurance, a corporate insurance brokerage business they had bought themselves just over a year before, in August 2021.
It wasn’t part of the original plan to sell the insurance company so soon after acquiring it, but the offer on the table was simply too good to pass up.
“Normally we hold our investments for about five or six years. We acquired BHP as a buy and build play, thinking that we could build something to sell on to the consolidators in the insurance industry,” Garvey told the Business Post.
“We spent a lot of time trying to acquire other businesses in that space, but we were getting a little frustrated because we were getting outbid on acquisition opportunities. The market for insurance companies was just so hot.
“And then we got a tap on the shoulder from a number of players to see if we wanted to sell BHP. We got some very good offers and we decided to go ahead and sell. We made almost three times our money in under a year-and-a-half on that deal. We were pretty happy.”
Garvey and Cosgrave are two of the most experienced deal makers in Ireland. Having previously worked in M&A and corporate finance roles in London, the pair returned to Ireland in 2014 to lead the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCIF), which was a €292 million fund backed by Cardinal Capital, the Dublin-based alternative finance fund, and Carlyle, the US private equity giant.
Over a six-year period investing the CCIF fund, Garvey and Cosgrave oversaw 11 deals to acquire Irish businesses in a range of sectors, including well-known companies such as Carroll’s Cuisine, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy and AA Ireland.
The pair went on to establish Melior in January 2020 and raised a new €160 million fund from a variety of backers, including Carlyle and three of the US fund’s original founders: Bill Conway, David Rubenstein and Daniel D’Aniello.
On top of its acquisition, and subsequent sale, of BHP Insurance, Melior has completed two further deals in the past year, acquiring majority stakes in Salmon Software, the Dublin-based treasury management software company, and Rose Confectionery, a sweets, snacks and freeze pops manufacturer in Co Offaly.
With around €100 million of the Melior fund still to be deployed, Garvey and Cosgrave said they are targeting six or seven more deals over the next three years. The M&A investment market has, however, seen enormous change and volatility in the two years since Garvey and Cosgrave first founded the firm.
An influx of international capital, coupled with a bull run in the technology space, drove business valuations to record levels in almost every sector over the last two years. Unsurprisingly, this saw deal volumes almost double in the same period as more and more business owners took the opportunity to de-risk and take some cash off the table.
An analysis carried out by Melior shows there were over 300 deals completed in Ireland during 2021 and again in 2022 – significantly higher than the previous three years, which averaged 180 deals a year between 2018 and 2020.
The last six months, however, have seen a significant readjustment in the corporate finance landscape as interest rates began to rise and Central Banks tightened monetary policy. According to Melior’s figures, the number of M&A deals completed in Ireland last year was down 5 per cent at just over 300 transactions.
Cosgrave said 2022 was a tale of two halves, with a significant slowdown in deal volumes in the final months of last year.
“In the first half of last year there was still a lot of optimism in the market. Deal volumes in the first six months of last year were up 8 per cent year on year, with over 150 transactions completed,” Cosgrave said.
“But the second half of the year was a completely different story due to the war in Ukraine, record energy prices, high inflation and rising interest rates. This combination saw deal volumes for the second half of last year fall 16 per cent on the same period in 2021, and I expect that trend to continue this year.
“There’s still a lot of strategic capital and private equity money out there in the market looking to be invested. But deals are taking longer to complete. I think deal volumes will probably fall to the low 200s this year, but will still remain above pre-pandemic levels.”
‘Equity is stuffed with cash’
Aside from the higher volume of deals, Garvey and Cosgrave said the rise in activity in the market drove company valuations to very expensive levels. The surge in business valuations during 2021 and early 2022 even prompted Denis O’Brien, the billionaire founder of the Digicel Group, to encourage business owners to sell up.
“Right now the markets are so hot, private equity is just so stuffed with cash, that they’re trying to buy businesses all over the world,” O’Brien said in December 2021.
“This is a time where people can sell their businesses at higher multiples than they ever, ever expected. I’m always a great believer that if somebody gives you a big valuation of your business, take it. In the space of a year, things can change, and you can spend the next five years with your business and not grow the value of it.”
The M&A market is quite different in the 12 months since O’Brien made those comments, and valuations are now starting to correct. That said, acquiring companies is still quite expensive when compared to the long-term average, according to the Melior co-founders.
“Valuations got quite frothy over recent years, but with all the volatility last year from the war, higher interest rates and all that stuff, we estimate valuations came back about 15 per cent on average in 2022,” Garvey said.
“But if you compare last year’s figures with 2020 or before the pandemic, valuations were still about 10 per cent higher. So valuations were quite frothy and now they’re coming down a bit, particularly in the second half of last year. But they’re still above long-term valuation averages.”
In the last 12 months, Garvey and Cosgrave said the valuations for tech companies alone had plunged 50 per cent from their peak, which underscores the uncertainty that continues to hang over the global tech industry.
“There were a lot of companies out there that had good underlying business models, but the founders drove their business way too fast such that the quality of people or revenue they added over that time was just lower. And so, the incremental return is lower,” Cosgrave said.
“Interest rates at zero created a massive misallocation of capital. How that will unwind itself should present opportunities.”
Garvey and Cosgrave said that Melior will likely complete two or three deals this year, with a number in the pipeline that are at an advanced stage. The firm typically invests €10 million to €35 million in equity into a company, depending on its size.
Garvey said the firm generally goes for businesses in any sector that are owner-founder led and are making at least €2 million in profits.
“The types of companies we like are recurring revenue technology businesses, healthcare businesses and, to a lesser extent, financial services firms. We’re also very comfortable buying what are classed as more traditional businesses in the food sector,” he said.
“Sometimes we will invest in businesses that are break-even but have really good growth stories, but in general we go for profitable companies. We don’t do distressed acquisitions. We don’t feel that’s a space that we’re properly resourced to do as it can be quite labour intensive.
“We’re very much growth capital investors. We want to sit down with management teams to create a plan with them that they will drive to double or triple the size of the business in a four- or five-year period. We’re really looking for four or five shots on goal to make that happen.”
The pair said their investment offer to business owners is both a means to help them take some cash off the table, and also help de-risk important business decisions for the future growth of the company.
“A lot of Irish entrepreneurs have an illiquid asset that is very valuable but very concentrated. If we come in, it allows the business owner to take some cash off the table, but we also want owners to roll in a big chunk of equity alongside us. We want them to be highly motivated,” Garvey said.
“We talk about creating the conditions for growth in a business. That’s fundamentally about getting a business owner to change their appetite for what they see as risk but what we see as sensible business decisions.
“We used to worry about business owners not coming into work the next Monday after we did a deal. But actually what we find is that they come to work the next week and they’re ready to go. It gives them the chance to take a good bit of money off the table and go again.”
February 1st, 2023
Jonathan Dalton spoke to Emmet Oliver on this morning’s Newstalk Breakfast Business show about the results of Melior’s Funding for Growth Survey and the broader SME environment.
January 29th, 2023
The majority of Irish small-to-medium sized enterprises are optimistic about the business environment in Ireland for 2023 despite the myriad challenges facing the economy, a new survey has found.
Despite difficulties including high inflation and falling consumer demand, 70 per cent of Irish SMEs said they were either “quite optimistic” or “very optimistic” when asked about their outlook for 2023 in a recent survey carried out by Melior Equity Partners, the Dublin-based private equity firm.
Almost a third of SMEs (30 per cent) said expansion into new export markets would be the main driver of growth this year, while just over 25 per cent expect to drive growth through increased sales to existing customers. Just 15 per cent of SMEs believe growth will be fuelled by acquisitions this year, suggesting a reluctance to pursue M&A given the high valuations for businesses over recent years.
“The optimistic outlook of Irish SMEs underlines their resilience despite current market challenges and is also a positive indication for the Irish economy going into 2023,” Jonathan Dalton, managing director of Melior, said.
“New market entry being the primary growth driver is no surprise. It reinforces our own first-hand experience that Irish entrepreneurs are hungry for international expansion, a factor that has led to many previous Irish success stories.”
The findings of the survey, which included responses from more than 50 business owners and senior executives across a range of sectors including consumer, business services, technology and healthcare, also found that inflation remained the greatest challenge for Irish companies this year.
A third of SMEs said inflation was the most pressing challenge facing their business today, while 31 per cent of respondents identified weakening consumer demand as their main concern. Just over 20 per cent said staff retention or recruitment would be the biggest challenge, while only 10 per cent said it would be rising interest rates.
January 12th, 2023
Esmond Greene discussing with Deirdre Morrison about how private equity works and why it can often be the right choice for motivated management teams and founders.
January 8th, 2023
Peter Garvey Co-Founder and Partner at Melior Equity Partners
“Private equity will comprise an increasing share of Irish M&A activity in 2023 as business owners look for experienced partners to help them accelerate their growth. Macroeconomic uncertainty, interest rate hikes and the resulting reduction in valuations led to declining deal volumes in 2022. That trend is expected to continue in 2023. Nevertheless, good companies will always attract capital. Melior Equity Partners was delighted to invest in three great Irish companies over the past 18 months. We will likely make a similar number of investments in 2023.”
December 15th, 2022
Damus Acquisitions Holdings (BHP Community Ltd trading as BHP Insurance, and Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances Ltd) is the latest specialist business to become part of the rapidly growing insurance intermediary (‘BHP’).The Dublin based broker known as BHP Insurance (‘BHP’) further strengthens PIB’s portfolio of businesses within its Irish division, led by Campion Insurance.
Formed of two businesses (BHP, and Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances Ltd (‘KMW’)), their arrival adds to PIB’s accelerated growth in Ireland and builds on the eight businesses already acquired. With the addition of BHP’s two offices and 30 employees, they bring the total headcount for PIB in Ireland to a talented team of 350 employees.
About Damus Acquisitions Holdings Ltd.
Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited trading as BHP (“BHP”, “The Company”, “The Business”) is an independent insurance broker based in Dublin. The company consists of two businesses.
BHP is a commercial broker based in West Dublin with 23 staff. BHP is the only not-for profit (NFP) focused broker in the Irish market with deep sector knowledge, boasting a unique position with three schemes targeting the NFP space. They have strong relationships across a broad range of clients including charities, social housing, community groups and community employment schemes.
Keegan Meredith and Williams Insurances (KMW) is a commercial broker based in South Dublin with seven staff. KMW have developed strong sports and general commercial insurance expertise.
Integration
Following completion of the deal the businesses will continue to trade as BHP and KMW under their existing brands for the medium term. The businesses will form part of the Irish division, led by Campion Insurance who have been part of PIB since 2021.
Teams will remain in their current locations, with the existing management team continuing in the business led by Martina Westphal and John Williams.
Martina Westphal, Managing Director BHP Insurance commented: “We are delighted that BHP and KMW have now joined the growing PIB team in Ireland. Collaborating with Melior Equity Partners over the past year and a half has delivered impressive results for our business and has also led to this very positive, strategic step of BHP partnering with PIB Group. This is great news for our customers and employees. With our specialism and dynamism we can contribute strongly to the growth of the business in Ireland and look forward to working with Campion Insurance to benefit from their success and scale in the Irish market. I’d like to thank the Melior team for their partnership, expertise and support. We are particularly pleased to have achieved this success with a local, Irish private equity partner.”
This is Melior Equity Partners’ first exit from Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million private equity fund closed earlier this year supported by the ISIF, the EIF, Bank of Ireland and AIB, amongst others.
Esmond Greene, Managing Director, Melior Equity Partners said: “Our relationship with BHP over the past 18 months has supported significant growth in the business. Revenues have grown by 25% driven by a 20% increase in policies and an increase in customer retention rates. Employee numbers are also up more than 40% in this period. Our partnership has benefited from Melior’s extensive expertise in financial services, particularly in the insurance sector with our team having previously led a successful investment in the AA Ireland. We’d like to thank Martina Westphal and her team for their outstanding work and wish BHP and PIB every success in the future.”
John Lacy and John Hannon of FinRes provided M&A and strategic advice and capital to BHP over the last number of years. Advisors to the sellers included Deloitte Corporate Finance, William Fry and KPMG.
Complimenting PIB Ireland Strategy
BHP’s focus is on the not-for profit sector and in particular in the housing sector, while KMW focuses on commercial lines business. These businesses will complement PIB’s strategy to build market leading positions in specialist businesses. They will provide further significant opportunities for the Company by combining with Campion Insurance and leveraging the combined strong relationships in the Irish market.
Jim Campion, CEO of Campion Insurance, commented “Once again we are delighted to welcome new members to the PIB Group team in Ireland, so I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new colleagues in BHP and KMW. This news further highlights our growing strength in the Irish market and also continues the strategy of developing our specialist insurance offerings for the benefit of our customers. We are fully confident that with the great collaboration already in place across our Irish businesses, BHP, KMW and the whole Irish group will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Further growth
Looking ahead to 2023, PIB and Campion Insurance will continue to invest significantly in the Irish insurance market, and attract more excellent local brokers to the growing division.
Editor notes
About Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited
Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited trading as BHP (“BHP,” “The Company”, “The Business”) is an insurance broker based in Dublin, Ireland. The business is the formation of two business based in Dublin. BHP Insurance, is based in West Dublin, a not-for profit focussed general broker with a specialism in social housing schemes and unique sector knowledge. The other, Keegan Meredith and Williams Insurance, based out of Sandyford, Dublin, is a commercial lines focussed broker with strong sports and commercial insurance expertise.
About PIB Group
Backed by world leading private equity firms, Apax Funds and The Carlyle Group, PIB is a dynamic and diversified independent specialist insurance intermediary which is experiencing rapid acquisitive and organic growth. Launched in 2015, PIB has grown rapidly through acquisitions and by employing outstanding individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the insurance market. PIB Group offers a range of specialist teams, products, and services to clients and has offices throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands. For more information, visit https://www.pibgroup.co.uk
About Campion Insurance
Campion Insurance was established in Urlingford Co. Kilkenny in 1984 by Jim & Margaret Campion. Since then, it has grown into one of Ireland’s largest brokers, with offices nationwide. The business was acquired by PIB Group in 2021, and Campion Insurance is now PIB’s lead brand in the Irish market. This combination of local knowledge and international strength has enabled Campion Insurance to accelerate its growth in the market place.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of an Irish fund (CCI – a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund) for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and is one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market. Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Media Enquiries:
PIB Group (including Campion Insurance)
Lorraine Hambleton
Tel: 0203 961 7644 or email lorraine.hambleton@pib-insurance.com
Melior Equity Partners
Louise Cassidy
Tel: +353 (86) 383 5727 or louise@ckcomms.ie
November 10th, 2022
The great thing about having a co-founder is you spread the load. Johnny (Cosgrave) and I come from very normal backgrounds. I’ve had the same friends for many decades. In the private equity world you need that perspective.
Launching in January 2020 was bad timing. Getting investors was very hard work. We raised €160m, the majority from overseas institutions and high-net-worth individuals.
There was stress. In the very early days there were times we were not sure it was going to work. But we are on a firm footing and have responsibilities.
We looked people in the eye and promised to do our best managing their money and have built up a team of 10.
Paying wages is a big responsibility. We hired a couple of people from London and also locally. We talk to people of all different backgrounds, the right blend of team is important.
Johnny and myself had a good track record with The Carlyle Group and the three founders invested. This gave us confidence and also we gathered around us wise advisers.
I feel really good about how we are doing – we have strong investments.
Now it is all about executing our plans well. We want to build a world-class firm in Ireland. Things not working out is not an option.
KMPG training
I grew up in Knocklyon. It was all new housing estates when my parents moved there from Cork.
At Terenure College I was sports mad, not overly academic, but sport taught me planning and preparation and what you put into things is what you get out.
In sixth year up until the CAO deadline I was applying for US athletic scholarships but made the right decision with economics and finance at Trinity where I met my wife, Laura.
Erasmus opened my eyes. The first time I was on an aeroplane was when I was 18 and in Copenhagen I was in class with 12 nationalities.
My mum said I was good with numbers, and she didn’t know many unemployed accountants, so after Trinity I started with KPMG where I got a good professional toolkit.
Towards the end I worked on the finance side and got an understanding of deals. My brother and some friends were in London and when I saw an FT ad with McKinsey looking for accountants, I applied.
Learning what good is
I was at McKinsey four wonderful years and met the smartest people you could ever meet – I was certainly not one of them.
They would do really detailed analysis. Starting with a problem – say to increase sales fivefold – and would break this down into manageable chunks, then build it back up.
In our past careers we managed funds worth many billions, the companies we are dealing with in Ireland are much smaller but the execution piece is as crucial.
I did not want to be a consultant forever and when a colleague moved to Goldman Sachs he suggested I talk to them.
Deal making
At Goldman I got to work in New York, South Africa, Russia, Turkey. In asset management, all I saw was very high integrity. Other parts of the firm may have a different reputation but I could not recognise any of the negative stuff I read about.
I loved it but eight years later, in 2014, private equity group Carlyle knocked. They had raised a fund for Ireland and needed people to run it.
This was a great opportunity for myself and Laura to move home. We had two daughters – Annabelle and Olivia, now 10 and nine – and wanted to raise them in Ireland.
A firm partnership
Carlyle also hired Jonathan. He lived down the road from us in London, in Parsons Green, but we had never met. We had a barbecue with our families and immediately hit it off. Johnny is an introvert, I’m the opposite, but we have the same values.
We had to spread the private equity gospel in Ireland. We would be driving around the country and in the last eight years met over 1,200 companies. As Johnny says, no deals get done in the office.
When we got the opportunity to set up our own company, private equity was much more mainstream and companies started pitching to us.
Adjusting
My first day at work in London I couldn’t get on three packed tubes until it dawned on me I needed to push through. London was tremendous. I had gotten used to the hustle and bustle and moving back to Ireland required a cultural mindshift.
We were living in Blackrock a few months and had yet to meet our neighbours. So we went door to door posting a letter asking to meet us in the pub. A hundred people showed up and it has become an annual event.
At Goldman it was a very transactional environment and Ireland is much more relationship based. We are working with founder owners to grow their business and we must trust each other.
Holding the fort
The hours were long with a lot of travel when I was with McKinsey and Goldman.
I always thought the sacrifices were worth it because I was working on interesting transactions and constantly learning.
Laura also worked long hours in human resources for an investment bank but when our first child was born, she decided she’d become a full-time mum.
That has allowed me to continue to fully focus on my career and it means when I’m flat out on a deal I know everyone is still being well looked after at home.
Running
I run 5km a couple of times a week. After a day of problems this gives me a clear head.
Sport remains important to me and I’m determined our daughters have access to as many options as I had.
My kids run with Blackrock Athletic Club where I coach the under-10 group on Thursday night and Sunday.
My work is not time sensitive so I can prioritise the coaching and work after.
One of the kids I coach, Alice Hayes, has a very rare cancer of the nerve cells and needs to go to New York for life-saving medical treatment. The club is helping fundraise by running 5,128km (the distance from Blackrock to the clinic) this week culminating in an event on Sunday in Carysfort Park to which everyone is invited.
Weathering any slowdown
A recession makes it harder, but we believe most of our companies can still grow in more difficult environments.
The sectors we’ve recently invested in – insurance broking, financial software, confectionery – are relatively resilient to a downturn.
Valuations have been at record high levels over the last few years making investing at fair prices difficult. We have a fund with significant capital to deploy so an adjustment to prices to more normal long-term levels wouldn’t be unwelcome.
The routine
My nine-year old wakes me around 7am. I have breakfast with the family most days, I love being able to do this and chat to the girls about what’s happening in school and then I head into Mount Street on the Dart.
My day is a mix of external and internal meetings. I divide my time between the companies we have invested in and could be visiting prospects around the country, with a work dinner once or twice a week.
Working on a deal I could be home at 9pm, otherwise it could be 6pm.
We expect everyone to have an opinion on deals and for this, and for learning, going into the office is important.
Priorities
We work very hard but with experience you learn to cope.
Downtime is usually family time and I’m a fairly hands-on dad. I manage this by bringing the laptop home and my phone is always on. Johnny and myself talk four times a day.
In London, where we had no family support, from the early months of having our first child we got a babysitter every Saturday. We decided this was a priority and still do that.
I like to play golf locally, though I’m no good. My stance is wrong but we have a laugh, even if it’s at my expense.
August 13th, 2022
Jonny Cosgrave, a partner in Melior private equity, said the drop in the volume of deals was not surprising as investors were taking a more “judicious” view to completing transactions this year.
“Deals are taking longer to complete this year as investors are much more circumspect. They want to be sure and are taking more time on due diligence before giving anything the green light. Although deal volumes are down in the first half of this year, it’s important to remember we’re coming off a strong comparative year,” he said.
“If you compare this year’s figures to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, deal volumes in Ireland are actually up 12 per cent; 2021 was a banner year for M&A activity in Ireland. The only word I would use to describe last year is frenetic, especially in certain sectors.
“The valuations that were paid for certain companies last year was extremely frothy. A lot of that froth is definitely coming off valuations, particularly in the tech sector. But that’s not to say anything is cheap out there right now. We’re still seeing very full prices being paid for companies,” Cosgrave added.
Founded in 2020, Melior has raised €160 million for its first private equity fund. Last year, the firm announced its first investment after it acquired a significant majority stake in Dublin-based BHP Insurance for an undisclosed sum.
This was followed by two further investments, after Melior acquired majority stakes in Salmon Software, the Dublin-based treasury management software company, and Rose Confectionery, a sweets, snacks and freeze pops manufacturer based in Co Offaly.
The firm still has almost €100 million of its initial fund left to deploy and Cosgrave is hopeful of completing at least one, if not two, deals by the end of this year.
August, 2022
David O’Kelly from KPMG Ireland speaks to Peter Garvey, Partner at Melior Equity Partners about everything from how private equity works with businesses to drive growth and create confidence, how demanding – both emotionally and physically – getting a deal done can be, and about what Peter’s favourite deal that he’s invested in is.
July 4th, 2022
Investment to Support Continued Strong Growth of the Business
Dublin, 4 July 2022: Leading Irish private equity firm, Melior Equity Partners, has agreed an investment in Rose Confectionery, a manufacturer and distributor of confectionery, freeze pops and savoury snacks, headquartered in Ireland with operations in the UK. Established in 1983, Rose employs 87 staff, with 33 in its manufacturing facility in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, 27 in its distribution centre in Dublin and the remaining 27 in the UK.
Rose is Ireland’s leading manufacturer of mallow and wafer products at its 18,000 square feet facility in Edenderry. The business sells a broad product range including freeze pops, mallows and fruit & nuts which includes the Sun Exotics savoury snack range. Its freeze pops varieties include SLUSH PUPPiE, Vimto, Robinsons, Swizzels and Chupa Chups. Rose has built its business through a constant focus on new product innovation, its global product sourcing capabilities and its wide distribution network across Ireland and the UK covering most large retailers and convenience stores. The company has longstanding relationships, many established over 10 years with leading brands including Swizzels, Tango, SLUSH PUPPiE, Fruit Shoot and Vimto through long term licence arrangements.
Commenting on the announcement, Richard Kennedy, Group CEO and MD of Rose Confectionary, said, “Melior Equity Partners are the right team to help us achieve the next phase of our ambitious growth plans and we are delighted to have secured them as investors into our business. After more than 30 years in business and having grown very strongly over the last few years to reach €40 million in sales, we knew it was the right time to seek additional investment to help us continue that growth. It was very important for us to get the right partner with the right fit who would recognise and respect the company and leading brand we have created. We are very proud of our business, our culture and above all our staff for whom this is positive news, opening up exciting career development opportunities.”
Rose’ decision to partner with Melior was driven by the team’s track record in helping to grow similar Irish food and confectionery businesses including Lily O’Brien’s and Carroll Cuisine and its unique global network and Senior Advisor panel. The investment from Melior will support the future growth of the business, specifically expanding the Rose team, pursuing opportunities for international sales and facilitating further new category growth.
Welcoming the announcement, Steven Watt, MD of Rose Marketing UK, said, “We have made great strides in the UK over the last 15 years working with a set of leading brands and developing a position as the preeminent innovator in several categories including confectionery and freeze in particular. We have exciting plans for the future and our partnership with Melior will significantly strengthen our business growth strategy”
Rose’s management team will remain unchanged, Richard Kennedy, Group CEO and MD of Rose Confectionery; Phelim Daly, MD of Rose Manufacturing and Steven Watt, MD of Rose Marketing UK will remain in their current leadership roles and continue as significant shareholders in the business.
Peter Garvey, co-founder of Melior and Jonathan Dalton, Managing Director of Melior, will join the board of the company as part of the transaction.
Jonathan Dalton, Managing Director of Melior Equity Partners, said, “We are excited to partner with Richard and his team who have grown Rose into a highly successful confectionery and freeze business with a unique set of license relationships, tremendous distribution channels and a wide client base comprising of supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores and wholesalers. Through its consistent focus on innovation, the business has been growing at over 20% a year and we believe that we can help the Rose team continue their impressive growth trajectory. Rose is making a significant investment in its manufacturing capabilities in Edenderry and we will invest to expand the portfolio of licences and product categories.”
Melior Equity Partners was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors and invests capital in, and provides support to, businesses across Ireland to achieve their growth ambitions. Rose is the third investment from Melior Equity Partners Fund II following the completion of an investment during 2021 in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector and Salmon Software a financial software business in April 2022. Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led an Ireland-focused private equity fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
ENDS//
For further information contact:
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)87 121 4140
Note to Editors
About Rose Confectionary (Rose):
Established in 1983, Rose Confectionery operates as three separate divisions – Rose Manufacturing, Rose Confectionery and Rose UK. The business employs 87 staff with 33 in its manufacturing facility in Edenderry, Co. Offaly – Ireland’s leading manufacturer of mallow and wafer products, 27 in its Dublin distribution centre, and 27 staff in the UK.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested this fund for The Carlyle Group from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Transaction Advisers:
Melior was advised by PWC, McCann Fitzgerald, KPMG and Food Strategy Associates, while Rose was advised by Grant Thornton and Addelshaw Goddard.
April 11th, 2022
Melior Equity Partners Fund II One of The Largest Private Equity Funds in Ireland
Dublin, 11th April 2022: Leading Irish private equity firm Melior Equity Partners has announced the final close of Melior Equity Partners Fund II with €160 million of total capital commitments, making it one of the largest private equity funds in the state. Melior was launched by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey in 2020. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB and will support ambitious Irish SMEs with strong growth prospects.
Commenting on the announcement, Jonny Cosgrave, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners said, “We are very proud of what the Melior team has achieved over the last two years. We have welcomed several new limited partners to our blue-chip investor base and succeeded in raising one of the largest Irish private equity funds.”
Melior aims to fill the financing gap for small to medium sized businesses in Ireland. The firm is targeting ten equity investments in private Irish companies over the next four years, worth between €20 to €100 million, with a focus on founder-owned businesses seeking capital and support to radically accelerate their growth. Melior uses its international networks and expertise, combined with its in-depth experience of the Irish market, to provide a differentiated proposition for Irish business owners and management teams with strong growth ambitions.
Melior recently completed the second investment from Fund II by partnering with the management team and founder of Salmon Software, a prominent, independent financial software business specialising in treasury management solutions. Last August, the firm finalised an investment in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector.
Melior has built an experienced team of ten professionals based in Dublin. The firm recently hired the former head of corporate finance at Key Capital, Jonathan Dalton as Managing Director. In addition, Melior has partnered with six Irish business leaders who act as senior advisors to the firm namely Fergal Leamy, CEO, Glen Dimplex; Laura Heuston, Founder, Sustainability Works; Jimmy Tolan, former CEO, VHI; Conor Jones, Senior Director, Google; John-George Willis, former Senior Partner, Tughans and Ulric Kenny, Chairman, Prepay Power. In addition, Campbell “Cam” Dyer, the former Co-Head of Global Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT) at The Carlyle Group recently joined the firm’s senior advisor panel. Cam will use his extensive network and expertise to further enhance Melior’s ability to help investee companies grow in North America.
Peter Garvey, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners, commented, “We have the most experienced investment team in the Irish market. We have built strong track records at leading global investment firms over many decades as well as locally over the last eight years working with ambitious Irish management teams. We have a tremendous bench of senior advisors and an unmatched international reach through our ongoing relationship with The Carlyle Group. Collectively these attributes make Melior the partner of choice for many Irish business owners seeking help to grow.”
Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led the CCI Fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
Asante Capital Group acted as exclusive fundraising advisor, Travers Smith were lead counsel, McCann Fitzgerald supplied Irish legal support, and KPMG provided tax advice on the fundraise.
ENDS//
For further information:
Louise Cassidy: louise@ckcomms.ie / 086 383 5727
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / 087 121 4140
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was launched in 2020 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI – a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund) for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million fund which is backed by leading international and local sovereign wealth funds, fund of funds, foundations, financial institutions and family office investors. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
April 11th, 2022
Firm has already invested in two companies: Salmon Software and BHP Insurance
Melior Equity Partners, the private equity firm led by former Irish managers with US investment giant Carlyle Group, has raised €160 million to invest in Irish small and medium-sized enterprises. This makes it one of the largest private equity funds in Ireland.
Melior Equity Partners Fund II, which is backed by local and international blue-chip investors, is targeting founder-owned companies with strong growth potential. It plans to invest in 10 companies over the next four years, in the range of €20 million-€100 million.
Backers include the Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB.
The firm has already invested in two companies: Dublin-based treasury management software company Salmon Software, in March; and BHP Insurance, which specialises in covering not-for-profit organisations, in August last year.
Salmon Software, a prominent, independent financial software business specialising in treasury management solutions. Last August the firm finalised an investment in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector.
“We are very proud of what the Melior team has achieved over the last two years,” said Jonny Cosgrave, co-founder of Melior Equity Partners. “We have welcomed several new limited partners to our blue-chip investor base and succeeded in raising one of the largest Irish private equity funds.”
Financing gap
Melior, launched by Mr Cosgrave and Peter Garvey in 2020, is targeting the financing gap for small to medium-sized businesses in Ireland. Its senior advisers include Glen Dimplex chief executive Fergal Leamy; Laura Heuston, founder of Sustainability Works; former VHI chief executive Jimmy Tolan; Google senior director Conor Jones; John-George Willis, former senior partner at Tughans; and Ulric Kenny, chairman of Prepay Power.
Former co-head of global technology, media and telecom Campbell Dyer also recently joined the firm’s senior adviser panel, bringing an extensive network to help investee companies grow in North America.
“We have the most experienced investment team in the Irish market. We have built strong track records at leading global investment firms over many decades as well as locally over the last eight years working with ambitious Irish management teams,” said Mr Garvey. “We have a tremendous bench of senior advisers and an unmatched international reach through our ongoing relationship with The Carlyle Group.”
April 11th, 2022
Melior Equity Partners has announced “final close” on its debut private equity fund with €160 million of capital commitments from investors.
Over 60 per cent of the money raised for Melior Equity Partners Fund II came from overseas, with a mix of institutions and so called family offices, the investment vehicles of high net-worth individuals. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, European Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB support the fund.
Melior was founded by Peter Garvey and Jonathan Cosgrave, previously partners with Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, a joint venture between Wall Street giant the Carlyle Group and Dublin finance group Cardinal.
Carlyle has committed to the Melior fund, as have its three founders, William Conway, Daniel D’Aniello, and David Rubenstein.
Cam Dyer, a former co-head of global technology, media and telecoms at Carlyle, has joined Melior’s advisory group, which also includes Glen Dimplex boss Fergal Leamy.
The fund will seek to make roughly ten investments, Garvey said. It has already backed insurance broker BHP and Salmon Software, an IT company.
It will look to provide growth capital to businesses with a valuation of €20 million to €100 million. Garvey said Melior will target founder-owned businesses “with multiple levers of growth” and seek to double earnings. He envisaged the fund investing across a wide range of sectors.
Garvey added that, in the year ahead, inflation fears are likely to be an issue in mergers and acquisition activity.
He said private equity is likely to be slower to “back people-intensive, low-margin business” that might be susceptible to wage inflation. The bias would be towards businesses with pricing power, he added.
April 1th, 2022
Fast-Growing Irish Financial Software Business Secures Investment to Support Continued Strong Growth
Dublin: Leading Irish private equity firm, Melior Equity Partners, has agreed an investment in Salmon Software, a fast-growing financial software business that provides customers with a world-class treasury management software system. Founded by CEO John Byrne, Dublin-headquartered Salmon Software employs a total of 30 staff across its operations in Ireland and the Czech Republic.
Since its foundation, the company’s treasury management software system has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated treasury management products, reflecting the global financial industry’s technological innovation and increasingly complex nature. The company’s software system enables customers to automate treasury management processes, providing information on debt, derivatives, foreign exchange, banking, cash management and payments which deliver efficiencies that save costs, ensure full regulatory compliance and provide real-time business insights. Salmon Software’s treasury management system supports a range of blue-chip customers including global businesses such as CRH, Avolon, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, DP World and Ryanair.
Salmon Software’s decision to partner with Melior was driven by the firm’s strategic experience in growing similar Irish technology businesses, its unique global network, and notable investor base. The investment from Melior will support the future growth of Salmon Software, facilitating further product innovation and the delivery of an even more comprehensive service for new and existing customers.
Salmon Software’s existing management team, including John Byrne, will remain in their current leadership roles and continue as significant shareholders in the business. Fiona Timmons, an experienced software industry finance executive, has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will work closely with John Byrne and the existing senior management team.
Commenting on the announcement, John Byrne, CEO and Founder of Salmon Software, said, “The investment by Melior is an exciting development for both our customers and employees. We have developed a world-class treasury management software system with deep product functionality that receives the ongoing support of a loyal blue-chip customer base. The Melior investment will allow us to grow and invest further in our team, extend our support and sales infrastructure, and deliver product enhancements including a superior cloud-hosted offering. This investment will provide exciting career development opportunities for our existing employees, see new talent join the company and will significantly benefit current and future customers.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners, said, “We are excited to partner with John and his team, who have successfully grown Salmon Software into a world-class provider of treasury management software systems through continued product innovation, customer engagement and market-leading organic growth. The global treasury management software system market is valued at €1 billion and is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years. As a leading independent provider with strong reference customers, Salmon Software is ideally placed to meet this demand.”
Melior Equity Partners was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors and invests capital in, and provides support to, businesses across Ireland to achieve their growth ambitions. Salmon Software is the second investment from Melior Equity Partners Fund II following the completion of an investment during 2021 in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector. Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led an Ireland-focused private equity fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
ENDS//
For further information contact:
Louise Cassidy: louise@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)86 383 5727
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)87 121 4140
Note to Editors
About Salmon Software:
Since its foundation, Salmon Software has focused on delivering a world-class treasury management software system with functionalities that fulfil the requirements of the treasury front, middle and back offices, including integration with third-party systems ranging from dealing platforms and market data providers to ERPs and risk systems. The solution is based upon Microsoft Azure hosting that allows every client to operate on a separate environment. The business has achieved great success and coverage with its flagship treasury management software system ‘Salmon Treasurer’. The system has evolved to reflect the technological innovation and increasingly complex global financial systems that have paralleled the company’s history making it one of the most sophisticated treasury software platforms in the world. This achievement is due to the dedication of a highly skilled, multi-disciplined support and development team who focus on producing a world-class product. These capabilities combined with meaningful ongoing client engagement enable Salmon Software to pursue a policy of continuous, customer-focused product enhancement and development.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested this fund for The Carlyle Group from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Transaction Advisers:
Melior was advised by KPMG and William Fry while Salmon Software and its shareholders were advised by Mazars Corporate Finance and Hayes Solicitors.
March 31th, 2022

Jonathan Cosgrave of Melior Equity Partners (left), Fiona Timmons, chief financial officer of Salmon Software and John Byrne, CEO and founder of the business.
Melior Equity Partners, the private equity firm led by former Irish managers with US investment giant Carlyle Group, has agreed to buy a stake of about 70 per cent in Dublin-based treasury management software company, Salmon Software.
It is understood the controlling stake will cost Melior as much as €15 million. Salmon Software’s founder and chief executive John Byrne will sell some of his shares as part of the deal, but most of the investment is by way of the acquisition of new stock to grow the business further.
The deal marks Melior’s second investment since it was launched in 2019. It follows the purchase last year of a majority stake in Dublin-based insurance brokerage BHP Insurance, which subsequently went on to acquire Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances.
Melior was founded by Peter Garvey and Jonathan Cosgrave, former managing directors with Carlyle in the Republic, who co-managed a €290 million private equity fund with Dublin-based Cardinal Capital. The fledgling Melior fund has a target size of €175 million.
Salmon Software, founded in 1985, employs 30 staff across Ireland and the Czech Republic.
The company’s software system enables customers to automate treasury management processes, providing information on debt, derivatives, foreign exchange, banking, cash management and payments. The system delivers efficiencies that save on costs, ensure full regulatory compliance and provide real-time business insights, according to Salmon Software.
Blue-chip customers included building materials giant CRH, aircraft lessor Avolon, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, logistics giant DP World and Ryanair.
“The Melior investment will allow us to grow and invest further in our team, extend our support and sales infrastructure, and deliver product enhancements including a superior cloud-hosted offering,” said Mr Byrne. “This investment will provide exciting career development opportunities for our existing employees, see new talent join the company and will significantly benefit current and future customers.”
Fiona Timmons, an experienced software industry finance executive, has joined the company as chief financial officer and will work closely with Mr Byrne and the existing senior management team.
Melior’s Mr Cosgrave said: “The global treasury management software system market is valued at €1 billion and is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years. As a leading independent provider with strong reference customers, Salmon Software is ideally placed to meet this demand.”
December 15th, 2022
Damus Acquisitions Holdings (BHP Community Ltd trading as BHP Insurance, and Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances Ltd) is the latest specialist business to become part of the rapidly growing insurance intermediary (‘BHP’).The Dublin based broker known as BHP Insurance (‘BHP’) further strengthens PIB’s portfolio of businesses within its Irish division, led by Campion Insurance.
Formed of two businesses (BHP, and Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances Ltd (‘KMW’)), their arrival adds to PIB’s accelerated growth in Ireland and builds on the eight businesses already acquired. With the addition of BHP’s two offices and 30 employees, they bring the total headcount for PIB in Ireland to a talented team of 350 employees.
About Damus Acquisitions Holdings Ltd.
Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited trading as BHP (“BHP”, “The Company”, “The Business”) is an independent insurance broker based in Dublin. The company consists of two businesses.
BHP is a commercial broker based in West Dublin with 23 staff. BHP is the only not-for profit (NFP) focused broker in the Irish market with deep sector knowledge, boasting a unique position with three schemes targeting the NFP space. They have strong relationships across a broad range of clients including charities, social housing, community groups and community employment schemes.
Keegan Meredith and Williams Insurances (KMW) is a commercial broker based in South Dublin with seven staff. KMW have developed strong sports and general commercial insurance expertise.
Integration
Following completion of the deal the businesses will continue to trade as BHP and KMW under their existing brands for the medium term. The businesses will form part of the Irish division, led by Campion Insurance who have been part of PIB since 2021.
Teams will remain in their current locations, with the existing management team continuing in the business led by Martina Westphal and John Williams.
Martina Westphal, Managing Director BHP Insurance commented: “We are delighted that BHP and KMW have now joined the growing PIB team in Ireland. Collaborating with Melior Equity Partners over the past year and a half has delivered impressive results for our business and has also led to this very positive, strategic step of BHP partnering with PIB Group. This is great news for our customers and employees. With our specialism and dynamism we can contribute strongly to the growth of the business in Ireland and look forward to working with Campion Insurance to benefit from their success and scale in the Irish market. I’d like to thank the Melior team for their partnership, expertise and support. We are particularly pleased to have achieved this success with a local, Irish private equity partner.”
This is Melior Equity Partners’ first exit from Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million private equity fund closed earlier this year supported by the ISIF, the EIF, Bank of Ireland and AIB, amongst others.
Esmond Greene, Managing Director, Melior Equity Partners said: “Our relationship with BHP over the past 18 months has supported significant growth in the business. Revenues have grown by 25% driven by a 20% increase in policies and an increase in customer retention rates. Employee numbers are also up more than 40% in this period. Our partnership has benefited from Melior’s extensive expertise in financial services, particularly in the insurance sector with our team having previously led a successful investment in the AA Ireland. We’d like to thank Martina Westphal and her team for their outstanding work and wish BHP and PIB every success in the future.”
John Lacy and John Hannon of FinRes provided M&A and strategic advice and capital to BHP over the last number of years. Advisors to the sellers included Deloitte Corporate Finance, William Fry and KPMG.
Complimenting PIB Ireland Strategy
BHP’s focus is on the not-for profit sector and in particular in the housing sector, while KMW focuses on commercial lines business. These businesses will complement PIB’s strategy to build market leading positions in specialist businesses. They will provide further significant opportunities for the Company by combining with Campion Insurance and leveraging the combined strong relationships in the Irish market.
Jim Campion, CEO of Campion Insurance, commented “Once again we are delighted to welcome new members to the PIB Group team in Ireland, so I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new colleagues in BHP and KMW. This news further highlights our growing strength in the Irish market and also continues the strategy of developing our specialist insurance offerings for the benefit of our customers. We are fully confident that with the great collaboration already in place across our Irish businesses, BHP, KMW and the whole Irish group will continue to go from strength to strength.”
Further growth
Looking ahead to 2023, PIB and Campion Insurance will continue to invest significantly in the Irish insurance market, and attract more excellent local brokers to the growing division.
Editor notes
About Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited
Damus Acquisitions Holdings Limited trading as BHP (“BHP,” “The Company”, “The Business”) is an insurance broker based in Dublin, Ireland. The business is the formation of two business based in Dublin. BHP Insurance, is based in West Dublin, a not-for profit focussed general broker with a specialism in social housing schemes and unique sector knowledge. The other, Keegan Meredith and Williams Insurance, based out of Sandyford, Dublin, is a commercial lines focussed broker with strong sports and commercial insurance expertise.
About PIB Group
Backed by world leading private equity firms, Apax Funds and The Carlyle Group, PIB is a dynamic and diversified independent specialist insurance intermediary which is experiencing rapid acquisitive and organic growth. Launched in 2015, PIB has grown rapidly through acquisitions and by employing outstanding individuals with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the insurance market. PIB Group offers a range of specialist teams, products, and services to clients and has offices throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Ireland, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Spain and the Netherlands. For more information, visit https://www.pibgroup.co.uk
About Campion Insurance
Campion Insurance was established in Urlingford Co. Kilkenny in 1984 by Jim & Margaret Campion. Since then, it has grown into one of Ireland’s largest brokers, with offices nationwide. The business was acquired by PIB Group in 2021, and Campion Insurance is now PIB’s lead brand in the Irish market. This combination of local knowledge and international strength has enabled Campion Insurance to accelerate its growth in the market place.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of an Irish fund (CCI – a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund) for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and is one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market. Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Media Enquiries:
PIB Group (including Campion Insurance)
Lorraine Hambleton
Tel: 0203 961 7644 or email lorraine.hambleton@pib-insurance.com
Melior Equity Partners
Louise Cassidy
Tel: +353 (86) 383 5727 or louise@ckcomms.ie
November 10th, 2022
The great thing about having a co-founder is you spread the load. Johnny (Cosgrave) and I come from very normal backgrounds. I’ve had the same friends for many decades. In the private equity world you need that perspective.
Launching in January 2020 was bad timing. Getting investors was very hard work. We raised €160m, the majority from overseas institutions and high-net-worth individuals.
There was stress. In the very early days there were times we were not sure it was going to work. But we are on a firm footing and have responsibilities.
We looked people in the eye and promised to do our best managing their money and have built up a team of 10.
Paying wages is a big responsibility. We hired a couple of people from London and also locally. We talk to people of all different backgrounds, the right blend of team is important.
Johnny and myself had a good track record with The Carlyle Group and the three founders invested. This gave us confidence and also we gathered around us wise advisers.
I feel really good about how we are doing – we have strong investments.
Now it is all about executing our plans well. We want to build a world-class firm in Ireland. Things not working out is not an option.
KMPG training
I grew up in Knocklyon. It was all new housing estates when my parents moved there from Cork.
At Terenure College I was sports mad, not overly academic, but sport taught me planning and preparation and what you put into things is what you get out.
In sixth year up until the CAO deadline I was applying for US athletic scholarships but made the right decision with economics and finance at Trinity where I met my wife, Laura.
Erasmus opened my eyes. The first time I was on an aeroplane was when I was 18 and in Copenhagen I was in class with 12 nationalities.
My mum said I was good with numbers, and she didn’t know many unemployed accountants, so after Trinity I started with KPMG where I got a good professional toolkit.
Towards the end I worked on the finance side and got an understanding of deals. My brother and some friends were in London and when I saw an FT ad with McKinsey looking for accountants, I applied.
Learning what good is
I was at McKinsey four wonderful years and met the smartest people you could ever meet – I was certainly not one of them.
They would do really detailed analysis. Starting with a problem – say to increase sales fivefold – and would break this down into manageable chunks, then build it back up.
In our past careers we managed funds worth many billions, the companies we are dealing with in Ireland are much smaller but the execution piece is as crucial.
I did not want to be a consultant forever and when a colleague moved to Goldman Sachs he suggested I talk to them.
Deal making
At Goldman I got to work in New York, South Africa, Russia, Turkey. In asset management, all I saw was very high integrity. Other parts of the firm may have a different reputation but I could not recognise any of the negative stuff I read about.
I loved it but eight years later, in 2014, private equity group Carlyle knocked. They had raised a fund for Ireland and needed people to run it.
This was a great opportunity for myself and Laura to move home. We had two daughters – Annabelle and Olivia, now 10 and nine – and wanted to raise them in Ireland.
A firm partnership
Carlyle also hired Jonathan. He lived down the road from us in London, in Parsons Green, but we had never met. We had a barbecue with our families and immediately hit it off. Johnny is an introvert, I’m the opposite, but we have the same values.
We had to spread the private equity gospel in Ireland. We would be driving around the country and in the last eight years met over 1,200 companies. As Johnny says, no deals get done in the office.
When we got the opportunity to set up our own company, private equity was much more mainstream and companies started pitching to us.
Adjusting
My first day at work in London I couldn’t get on three packed tubes until it dawned on me I needed to push through. London was tremendous. I had gotten used to the hustle and bustle and moving back to Ireland required a cultural mindshift.
We were living in Blackrock a few months and had yet to meet our neighbours. So we went door to door posting a letter asking to meet us in the pub. A hundred people showed up and it has become an annual event.
At Goldman it was a very transactional environment and Ireland is much more relationship based. We are working with founder owners to grow their business and we must trust each other.
Holding the fort
The hours were long with a lot of travel when I was with McKinsey and Goldman.
I always thought the sacrifices were worth it because I was working on interesting transactions and constantly learning.
Laura also worked long hours in human resources for an investment bank but when our first child was born, she decided she’d become a full-time mum.
That has allowed me to continue to fully focus on my career and it means when I’m flat out on a deal I know everyone is still being well looked after at home.
Running
I run 5km a couple of times a week. After a day of problems this gives me a clear head.
Sport remains important to me and I’m determined our daughters have access to as many options as I had.
My kids run with Blackrock Athletic Club where I coach the under-10 group on Thursday night and Sunday.
My work is not time sensitive so I can prioritise the coaching and work after.
One of the kids I coach, Alice Hayes, has a very rare cancer of the nerve cells and needs to go to New York for life-saving medical treatment. The club is helping fundraise by running 5,128km (the distance from Blackrock to the clinic) this week culminating in an event on Sunday in Carysfort Park to which everyone is invited.
Weathering any slowdown
A recession makes it harder, but we believe most of our companies can still grow in more difficult environments.
The sectors we’ve recently invested in – insurance broking, financial software, confectionery – are relatively resilient to a downturn.
Valuations have been at record high levels over the last few years making investing at fair prices difficult. We have a fund with significant capital to deploy so an adjustment to prices to more normal long-term levels wouldn’t be unwelcome.
The routine
My nine-year old wakes me around 7am. I have breakfast with the family most days, I love being able to do this and chat to the girls about what’s happening in school and then I head into Mount Street on the Dart.
My day is a mix of external and internal meetings. I divide my time between the companies we have invested in and could be visiting prospects around the country, with a work dinner once or twice a week.
Working on a deal I could be home at 9pm, otherwise it could be 6pm.
We expect everyone to have an opinion on deals and for this, and for learning, going into the office is important.
Priorities
We work very hard but with experience you learn to cope.
Downtime is usually family time and I’m a fairly hands-on dad. I manage this by bringing the laptop home and my phone is always on. Johnny and myself talk four times a day.
In London, where we had no family support, from the early months of having our first child we got a babysitter every Saturday. We decided this was a priority and still do that.
I like to play golf locally, though I’m no good. My stance is wrong but we have a laugh, even if it’s at my expense.
August 13th, 2022
Jonny Cosgrave, a partner in Melior private equity, said the drop in the volume of deals was not surprising as investors were taking a more “judicious” view to completing transactions this year.
“Deals are taking longer to complete this year as investors are much more circumspect. They want to be sure and are taking more time on due diligence before giving anything the green light. Although deal volumes are down in the first half of this year, it’s important to remember we’re coming off a strong comparative year,” he said.
“If you compare this year’s figures to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, deal volumes in Ireland are actually up 12 per cent; 2021 was a banner year for M&A activity in Ireland. The only word I would use to describe last year is frenetic, especially in certain sectors.
“The valuations that were paid for certain companies last year was extremely frothy. A lot of that froth is definitely coming off valuations, particularly in the tech sector. But that’s not to say anything is cheap out there right now. We’re still seeing very full prices being paid for companies,” Cosgrave added.
Founded in 2020, Melior has raised €160 million for its first private equity fund. Last year, the firm announced its first investment after it acquired a significant majority stake in Dublin-based BHP Insurance for an undisclosed sum.
This was followed by two further investments, after Melior acquired majority stakes in Salmon Software, the Dublin-based treasury management software company, and Rose Confectionery, a sweets, snacks and freeze pops manufacturer based in Co Offaly.
The firm still has almost €100 million of its initial fund left to deploy and Cosgrave is hopeful of completing at least one, if not two, deals by the end of this year.
August, 2022
David O’Kelly from KPMG Ireland speaks to Peter Garvey, Partner at Melior Equity Partners about everything from how private equity works with businesses to drive growth and create confidence, how demanding – both emotionally and physically – getting a deal done can be, and about what Peter’s favourite deal that he’s invested in is.
July 4th, 2022
Investment to Support Continued Strong Growth of the Business
Dublin, 4 July 2022: Leading Irish private equity firm, Melior Equity Partners, has agreed an investment in Rose Confectionery, a manufacturer and distributor of confectionery, freeze pops and savoury snacks, headquartered in Ireland with operations in the UK. Established in 1983, Rose employs 87 staff, with 33 in its manufacturing facility in Edenderry, Co. Offaly, 27 in its distribution centre in Dublin and the remaining 27 in the UK.
Rose is Ireland’s leading manufacturer of mallow and wafer products at its 18,000 square feet facility in Edenderry. The business sells a broad product range including freeze pops, mallows and fruit & nuts which includes the Sun Exotics savoury snack range. Its freeze pops varieties include SLUSH PUPPiE, Vimto, Robinsons, Swizzels and Chupa Chups. Rose has built its business through a constant focus on new product innovation, its global product sourcing capabilities and its wide distribution network across Ireland and the UK covering most large retailers and convenience stores. The company has longstanding relationships, many established over 10 years with leading brands including Swizzels, Tango, SLUSH PUPPiE, Fruit Shoot and Vimto through long term licence arrangements.
Commenting on the announcement, Richard Kennedy, Group CEO and MD of Rose Confectionary, said, “Melior Equity Partners are the right team to help us achieve the next phase of our ambitious growth plans and we are delighted to have secured them as investors into our business. After more than 30 years in business and having grown very strongly over the last few years to reach €40 million in sales, we knew it was the right time to seek additional investment to help us continue that growth. It was very important for us to get the right partner with the right fit who would recognise and respect the company and leading brand we have created. We are very proud of our business, our culture and above all our staff for whom this is positive news, opening up exciting career development opportunities.”
Rose’ decision to partner with Melior was driven by the team’s track record in helping to grow similar Irish food and confectionery businesses including Lily O’Brien’s and Carroll Cuisine and its unique global network and Senior Advisor panel. The investment from Melior will support the future growth of the business, specifically expanding the Rose team, pursuing opportunities for international sales and facilitating further new category growth.
Welcoming the announcement, Steven Watt, MD of Rose Marketing UK, said, “We have made great strides in the UK over the last 15 years working with a set of leading brands and developing a position as the preeminent innovator in several categories including confectionery and freeze in particular. We have exciting plans for the future and our partnership with Melior will significantly strengthen our business growth strategy”
Rose’s management team will remain unchanged, Richard Kennedy, Group CEO and MD of Rose Confectionery; Phelim Daly, MD of Rose Manufacturing and Steven Watt, MD of Rose Marketing UK will remain in their current leadership roles and continue as significant shareholders in the business.
Peter Garvey, co-founder of Melior and Jonathan Dalton, Managing Director of Melior, will join the board of the company as part of the transaction.
Jonathan Dalton, Managing Director of Melior Equity Partners, said, “We are excited to partner with Richard and his team who have grown Rose into a highly successful confectionery and freeze business with a unique set of license relationships, tremendous distribution channels and a wide client base comprising of supermarkets, discounters, convenience stores and wholesalers. Through its consistent focus on innovation, the business has been growing at over 20% a year and we believe that we can help the Rose team continue their impressive growth trajectory. Rose is making a significant investment in its manufacturing capabilities in Edenderry and we will invest to expand the portfolio of licences and product categories.”
Melior Equity Partners was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors and invests capital in, and provides support to, businesses across Ireland to achieve their growth ambitions. Rose is the third investment from Melior Equity Partners Fund II following the completion of an investment during 2021 in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector and Salmon Software a financial software business in April 2022. Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led an Ireland-focused private equity fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
ENDS//
For further information contact:
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)87 121 4140
Note to Editors
About Rose Confectionary (Rose):
Established in 1983, Rose Confectionery operates as three separate divisions – Rose Manufacturing, Rose Confectionery and Rose UK. The business employs 87 staff with 33 in its manufacturing facility in Edenderry, Co. Offaly – Ireland’s leading manufacturer of mallow and wafer products, 27 in its Dublin distribution centre, and 27 staff in the UK.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested this fund for The Carlyle Group from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Transaction Advisers:
Melior was advised by PWC, McCann Fitzgerald, KPMG and Food Strategy Associates, while Rose was advised by Grant Thornton and Addelshaw Goddard.
April 11th, 2022
Melior Equity Partners Fund II One of The Largest Private Equity Funds in Ireland
Dublin, 11th April 2022: Leading Irish private equity firm Melior Equity Partners has announced the final close of Melior Equity Partners Fund II with €160 million of total capital commitments, making it one of the largest private equity funds in the state. Melior was launched by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey in 2020. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB and will support ambitious Irish SMEs with strong growth prospects.
Commenting on the announcement, Jonny Cosgrave, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners said, “We are very proud of what the Melior team has achieved over the last two years. We have welcomed several new limited partners to our blue-chip investor base and succeeded in raising one of the largest Irish private equity funds.”
Melior aims to fill the financing gap for small to medium sized businesses in Ireland. The firm is targeting ten equity investments in private Irish companies over the next four years, worth between €20 to €100 million, with a focus on founder-owned businesses seeking capital and support to radically accelerate their growth. Melior uses its international networks and expertise, combined with its in-depth experience of the Irish market, to provide a differentiated proposition for Irish business owners and management teams with strong growth ambitions.
Melior recently completed the second investment from Fund II by partnering with the management team and founder of Salmon Software, a prominent, independent financial software business specialising in treasury management solutions. Last August, the firm finalised an investment in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector.
Melior has built an experienced team of ten professionals based in Dublin. The firm recently hired the former head of corporate finance at Key Capital, Jonathan Dalton as Managing Director. In addition, Melior has partnered with six Irish business leaders who act as senior advisors to the firm namely Fergal Leamy, CEO, Glen Dimplex; Laura Heuston, Founder, Sustainability Works; Jimmy Tolan, former CEO, VHI; Conor Jones, Senior Director, Google; John-George Willis, former Senior Partner, Tughans and Ulric Kenny, Chairman, Prepay Power. In addition, Campbell “Cam” Dyer, the former Co-Head of Global Technology, Media and Telecom (TMT) at The Carlyle Group recently joined the firm’s senior advisor panel. Cam will use his extensive network and expertise to further enhance Melior’s ability to help investee companies grow in North America.
Peter Garvey, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners, commented, “We have the most experienced investment team in the Irish market. We have built strong track records at leading global investment firms over many decades as well as locally over the last eight years working with ambitious Irish management teams. We have a tremendous bench of senior advisors and an unmatched international reach through our ongoing relationship with The Carlyle Group. Collectively these attributes make Melior the partner of choice for many Irish business owners seeking help to grow.”
Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led the CCI Fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
Asante Capital Group acted as exclusive fundraising advisor, Travers Smith were lead counsel, McCann Fitzgerald supplied Irish legal support, and KPMG provided tax advice on the fundraise.
ENDS//
For further information:
Louise Cassidy: louise@ckcomms.ie / 086 383 5727
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / 087 121 4140
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was launched in 2020 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI – a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund) for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a €160 million fund which is backed by leading international and local sovereign wealth funds, fund of funds, foundations, financial institutions and family office investors. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
April 11th, 2022
Firm has already invested in two companies: Salmon Software and BHP Insurance
Melior Equity Partners, the private equity firm led by former Irish managers with US investment giant Carlyle Group, has raised €160 million to invest in Irish small and medium-sized enterprises. This makes it one of the largest private equity funds in Ireland.
Melior Equity Partners Fund II, which is backed by local and international blue-chip investors, is targeting founder-owned companies with strong growth potential. It plans to invest in 10 companies over the next four years, in the range of €20 million-€100 million.
Backers include the Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB.
The firm has already invested in two companies: Dublin-based treasury management software company Salmon Software, in March; and BHP Insurance, which specialises in covering not-for-profit organisations, in August last year.
Salmon Software, a prominent, independent financial software business specialising in treasury management solutions. Last August the firm finalised an investment in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector.
“We are very proud of what the Melior team has achieved over the last two years,” said Jonny Cosgrave, co-founder of Melior Equity Partners. “We have welcomed several new limited partners to our blue-chip investor base and succeeded in raising one of the largest Irish private equity funds.”
Financing gap
Melior, launched by Mr Cosgrave and Peter Garvey in 2020, is targeting the financing gap for small to medium-sized businesses in Ireland. Its senior advisers include Glen Dimplex chief executive Fergal Leamy; Laura Heuston, founder of Sustainability Works; former VHI chief executive Jimmy Tolan; Google senior director Conor Jones; John-George Willis, former senior partner at Tughans; and Ulric Kenny, chairman of Prepay Power.
Former co-head of global technology, media and telecom Campbell Dyer also recently joined the firm’s senior adviser panel, bringing an extensive network to help investee companies grow in North America.
“We have the most experienced investment team in the Irish market. We have built strong track records at leading global investment firms over many decades as well as locally over the last eight years working with ambitious Irish management teams,” said Mr Garvey. “We have a tremendous bench of senior advisers and an unmatched international reach through our ongoing relationship with The Carlyle Group.”
April 11th, 2022
Melior Equity Partners has announced “final close” on its debut private equity fund with €160 million of capital commitments from investors.
Over 60 per cent of the money raised for Melior Equity Partners Fund II came from overseas, with a mix of institutions and so called family offices, the investment vehicles of high net-worth individuals. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, European Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB support the fund.
Melior was founded by Peter Garvey and Jonathan Cosgrave, previously partners with Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, a joint venture between Wall Street giant the Carlyle Group and Dublin finance group Cardinal.
Carlyle has committed to the Melior fund, as have its three founders, William Conway, Daniel D’Aniello, and David Rubenstein.
Cam Dyer, a former co-head of global technology, media and telecoms at Carlyle, has joined Melior’s advisory group, which also includes Glen Dimplex boss Fergal Leamy.
The fund will seek to make roughly ten investments, Garvey said. It has already backed insurance broker BHP and Salmon Software, an IT company.
It will look to provide growth capital to businesses with a valuation of €20 million to €100 million. Garvey said Melior will target founder-owned businesses “with multiple levers of growth” and seek to double earnings. He envisaged the fund investing across a wide range of sectors.
Garvey added that, in the year ahead, inflation fears are likely to be an issue in mergers and acquisition activity.
He said private equity is likely to be slower to “back people-intensive, low-margin business” that might be susceptible to wage inflation. The bias would be towards businesses with pricing power, he added.
April 1th, 2022
Fast-Growing Irish Financial Software Business Secures Investment to Support Continued Strong Growth
Dublin: Leading Irish private equity firm, Melior Equity Partners, has agreed an investment in Salmon Software, a fast-growing financial software business that provides customers with a world-class treasury management software system. Founded by CEO John Byrne, Dublin-headquartered Salmon Software employs a total of 30 staff across its operations in Ireland and the Czech Republic.
Since its foundation, the company’s treasury management software system has evolved into one of the world’s most sophisticated treasury management products, reflecting the global financial industry’s technological innovation and increasingly complex nature. The company’s software system enables customers to automate treasury management processes, providing information on debt, derivatives, foreign exchange, banking, cash management and payments which deliver efficiencies that save costs, ensure full regulatory compliance and provide real-time business insights. Salmon Software’s treasury management system supports a range of blue-chip customers including global businesses such as CRH, Avolon, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, DP World and Ryanair.
Salmon Software’s decision to partner with Melior was driven by the firm’s strategic experience in growing similar Irish technology businesses, its unique global network, and notable investor base. The investment from Melior will support the future growth of Salmon Software, facilitating further product innovation and the delivery of an even more comprehensive service for new and existing customers.
Salmon Software’s existing management team, including John Byrne, will remain in their current leadership roles and continue as significant shareholders in the business. Fiona Timmons, an experienced software industry finance executive, has joined the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and will work closely with John Byrne and the existing senior management team.
Commenting on the announcement, John Byrne, CEO and Founder of Salmon Software, said, “The investment by Melior is an exciting development for both our customers and employees. We have developed a world-class treasury management software system with deep product functionality that receives the ongoing support of a loyal blue-chip customer base. The Melior investment will allow us to grow and invest further in our team, extend our support and sales infrastructure, and deliver product enhancements including a superior cloud-hosted offering. This investment will provide exciting career development opportunities for our existing employees, see new talent join the company and will significantly benefit current and future customers.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Co-Founder of Melior Equity Partners, said, “We are excited to partner with John and his team, who have successfully grown Salmon Software into a world-class provider of treasury management software systems through continued product innovation, customer engagement and market-leading organic growth. The global treasury management software system market is valued at €1 billion and is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years. As a leading independent provider with strong reference customers, Salmon Software is ideally placed to meet this demand.”
Melior Equity Partners was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors and invests capital in, and provides support to, businesses across Ireland to achieve their growth ambitions. Salmon Software is the second investment from Melior Equity Partners Fund II following the completion of an investment during 2021 in BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish insurance brokerage focusing on the not-for-profit sector. Prior to establishing Melior Equity Partners, Cosgrave and Garvey led an Ireland-focused private equity fund for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
ENDS//
For further information contact:
Louise Cassidy: louise@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)86 383 5727
Claire Keane: claire@ckcomms.ie / +353 (0)87 121 4140
Note to Editors
About Salmon Software:
Since its foundation, Salmon Software has focused on delivering a world-class treasury management software system with functionalities that fulfil the requirements of the treasury front, middle and back offices, including integration with third-party systems ranging from dealing platforms and market data providers to ERPs and risk systems. The solution is based upon Microsoft Azure hosting that allows every client to operate on a separate environment. The business has achieved great success and coverage with its flagship treasury management software system ‘Salmon Treasurer’. The system has evolved to reflect the technological innovation and increasingly complex global financial systems that have paralleled the company’s history making it one of the most sophisticated treasury software platforms in the world. This achievement is due to the dedication of a highly skilled, multi-disciplined support and development team who focus on producing a world-class product. These capabilities combined with meaningful ongoing client engagement enable Salmon Software to pursue a policy of continuous, customer-focused product enhancement and development.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested this fund for The Carlyle Group from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a fund which is backed by a pool of local and international blue-chip investors including The Carlyle Group, the European Investment Fund, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, Bank of Ireland and AIB. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
Transaction Advisers:
Melior was advised by KPMG and William Fry while Salmon Software and its shareholders were advised by Mazars Corporate Finance and Hayes Solicitors.
March 31th, 2022

Jonathan Cosgrave of Melior Equity Partners (left), Fiona Timmons, chief financial officer of Salmon Software and John Byrne, CEO and founder of the business.
Melior Equity Partners, the private equity firm led by former Irish managers with US investment giant Carlyle Group, has agreed to buy a stake of about 70 per cent in Dublin-based treasury management software company, Salmon Software.
It is understood the controlling stake will cost Melior as much as €15 million. Salmon Software’s founder and chief executive John Byrne will sell some of his shares as part of the deal, but most of the investment is by way of the acquisition of new stock to grow the business further.
The deal marks Melior’s second investment since it was launched in 2019. It follows the purchase last year of a majority stake in Dublin-based insurance brokerage BHP Insurance, which subsequently went on to acquire Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances.
Melior was founded by Peter Garvey and Jonathan Cosgrave, former managing directors with Carlyle in the Republic, who co-managed a €290 million private equity fund with Dublin-based Cardinal Capital. The fledgling Melior fund has a target size of €175 million.
Salmon Software, founded in 1985, employs 30 staff across Ireland and the Czech Republic.
The company’s software system enables customers to automate treasury management processes, providing information on debt, derivatives, foreign exchange, banking, cash management and payments. The system delivers efficiencies that save on costs, ensure full regulatory compliance and provide real-time business insights, according to Salmon Software.
Blue-chip customers included building materials giant CRH, aircraft lessor Avolon, Dechra Pharmaceuticals, logistics giant DP World and Ryanair.
“The Melior investment will allow us to grow and invest further in our team, extend our support and sales infrastructure, and deliver product enhancements including a superior cloud-hosted offering,” said Mr Byrne. “This investment will provide exciting career development opportunities for our existing employees, see new talent join the company and will significantly benefit current and future customers.”
Fiona Timmons, an experienced software industry finance executive, has joined the company as chief financial officer and will work closely with Mr Byrne and the existing senior management team.
Melior’s Mr Cosgrave said: “The global treasury management software system market is valued at €1 billion and is forecast to grow strongly over the coming years. As a leading independent provider with strong reference customers, Salmon Software is ideally placed to meet this demand.”
August 11th, 2021
Acquisition Completed Following a Significant Investment from Melior Equity Partners
BHP Insurance, a leading independent Irish brokerage specialising in the not-for-profit sector, has announced the acquisition of Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances (KMW)*, a commercial insurance brokerage based in Sandyford, Dublin. BHP Insurance, based in Blanchardstown, provides a range of insurance solutions to more than 5,000 charitable and voluntary organisations across Ireland. The acquisition has been completed following a significant investment in BHP Insurance by leading Irish private equity firm Melior Equity Partners.
Commenting on the announcement, Martina Westphal, Managing Director, BHP Insurance said, “This strategic step is great news for both our customers and employees. It will allow our broker group to enhance the already high level of customer service we deliver while also expanding the range of products and services we can offer. It will also enrich career opportunities for our employees. We are particularly pleased to have received investment from Melior Equity Partners – a local, Irish private equity firm managed by a team that has an in-depth understanding of the insurance broking sector having previously led a successful investment in the AA Ireland.”
“It will be business as usual from an operational perspective – for our customers as well as our team of 16 employees and for the customers and employees of KMW. We very much look forward to working alongside our new colleagues,” concluded Westphal.
John Williams, Managing Director, Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances (KMW), who will remain with the business, said, “We look forward to working with the BHP Insurance team, pooling our offering and expertise to the benefit of our customers and employees.”
Esmond Greene, Investment Director, Melior Equity Partners, said, “BHP Insurance is a market leader in a niche space, with a great team and extensive, specialist expertise. It has cultivated exceptionally strong customer loyalty by consistently offering an outstanding level of service. We are delighted to complete our first investment from our recently raised Melior Equity Partners Fund II with BHP which we believe is well positioned to continue on a path of strong growth.”
“KMW is the first of many acquisitions that BHP is seeking to make. We are in discussions with a number of small and mid-sized brokers who appear excited about coming together with an Irish owned platform,” concluded Greene.
Melior Equity Partners was founded by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey in late 2019. Melior Equity Partners Fund II is backed by a pool of blue-chip investors including the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, the European Investment Fund and Bank of Ireland. It invests capital in, and provides help to, businesses across Ireland to achieve their growth ambitions. The Melior team led the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI) for The Carlyle Group investing in companies such as AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, GSLS, Learning Pool, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Co.
ENDS
For further information:
Louise Cassidy: louise@ckcomms.ie / 086 383 5727
Note to editors:
*As a result of this deal, BHP Insurance and KMW will come under the common ownership of SIL Holdings.
About BHP Insurance:
BHP has been providing insurance solutions to the not-for-profit sector for the past 15 years. In that time, BHP has partnered with and been the preferred broker for many umbrella bodies and national organisations such as Public Participation Network Members, The Wheel members, DSP Community Employment Scheme/ Voluntary Boards, charities, homeless services, Muintir Na Tire community alerts and mental health associations. The company will be expanding into life and pensions, construction insurance and bonds, sports clubs’ insurance and specialist contents insurance for social housing tenants. BHP’s team of 16 employees currently provides insurance solutions to 5,000 charitable customers. The company is based in Blanchardstown Corporate Park 2.
About Keegan, Meredith & Williams Insurances:
KMW was established in 1978 and has a long history of assisting both personal and business clients with all their insurance requirements both on general insurance and life and pensions. Over the years KMW has established a first-class reputation with both insurers and clients with a personal, friendly and professional ethos to the business. Having been located on the Main Street in Blackrock village for many years KMW is now based in Stillorgan Business Park opposite the Beacon hospital.
About Melior Equity Partners:
Melior Equity Partners (“Melior”) is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland.
Melior was founded in 2019 by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey who previously co-headed the management of the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI – a €292 million Ireland dedicated private equity fund) for The Carlyle Group. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market.
Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland.
The Melior team is currently deploying capital out of Melior Equity Partners II, a fund which is backed by leading international and local sovereign wealth funds, fund of funds, foundations, financial institutions and family office investors. The breadth and nature of its investors provide Melior with significant capacity to fund transactions of any scale in the Irish market.
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August 11th, 2021
Melior Equity Partners, the Irish private equity fund, has acquired a significant majority stake in Dublin-based BHP Insurance for an undisclosed sum. This is the first investment made by Melior since it launched its second private equity fund last year.
BHP Insurance is a brokerage business headquartered in Blanchardstown that provides insurance options to more than 5,000 non-profit organisations such as charities and voluntary groups in Ireland.
The firm is extremely profitable. According to accounts filed with the Companies Registration Office, BHP Insurance recorded operating profits of just over €1.6 million for the 12 months to the end of April 2020 on the back of turnover of less than €3 million.
The company has more than €2.2 million in cash on its balance sheet and paid out dividends of close to €1.8 million to its parent company, Sebastopol (Ireland) Limited.
As part of the private equity investment, BHP Insurance will acquire Keegan Meredith & Williams Insurances (KMW), a commercial insurance brokerage based in Sandyford, Dublin.
“BHP Insurance is a market leader in a niche space, with a great team and extensive, specialist expertise. It has cultivated exceptionally strong customer loyalty by consistently offering an outstanding level of service,” Esmond Greene, investment director with Melior, said.
“We are delighted to complete our first investment with BHP which we believe is well positioned to continue on a path of strong growth.”
Melior Equity Partners was founded in January 2020 by Jonny Cosgrave and Peter Garvey. The pair had previously led the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCIF), which was a €292 million private equity fund.
Between 2014 and 2019, CCIF made 11 investments in Irish businesses, including well-known companies Carroll’s Cuisine, Lily O’Brien’s, McCauley Pharmacy, AA Ireland, Payzone, Sports Surgery Clinic, the City Bin Co and Learning Pool, the Derry-based online learning company.
After six years investing the CCIF, Cosgrave and Garvey decided to establish Melior as a new private equity firm for the Irish market. The new fund is backed by Bank of Ireland, the European Investment Bank and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund.
Melior is targeting a fund size of €175 million over the coming years. It targets businesses valued anywhere from €15 million up to €200 million and will typically inject €10 million to €20 million of equity into a business it partners with for a period of up to seven years.
Cosgrave and Garvey already have experience investing in the insurance sector, having previously led a private equity investment in AA Ireland.
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June 16th, 2021
Learning Pool, a strategic leader in the U.K. & U.S. learning technology markets, has today agreed to a new investment from Marlin Equity Partners (“Marlin”), a global investment firm with over $7.6 billion of capital under management, to support the company’s continued growth. Under the terms of the agreement, Marlin will also acquire the shareholding of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland.
Learning Pool’s integrated suite of digital learning products and services has enabled more than 1,100 companies to migrate their training initiatives to modern cloud technology, including global brands like The FA, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Sky, and Swiss Re. Learning Pool helps companies at every stage of the employee lifecycle, creating engaging onboarding experiences, rigorous compliance training, and meaningful skills development opportunities for more than 5 million learners every year.
Founded in Northern Ireland and currently ranked as one of the top 60 Large Best Companies to work for in the U.K., Learning Pool’s expert workforce has grown to more than 260 employees across the U.K. and U.S. The Marlin investment will facilitate further job creation with plans already in place to hire an additional 100 Learning Pool employees across the group this year alone.
Since the initial investment from Carlyle Cardinal Ireland in 2016, Learning Pool has experienced dramatic growth as revenue has increased four-fold during this time. The company has also been at the forefront of launching next-generation learning technology products and has received multiple awards for outstanding customer service. In addition, Learning Pool has made four acquisitions in four years, most recently acquiring U.S.-based LMS expert, Remote Learner, which enhanced the company’s presence in the U.S. market. Marlin is expected to help accelerate growth both organically and through additional acquisitions.
Speaking about the investment, Learning Pool Group CEO Paul McElvaney said, “Over the past five years we have achieved phenomenal growth with the fantastic support of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, and we’re very grateful for the help and encouragement we’ve had from the team. We’re delighted to have found the right partner to help us continue our momentum and grow the Learning Pool brand globally. Marlin has an incredible heritage in helping businesses like ours scale and innovate. We’re excited to be working with them and confident that both our customers and our team will see immediate benefits from Marlin’s investment. Learning Pool’s entire executive management team has re-invested in the company, providing a compelling foundation upon which we’ll build the next phase of growth.”
Jan-Olivier Fillols, a managing director at Marlin Equity Partners, said: “Learning Pool has achieved significant growth through its customer-centric philosophy and unique end-to-end e-Learning proposition. We believe the business is extremely well-positioned to capitalize on a highly attractive market opportunity, and we are excited to partner with an exceptional team to drive both organic and inorganic growth together.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Partner at Melior Equity Partners which advises the CCI fund on behalf of Carlyle, said: “Learning Pool’s success in growing revenue and profits four-fold through organic growth and acquisition, while tripling employee numbers and launching next generation learning products, clearly demonstrate the potential of founder-led Irish technology companies when partnered with an investor that facilitates a strong growth environment. The performance of Learning Pool’s management team and employees has been exceptional, and we wish them continued success for the future.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group said: “Learning Pool has been a great growth story for CCI. When we invested originally the company had 80 employees in one office, predominantly servicing U.K. public-sector customers. It now has over 260 employees across six offices around the world, and with over 30% of the revenue coming from North America. This is a classic example of the benefits we can bring to an Irish company willing to look west instead of east for accelerated growth. Paul and Louise McElvaney are outstanding entrepreneurs who have built a fabulous culture where all employees look after each other, which has been a huge asset to the company during the COVID pandemic.”
Ends.
Press Contacts:
Learning Pool and Carlyle
Richard Magnier, MKC Communications
Tel: +353 (0)86 809 6316 richard@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 (0)87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
Marlin Equity Partners
Peter Spasov, Marlin Equity Partners
Tel: (310) 364-0100 pspasov@marlinequity.com
About Learning Pool
Learning Pool is a full-service online training provider to workplaces around the world, offering learning courses, platforms, analytics and custom content development services to over 1,100 organizations and 5.1 million learners. Over the last twelve months, the company has been featured on 14 eLearning Industry lists for excellence in learning platforms and content creation and achieved a double-award win at the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards, including Gold for Technology Innovation. Learning Pool also won double Gold in the Stevie Awards for Customer Service, was announced as ‘World Class’ to work for in the 2021 Best Companies accreditation program and became the only Strategic Leader to offer a Lower Total Cost of Ownership in the 2021 Fosway 9-Grid for Digital Learning. For more information, please see http://www.learningpool.com.
About Marlin Equity Partners
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with over $7.6 billion of capital under management. The firm is focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthen a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 180 acquisitions. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland and investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland.
About Carlyle
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions. With $260 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2021, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of our investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 1,800 professionals in 29 offices across five continents. Further information is available at www.carlyle.com. Follow Carlyle on Twitter @OneCarlyle.
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers. Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
About Melior Equity Partners
Melior Equity Partners is a leading Irish private equity investment firm headquartered in Dublin with a strong track record of supporting Irish management teams and investing in small to medium sized private businesses in Ireland. The Melior team members invested the CCI fund from 2014 to 2019 and are one of the most experienced private equity investment teams in the Irish market. Melior combines best-in-class international standards and far-reaching networks developed at leading global investment firms, with a deep knowledge of the local marketplace to bring a unique approach to investing and partnering with management teams in Ireland. Further information is available at www.meliorequity.com.
Advisers
Learning Pool and its shareholders were advised by Baird and Beltrae Partners. A&L Goodbody and Millar McCall Wylie acted as legal counsel, CIL as commercial consultants with Grant Thornton, KPMG and Deloitte providing accounting and tax advice.
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January 19th, 2020
Former Carlyle Group Managing Directors Launch Melior Equity Partners
19th January, 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Melior Equity Partners (www.meliorequity.com) has been launched following completion of the spin-out of Carlyle’s Ireland investment team from The Carlyle Group. Melior Equity Partners was founded by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey, who co-led The Carlyle Group’s investment activities in Ireland from their base in Dublin.
The Carlyle Group was the first global private equity firm to establish a dedicated private equity fund in Ireland and Cosgrave and Garvey have been instrumental in promoting the growth of private equity investment activity in Ireland since 2014. The Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) fund has been one of the most active private equity investors in the Irish market and has already achieved several successful exits.
Jonathan Cosgrave commented: “The Melior team’s track record of investing in 11 Irish companies and successfully exiting a number of these, speaks to our local network and knowledge of the Irish market, and our ability to identify high growth companies and partner with leading management teams”.
Following the success of the CCI fund, Melior is in the process of launching its own standalone fund, which will build on Cosgrave and Garvey’s strong private equity investment track records both in Ireland and internationally, and a robust pipeline of investment opportunities that have been originated over the last few years. Melior will be supported in this process by Asante Capital, a leading global placement agent.
Peter Garvey outlined Melior’s investment focus: “Melior will primarily invest in small and medium sized buyout and growth equity opportunities with a focus on founder-owned businesses. These companies often have a higher need for investment driven by succession, shareholder liquidity and growth capital requirements. For these firms private equity investment is filling the financing gap caused by the reduced availability of bank financing.”
“The private equity market remains underpenetrated in Ireland and having helped to grow the market here – private equity investment has seen deal volumes increase over 50% since 2014 – we see an exciting opportunity over the next decade for Melior to continue to support Irish companies achieve their growth ambitions”, said Cosgrave.
The team members will continue their involvement in managing the remaining CCI fund portfolio companies on behalf of The Carlyle Group including the AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, McCauley’s, Learning Pool, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Company. The other support and services that The Carlyle Group provides to the CCI fund will remain unchanged.
The Carlyle Group is fully supportive of Garvey and Cosgrave’s decision to establish Melior Equity Partners. Bill Conway, Co-founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group said: “It’s been a pleasure working closely with Peter and Jonny over the past six years as they have helped build the private equity market in Ireland. They have shown themselves to be strong and diligent investors as the team has built the CCI portfolio, and I have every confidence in them continuing to drive value in the CCI fund portfolio in the coming years. I look forward to supporting them in their new venture.”
Cosgrave and Garvey have over 40 years’ combined experience at leading global firms including Warburg Pincus, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, McKinsey & Co. and The Carlyle Group. At Melior Equity Partners they now lead an experienced team of seven people all of whom worked together with The Carlyle Group in Ireland.
Melior has partnered with a set of experienced senior advisers who will support the team in sourcing investment opportunities in addition to conducting due diligence and working with portfolio company management teams as board directors. These advisers are all senior leaders from the Irish business community and include Fergal Leamy, COO of Glen Dimplex and former CEO of Coillte; Jimmy Tolan, Chairman of CareChoice and former CEO of the VHI Healthcare; and John-George Willis, former Head of Corporate transactions at Tughan’s law firm in Belfast. In addition, Maire O’Connor, former McCann FitzGerald partner and director of the Irish Stock Exchange, will chair Melior’s regulated entity, while Laura Heuston, founder of SustainabilityWorks, will help shape the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance agenda.
Garvey said “We are delighted that Carlyle’s complete Ireland investment team has joined with us in establishing Melior. We are also thrilled to have some of Ireland’s most senior business leaders on our advisory board. Melior is seeking to build a world-class, Dublin-based investment firm that will deliver attractive returns to investors over the long-term and we believe that the quality of our team is a clear illustration of that ambition.”
Ends.
Investor Contacts:
Peter Garvey, Melior Equity Partners
Tel: +353(0)86-385-2023; Email: peter.garvey@meliorequity.com
Warren Hibbert, Asante Capital
Tel: +44(0)20-3696-4701; Email: wh@asantecapital.com
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January 19th, 2020
Carlyle bigwigs Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey make a break for Melior
Financiers Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey have completed the spin-out of Carlyle Ireland’s investment team from the Carlyle Group to form Melior Equity Partners, ahead of a planned €175m fundraising.
Cosgrave and Garvey led the Carlyle Group’s investment activities in Ireland, most significantly its involvement in Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund, a €292m private equity fund co-managed with the Dublin investment group Cardinal Capital.
Carlyle Ireland’s entire investment team has transferred to Melior. A team of senior advisers has also been appointed to help in sourcing investment opportunities, supporting due diligence and working with portfolio companies.
Advisers include Fergal Leamy, chief operating officer of Glen Dimplex and former chief executive of Coillte; and Jimmy Tolan, chairman of nursing home provider CareChoice and former VHI Healthcare chief. John-George Willis, a former corporate transactions head at Tughans law firm in Belfast, will also be a senior adviser.
Former McCann Fitzgerald partner Máire O’Connor will chair the firm’s regulated business.
Melior has retained Asante Capital, a leading global placing agent, to advise on raising the new fund.
Bill Conway, co-founder and co-executive chairman of the Carlyle Group, said he “looked forward” to supporting Cosgrave and Garvey in the new venture.
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October 1st, 2020
AA Ireland Embarks on Next Phase of Development with New Financial Backers
1st , 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Following a successful carve out from AA plc and a significant investment in business transformation, AA Ireland, the leading roadside assistance provider and insurance intermediary, has secured new financial backers, Further Global Capital Management (Further Global). The transaction, the terms of which are not being disclosed, will see the exit of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) and Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners (CGFSP). New owners, Further Global, will work with AA Ireland management as the business embarks on its next phase of development.
Speaking today, Brendan Nevin, CEO of AA Ireland said: “The team at CCI and CGFSP has worked very successfully with us to carve out AA Ireland from AA plc and then help develop the business and to support our transformation. We thank them for their support and collaboration. Having completed the transformation of the business and invested in our Roadside Rescue fleet and technical resources, we look forward now to building on those solid foundations with our new financial backers, Further Global.”
Mr. Nevin added, “With the experience, expertise and backing of Further Global, AA Ireland will continue to operate as an Irish-based company headquartered in Dublin. The company will continue to serve our customers with a team of almost 500 people committed to being the leading roadside assistance provider and insurance intermediary in Ireland.”
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December 24th, 2020
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) Agrees Sale of Carroll Cuisine to Eight Fifty Food Group
24th December, 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has agreed the sale of Carroll Cuisine to Eight Fifty Food Group, the multi-protein food group owned by CapVest Partners LLP (CapVest), an international private equity investor. The acquisition, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to complete during Q1 2021.
Tullamore headquartered Carroll Cuisine produces and distributes branded and private-label cooked meats, deli hams, chilled ready meals and other chilled food products to supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Ireland. In 2015 CCI, the Irish private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, acquired Carroll Cuisine, backing the management team to complete a carve-out of the company from Aryzta AG. The Carroll Cuisine management team is led by CEO Kieran Carolan, COO John Comerford and CFO Fiona Delaney.
During CCI’s ownership, Carroll’s consolidated its position as a leading supplier of pre-packed sliced cooked meats, deli products and chilled ready meals in Ireland. The company experienced strong growth, with turnover increasing by 50pc, driven by investment in manufacturing capacity, innovation and new product development.
Kieran Carolan, CEO, Carroll Cuisine said: “Our company has gone from strength to strength in the past five years. It has been an exciting journey and we have achieved our ambitious growth targets with the fantastic support of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland. Jonathan Cosgrave and John Dolan strengthened our board and their advice and counsel was very valuable to us. We look forward to continuing to grow our company as part of Eight Fifty Food Group.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group said: “We are very proud to have facilitated the rapid growth of Carroll’s Cuisine, which over the past five years has not only consolidated its position as one of Ireland’s top food brands but has also more than doubled employee numbers from 150 in 2015 to 325 today. The success of CCI-backed companies such as Carroll’s Cuisine and Lily O’Brien’s clearly demonstrates the growth potential of Irish food companies with the right investment partners.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Partner at Melior Equity Partners which advises the CCI fund on behalf of The Carlyle Group, said: “During our partnership with Carroll Cuisine management, more than €5 million has been invested to support manufacturing capacity expansion, new product development, and environmental and sustainability programmes. This investment enabled the brand to expand its presence in existing and new markets, increasing both sales and employment. The sale of Carroll’s follows CCI’s recent exit of AA Ireland and are great examples of what can be achieved when a management team has the backing of a supportive private equity partner.”
Eight Fifty Food Group’s acquisition of Carroll Cuisine is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
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January 19th, 2020
Former Carlyle Group Managing Directors Launch Melior Equity Partners
19th January, 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Melior Equity Partners (www.meliorequity.com) has been launched following completion of the spin-out of Carlyle’s Ireland investment team from The Carlyle Group. Melior Equity Partners was founded by Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey, who co-led The Carlyle Group’s investment activities in Ireland from their base in Dublin.
The Carlyle Group was the first global private equity firm to establish a dedicated private equity fund in Ireland and Cosgrave and Garvey have been instrumental in promoting the growth of private equity investment activity in Ireland since 2014. The Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) fund has been one of the most active private equity investors in the Irish market and has already achieved several successful exits.
Jonathan Cosgrave commented: “The Melior team’s track record of investing in 11 Irish companies and successfully exiting a number of these, speaks to our local network and knowledge of the Irish market, and our ability to identify high growth companies and partner with leading management teams”.
Following the success of the CCI fund, Melior is in the process of launching its own standalone fund, which will build on Cosgrave and Garvey’s strong private equity investment track records both in Ireland and internationally, and a robust pipeline of investment opportunities that have been originated over the last few years. Melior will be supported in this process by Asante Capital, a leading global placement agent.
Peter Garvey outlined Melior’s investment focus: “Melior will primarily invest in small and medium sized buyout and growth equity opportunities with a focus on founder-owned businesses. These companies often have a higher need for investment driven by succession, shareholder liquidity and growth capital requirements. For these firms private equity investment is filling the financing gap caused by the reduced availability of bank financing.”
“The private equity market remains underpenetrated in Ireland and having helped to grow the market here – private equity investment has seen deal volumes increase over 50% since 2014 – we see an exciting opportunity over the next decade for Melior to continue to support Irish companies achieve their growth ambitions”, said Cosgrave.
The team members will continue their involvement in managing the remaining CCI fund portfolio companies on behalf of The Carlyle Group including the AA Ireland, Carroll Cuisine, McCauley’s, Learning Pool, Sports Surgery Clinic and The City Bin Company. The other support and services that The Carlyle Group provides to the CCI fund will remain unchanged.
The Carlyle Group is fully supportive of Garvey and Cosgrave’s decision to establish Melior Equity Partners. Bill Conway, Co-founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group said: “It’s been a pleasure working closely with Peter and Jonny over the past six years as they have helped build the private equity market in Ireland. They have shown themselves to be strong and diligent investors as the team has built the CCI portfolio, and I have every confidence in them continuing to drive value in the CCI fund portfolio in the coming years. I look forward to supporting them in their new venture.”
Cosgrave and Garvey have over 40 years’ combined experience at leading global firms including Warburg Pincus, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, McKinsey & Co. and The Carlyle Group. At Melior Equity Partners they now lead an experienced team of seven people all of whom worked together with The Carlyle Group in Ireland.
Melior has partnered with a set of experienced senior advisers who will support the team in sourcing investment opportunities in addition to conducting due diligence and working with portfolio company management teams as board directors. These advisers are all senior leaders from the Irish business community and include Fergal Leamy, COO of Glen Dimplex and former CEO of Coillte; Jimmy Tolan, Chairman of CareChoice and former CEO of the VHI Healthcare; and John-George Willis, former Head of Corporate transactions at Tughan’s law firm in Belfast. In addition, Maire O’Connor, former McCann FitzGerald partner and director of the Irish Stock Exchange, will chair Melior’s regulated entity, while Laura Heuston, founder of SustainabilityWorks, will help shape the firm’s Environmental, Social and Governance agenda.
Garvey said “We are delighted that Carlyle’s complete Ireland investment team has joined with us in establishing Melior. We are also thrilled to have some of Ireland’s most senior business leaders on our advisory board. Melior is seeking to build a world-class, Dublin-based investment firm that will deliver attractive returns to investors over the long-term and we believe that the quality of our team is a clear illustration of that ambition.”
Ends.
Investor Contacts:
Peter Garvey, Melior Equity Partners
Tel: +353(0)86-385-2023; Email: peter.garvey@meliorequity.com
Warren Hibbert, Asante Capital
Tel: +44(0)20-3696-4701; Email: wh@asantecapital.com
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January 19th, 2020
Carlyle bigwigs Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey make a break for Melior
Financiers Jonathan Cosgrave and Peter Garvey have completed the spin-out of Carlyle Ireland’s investment team from the Carlyle Group to form Melior Equity Partners, ahead of a planned €175m fundraising.
Cosgrave and Garvey led the Carlyle Group’s investment activities in Ireland, most significantly its involvement in Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund, a €292m private equity fund co-managed with the Dublin investment group Cardinal Capital.
Carlyle Ireland’s entire investment team has transferred to Melior. A team of senior advisers has also been appointed to help in sourcing investment opportunities, supporting due diligence and working with portfolio companies.
Advisers include Fergal Leamy, chief operating officer of Glen Dimplex and former chief executive of Coillte; and Jimmy Tolan, chairman of nursing home provider CareChoice and former VHI Healthcare chief. John-George Willis, a former corporate transactions head at Tughans law firm in Belfast, will also be a senior adviser.
Former McCann Fitzgerald partner Máire O’Connor will chair the firm’s regulated business.
Melior has retained Asante Capital, a leading global placing agent, to advise on raising the new fund.
Bill Conway, co-founder and co-executive chairman of the Carlyle Group, said he “looked forward” to supporting Cosgrave and Garvey in the new venture.
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October 1st, 2020
AA Ireland Embarks on Next Phase of Development with New Financial Backers
1st , 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Following a successful carve out from AA plc and a significant investment in business transformation, AA Ireland, the leading roadside assistance provider and insurance intermediary, has secured new financial backers, Further Global Capital Management (Further Global). The transaction, the terms of which are not being disclosed, will see the exit of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) and Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners (CGFSP). New owners, Further Global, will work with AA Ireland management as the business embarks on its next phase of development.
Speaking today, Brendan Nevin, CEO of AA Ireland said: “The team at CCI and CGFSP has worked very successfully with us to carve out AA Ireland from AA plc and then help develop the business and to support our transformation. We thank them for their support and collaboration. Having completed the transformation of the business and invested in our Roadside Rescue fleet and technical resources, we look forward now to building on those solid foundations with our new financial backers, Further Global.”
Mr. Nevin added, “With the experience, expertise and backing of Further Global, AA Ireland will continue to operate as an Irish-based company headquartered in Dublin. The company will continue to serve our customers with a team of almost 500 people committed to being the leading roadside assistance provider and insurance intermediary in Ireland.”
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December 24th, 2020
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) Agrees Sale of Carroll Cuisine to Eight Fifty Food Group
24th December, 2020 Dublin, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has agreed the sale of Carroll Cuisine to Eight Fifty Food Group, the multi-protein food group owned by CapVest Partners LLP (CapVest), an international private equity investor. The acquisition, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to complete during Q1 2021.
Tullamore headquartered Carroll Cuisine produces and distributes branded and private-label cooked meats, deli hams, chilled ready meals and other chilled food products to supermarkets and convenience stores throughout Ireland. In 2015 CCI, the Irish private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, acquired Carroll Cuisine, backing the management team to complete a carve-out of the company from Aryzta AG. The Carroll Cuisine management team is led by CEO Kieran Carolan, COO John Comerford and CFO Fiona Delaney.
During CCI’s ownership, Carroll’s consolidated its position as a leading supplier of pre-packed sliced cooked meats, deli products and chilled ready meals in Ireland. The company experienced strong growth, with turnover increasing by 50pc, driven by investment in manufacturing capacity, innovation and new product development.
Kieran Carolan, CEO, Carroll Cuisine said: “Our company has gone from strength to strength in the past five years. It has been an exciting journey and we have achieved our ambitious growth targets with the fantastic support of Carlyle Cardinal Ireland. Jonathan Cosgrave and John Dolan strengthened our board and their advice and counsel was very valuable to us. We look forward to continuing to grow our company as part of Eight Fifty Food Group.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group said: “We are very proud to have facilitated the rapid growth of Carroll’s Cuisine, which over the past five years has not only consolidated its position as one of Ireland’s top food brands but has also more than doubled employee numbers from 150 in 2015 to 325 today. The success of CCI-backed companies such as Carroll’s Cuisine and Lily O’Brien’s clearly demonstrates the growth potential of Irish food companies with the right investment partners.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Partner at Melior Equity Partners which advises the CCI fund on behalf of The Carlyle Group, said: “During our partnership with Carroll Cuisine management, more than €5 million has been invested to support manufacturing capacity expansion, new product development, and environmental and sustainability programmes. This investment enabled the brand to expand its presence in existing and new markets, increasing both sales and employment. The sale of Carroll’s follows CCI’s recent exit of AA Ireland and are great examples of what can be achieved when a management team has the backing of a supportive private equity partner.”
Eight Fifty Food Group’s acquisition of Carroll Cuisine is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
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2019
March 29th, 2019
Specialist Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Hospital To Focus on Continued Growth of Patient Services and Facilities
Dublin, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, has agreed to an investment in Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC), a private hospital specialising in orthopaedic surgery, spinal surgery and sports medicine. The investment, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to complete in the coming months.
SSC, located in Santry, Dublin, is a state-of-the-art private hospital dedicated to orthopaedics and sports medicines. Launched in 2007, SSC introduced world-class facilities and treatment into Ireland for orthopaedic joint-replacement surgery, spinal surgery and sports medicine. The hospital has quickly grown to become a premier provider of both sports medicine and orthopaedic joint-replacement surgery in Ireland with a reputation for leading-edge innovation and highest standards of patient care.
Facilities at SSC include five ultra-clean-air operating theatres dedicated to orthopaedic and spinal surgical procedures, a diagnostic-imaging service including two 3-Tesla MRI scanners and a 64-slice CT scanner, and an expansive physiotherapy and rehabilitation department incorporating wellness and health-screening facilities. A recently developed sports medicine-dedicated laboratory provides performance rehabilitation, running clinics, fitness testing and physiotherapy services. Currently employing over 300 people, SSC’s capacity comprises 63 in-patient beds, 26 day-care beds and 21 on-site consultancy suites.
Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group and John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group, will join the board of directors of SSC upon completion of the investment.
Dr. Josh Keaveny, Chief Executive, SSC said: “With our patient-focused model of care we are continuously exploring the science and medicine related to sports injuries, athletic performance, joint replacement and spinal injury. We aim to keep people of all ages fit and active. The investment from CCI allows us to accelerate our growth and we plan to begin work in the near future on expanding the hospital. This expansion will significantly increase our capacity which will enable us to treat more patients.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group, said: “CCI’s financial backing of SSC’s expansion plan will add two additional theatres, which will increase surgical capacity by 40%, meaning more of the population can readily access the hospital’s leading facilities and consultants. With an increased focus on exercise and wellness, more and more people are looking for restorative procedures, particularly knee and hip replacements, and shoulder surgery. SSC’s specialist orthopaedic and rehabilitation expertise has allowed it establish a national reputation for treating injuries in both professional and amateur athletes, and members of the wider population.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, said: “SSC is CCI’s second healthcare sector investment and we are excited to be partnering with such a high quality, ambitious management team and group of staff. Planned increases to SSC’s operating capacity will expand SSC’s workforce and we look forward to adding new consultants, nurses and other healthcare professionals to the SSC team. The Irish population aged over 65 years is forecast to increase 45% by 2030 driving a significant increase in annual demand for hip and knee joint replacements, and SSC’s management team and staff are well positioned to service this growing patient demand.”
CCI has been an active growth investor in the Irish market since 2014. SSC is the fund’s tenth investment and the fund continues to explore other investment opportunities. Current fund investments include The AA Ireland, Payzone, Carroll Cuisine, Learning Pool, McCauley Pharmacy Group, Abtran and Millicent Pharma. CCI previously invested in Lily O’Brien’s and General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), both high-growth companies run by first-class management teams, each of which underwent an exit process in 2018.
CCI’s investment in SSC is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
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Press Contacts:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel: +353 (0)1 703 8620 Mob: +353 (0)86 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 (0)87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
About Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC)
SSC’s goal is dedicated to delivering the highest standards of diagnosis, prehabilitation, treatment, rehabilitation and full recovery care for its patients. The hospital aims to provide an exceptional working environment for staff with a focus on continuous education and quality improvement to support excellence in patient care.
SSC’s facilities are built with optimised patient outcomes in mind. They include five ultra clean-air operating theatres, a world-class diagnostic imaging department, an expansive physiotherapy department, a wellness and health screening facility, as well as dedicated research laboratories which highlight the commitment that SSC places on promoting future breakthroughs in orthopaedic surgery.
SSC offers patients all the advantages of the newest technologies, including 21 on-site consulting rooms that ensure rapid and smooth access to consultant expertise on a continuous basis. The hospital houses some of the world’s most advanced radiology equipment including two 3-Tesla MRI scanners and a 64-slice CT scanner, both of which yield superior image quality and resolution, particularly in the diagnosis of soft tissue and orthopaedic injuries.
Patient comfort is at the heart of the service provided by the SSC. In total, the clinic offers 63 in-patient beds in addition to 26 day-care beds. Each patient room has its own ensuite bathroom with shower, and entertainment centre incorporating internet, radio and telephone access along with both clinic and treatment information.
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions. With $216 billion of assets under management as of December 31, 2018, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of our investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 31 offices across six continents.
The Carlyle Group is a seasoned investor in the hospital sector. Notable hospital investments include Schoen Klinik (Germany – 17 hospitals), Rede D’Or São Luiz (Brazil – 38 hospitals), Healthscope (Australia – 45 hospitals), Medical Park (Turkey – 18 hospitals) and Medanta (India – 3 hospitals, 1 Day Care Facility and 2 new hospitals under construction).
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
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April 18th, 2019
New owners to build on growth achieved under CCI
Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland has announced that Payzone, one of Ireland’s largest providers of payment solutions, is to be acquired by a newly-formed joint venture established by AIB Group plc (AIB) and First Data Corporation. The joint venture will acquire a majority stake in Payzone from existing shareholders, including Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI), for an enterprise value of up to €100 million.
CCI, the private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, acquired a majority shareholding in Payzone in March 2015 and the company has grown strongly during the four years of CCI ownership. CCI worked closely with the management team to diversify the business and develop the company into a multichannel payments provider, employing 90 people.
Today Payzone’s technology solutions allow both large and small Irish businesses to accept payments in store, on the road, over the phone, and through a website or app. The company processes 125 million transactions annually for 100+ client companies and operates Ireland’s largest retail payments network with 11,500+ points of sale throughout the country.
The change in ownership will have no impact on the day-to-day business operations of Payzone in Ireland. The senior management team, including Jim Deignan, CEO and Nigel Bell, CFO, will remain in their roles.
Jim Deignan, Chief Executive, Payzone Ireland, said: “This development is a positive step for Payzone and a vote of confidence in the future of the business. We see significant opportunity to grow our footprint in the fintech sector and this can only be enhanced further with the backing and support of our new shareholders, who bring deep industry expertise to make things happen. The team at Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, which originally invested in Payzone in 2015, has worked very successfully with us to help develop the business and to support our continued growth. We thank them for their great support and investment over that period.”
Peter Garvey, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, said: “Working with the fantastic management team at Payzone, CCI’s investment in innovation and new product development has helped to accelerate the growth of the business and to transform it into one of Ireland’s most successful multi-channel payment solutions platforms. Net revenue and EBITDA have grown by 40% and 70% respectively, since we invested. Payzone still has numerous opportunities for further growth, which can now be realised with the support of the new investors. This is the fund’s third exit and once again demonstrates the benefits of active, growth-focused private equity investment for ambitious Irish businesses.”
Daragh Lane, Cardinal Capital Group said: “At CCI we believe in helping management teams grow the companies we invest in. When CCI acquired a majority shareholding in Payzone four years ago it processed 61 million transactions a year, delivering a gross transaction value of €1 billion to its customers. Today it processes 125 million transactions a year delivering in excess of €2 billion of value to its customers and is a well-established Irish fintech organisation that drives significant innovations across many traditionally cash-based markets.”
CCI representatives Peter Garvey and Robert Easton of The Carlyle Group and Daragh Lane of Cardinal Capital Group will step down from the Payzone Board on completion of the transaction, which is subject to approval from the European and Irish competition authorities.
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Press Contacts:
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Payzone
Frans van Cauwelaert, WHPR
Tel: +353 87 947 6743 frans.vancauwelaert@ogilvy.com
About Payzone
In Ireland, Payzone is the largest consumer payments network in the country with over 7,500 retail agents which process a variety of electronic transaction services, including mobile phone top ups, debit/credit card transactions; M50 motorway toll payments; Leap travel cards, local property tax payments, parking fees, schools and clubs payment platform, pre-paid utility and parcel collection services.
The company employs over 90 people based in its Sandyford head office in Dublin.
Payzone’s focus is on delivering leading edge payment services that drive greater efficiency for clients and increased revenues for its retail partners.
As industry leader, Payzone’s technology credentials, capabilities and expertise are a particular strength of the business.
Visit www.payzone.ie
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland.
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with $216 billion of assets under management across 343 investment vehicles as of December 31, 2018. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 31 offices across six continents
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market- commentary
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April 26th, 2019
Success is sweet for pioneer of Irish fund
Private equity had a bad press until Peter Garvey returned home, writes Paul O’Donoghue.
Until recently, when an Irish business needed some cash, it would normally turn to the banks. Peter Garvey wanted to change that. The Dubliner spent over a decade working around the globe, in senior roles at companies such as McKinsey & Co and Goldman Sachs, building up his experience in the world of private equity.
While Mr Garvey and his wife were happy in London, by the time their second child was born, they felt that it was time to return to Ireland. At about this time, in 2013, Mr Garvey was approached by a headhunter who wanted him to set up a significant new fund to invest in indigenous Irish companies.
Mr Garvey, now 43, was eager to return home for family reasons. But he also felt that going back to Ireland to help start the fund would give him the opportunity to kick-start something greater — private equity funding in Ireland, which at the time was at a nascent stage. “It was a great opportunity to come back and to lead a fund which was at the forefront of building a private equity industry in Ireland,” he says. “In other countries, there was a much greater mix of different types of funding. I think the government felt at the time that there was a gap in the market and we needed to develop an alternative source of capital, other than banks. “It was very exciting for me to be able to come back, with a ready-made fund, and to help build the industry here.” Mr Garvey was appointed a managing director of the Carlyle Group, a Washington-based private equity group, and the co-head of its Ireland fund, Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI). The fund, a €292 million joint venture between the Carlyle Group and the Cardinal Capital Group, an Irish investment firm, has gone on to become one of the most prominent investors in Ireland. The company looks to invest between €5 million and €50 million in medium or large Irish companies which have a strong core business and good growth potential. Among its high-profile deals are its 2014 investment in Lily O’Brien’s, a chocolate-maker in Kildare, for a reported €15 million, which was then sold for €40 million in 2017. The fund took a majority stake in the Sam McCauley Chemists pharmacy chain in a reported €50 million deal, and snapped up AA Ireland in 2016. Mr Garvey says that many of these deals have helped the fund in subsequent years, as they helped to prove the case for private equity and soothe the nerves of Irish business owners who were unused to this type of funding. He repeatedly points to the investment in, and subsequent sale of, Lily O’Brien’s as being pivotal in helping distinguish CCI from other types of investors, such as so-called vulture funds. “Five years ago a lot of what we did was trying to educate the market on what corporate private equity was,” he says. “It was difficult at the beginning, and we were fortunate that our first deal was Lily O’Brien’s. “We have a great supporter there in Mary-Anne O’Brien, who is well-known as a former senator. It was a great brand that people knew well, and a really great success story. I think getting that done really broke down some of the barriers to doing deals.” While Mr Garvey says that an obvious point of difference from vulture funds is that many of these funds invest in property, a common view is that they buy up an asset to quickly flip and make a profit. This is linked to an image of asset stripping that some people have of private equity firms, where they would take over a company, quickly sell off anything of value, and then leave once the maximum amount of cash has been extracted from the business. Mr Garvey says that CCI takes a longer-term view, investing in companies and working alongside management to build up the business. He says that the fund normally holds assets for about five years, with the aim of selling them on when their core business has expanded well and CCI can make a decent return. He points to Payzone as an example of this philosophy. When CCI bought Payzone in 2015 for a reported €39 million, the Dublin-based fintech company mainly made its revenue from mobile phone top-ups through a network of retailers across Ireland. Since CCI has invested, Payzone has diversified and now handles a variety of online payments including Leap card top-ups, M50 motorway tolls, parking fees and utility bills. While Payzone’s sales have dropped from €171 million in 2014 to €149 million in 2017, over the same period its earnings have surged from €3.3 million to just over €6 million. Last week it was announced that CCI has agreed to sell Payzone to a joint venture between AIB and the American firm First Data Corporation in a €100 million deal. This included a cash payment of €61 million, which would have helped to give CCI a healthy return on its initial investment. “We backed them, very significantly, with capital to diversify from a legacy mobile phone top-up business. They had already started doing that, but to really accelerate that growth into a well-developed payments and fintech business,” Mr Garvey says. “The growth of that business has been phenomenal. When we invested, it was doing 61 million transactions in a year, now it’s doing 125 million and earnings grew 70 per cent in the four years that we were there. “We build a plan with the management team, and that is how we generate a return.” CCI also encourages the owners of the businesses it invests in to spread some shares around at management level. As well as ensuring that everyone has some skin in the game and is pulling in the same direction, Mr Garvey says that it can also help some entrepreneurs who have spent years building up their business to take risks again. “Six of our ten deals have been founder-owner deals, and we often let them take some money off the table. In my experience founder-owners, when they have all their eggs in one basket, run their business in a particular way. “Because if it goes wrong, they lose everything. But when they take some money off the table, they look at their business in a completely different way and their appetite to grow and invest is massively different.” While people tend to think of a few industries with high-growth potential when private equity is mentioned, such as tech and health firms, Mr Garvey says that CCI invests in a range of industries. With the small size of the Irish market, the fund cannot afford to be choosey when it comes to sectors, which has resulted in it going into a diverse range of businesses from tech to food. CCI has now invested in ten companies since it was launched in 2014. Mr Garvey says that the firm plans to perhaps make two more investments by the end of the year before the fund switches focus. “We will likely do one to two more investments out of this fund, and then we will switch gears to adding value and to exiting the portfolio over a period of time. We will finish investing this fund at the end of the year,” he says. “We’re in exclusivity on one transaction and there are lots of other things in our pipeline. Private equity funds are generally about ten to 12 years in length. You spend half that time in your investment period, and then about half in the divestment phase.” While focused on guiding CCI through its divestment phase, Mr Garvey is keeping one eye on the future. “I’m a very big investor in this fund, I’m a fiduciary for my investors, I need to make sure this is a success, 110 per cent of my time is focused on that,” he says. “I would love to continue to invest in Ireland for decades to come, think there is a great opportunity, but all I’m focused on is fund one, because unless you have a good track record, there’s no point in thinking about anything else. “I do believe that private equity has a place in the Irish funding landscape, and I do think there will be lots of opportunities going forward. We’re probably still 15 years behind the UK — we’re only starting this journey.” # # #
May 4th, 2019
Peter Garvey is a Managing Director at The Carlyle Group and Co-head of Carlyle’s Ireland Fund. Mr. Garvey is based in Dublin and focuses on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities in the Irish market. Mr. Garvey is a member of the board of directors of the holding companies of The AA Ireland, Payzone Ireland, Abtran, and GSLS. Peter joined Bobby in studio this morning.
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May 27th, 2019
CCI raised €292m in 2013 and is the biggest buyout fund focused solely on Ireland. It has done 10 acquisitions in the country and is close to sealing one more.
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland’s (CCI) sale last month of Payzone Ireland for more than four times its original investment serves as a good example of the firm’s strategy in the country, according to one of the fund’s co-heads.
CCI raised €292m in 2013 and is the biggest buyout fund focused solely on Ireland. It has done 10 acquisitions in the country and is close to sealing one more. Payzone is the fund’s third and largest exit to date.
Payzone is the leading consumer payments network in Ireland. CCI bought it in April 2015 for €39m. It had a partial payout in 2016 after arranging a debt financing deal with Ulster Bank. In April, it sold the business to Allied Irish Bank and First Data for €100m.
CCI exited its investments in chocolatier Lily O’Brien, for €40m, and cash-in-transit company General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), for an undisclosed sum, in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
“From a standing start, we have done 10 deals in Ireland, soon to be 11, over the last five years. So we are thrilled with the availability and quality of companies in the Irish market,” says Peter Garvey, co-head of CCI. “We are seeing very strong deal flow this year and believe that we are only at the tip of the iceberg in terms of PE activity and penetration levels in Ireland.”
Humble beginnings
Ireland’s private equity industry has developed quickly – from humble beginnings – since the financial crisis. In 2013 the value of first-time acquisitions was just €563m, according to data provider Dealogic. The following year the value of first-time acquisitions by private equity firms rose to $2.5bn. Year-to-date, this figure is $1.2bn.
Garvey says he has seen “dozens of smaller private equity deals” in Ireland over the past five years. He expects the firms to start selling these portfolio companies over the next five years, which he believes will create an active secondary market.
To make a successful investment in Ireland, local knowledge is key, according to Garvey.
CCI’s Payzone Ireland acquisition is a case in point, he says. The Payzone group as a whole had suffered several years of weakening performance. In 2009, it recorded a loss of €203.8m. The following year, London-based Duke Street bought a majority stake as part of a restructuring of the company.
Garvey says the group had “a chequered history” before Duke Street’s acquisition in 2010, but that the Irish unit had a “great brand” and “had performed really well”.
“You wouldn’t have known that if you weren’t locally based in the Irish market,” he adds. “This is a situation where you had an asset that was probably misunderstood internationally. People thought of it as a legacy mobile top-up business but management had done a good job transitioning it. We saw a hidden gem with a real opportunity for transformational growth.”
The Payzone deal taught the CCI team the value of great management teams and the importance of spending time to get to know a business well in advance. When finding a buyer, it is also crucial to take the time to find the right fit. In addition, the team learned that to create an attractive asset, it needs to be ready to significantly invest in the business after the acquisition.
Following the acquisition of Payzone, CCI and the company’s management set to work on growing the firm’s services and improving its infrastructure.
The company invested in a new enterprise resource planning system and expanding its product range. For example, it added two additional payment options to its Parking Tag application, which allows users to pay for parking using their phones.
Expand operations
Payzone also acquired EasyPayments Plus and MyEasy Pay in 2017, for an undisclosed amount, expanding the firm’s operations into schools, clubs and small businesses. EasyPayments Plus was processing €40m worth of transactions annually at the time of the acquisition, according to the press release, with more than 140,000 registered customers.
Payzone Ireland now has more than 11,500 points of sale and processes more than 125 million transactions worth €2.5bn annually, up from 61 million transactions and €1bn in 2015. Among its more than 100 client companies are Vodafone, Virgin Media, Three and Electric Ireland.
When CCI bought the company it had earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of €6m, which rose to €8.3m in the year to September 2018. Headcount has also increased from 70 to approximately 90 employees.
Garvey added that getting the bank financing for the deal was also difficult. However, CCI’s local relationship with Ulster Bank drove it “over the line”. CCI has made a point of not putting a lot of leverage on the company from the start.
With AA Ireland, CCI took a similar approach. The firm carved-out the Irish arm of the motoring business AA in June 2016 for €156.6m. It then rolled out a new IT infrastructure and increased staff headcount by 11% to 506. The business also launched roadside battery charging for electric cars.
Following the sale of Payzone, there are now six assets remaining. The fund continues to eye new deals.
Garvey said: “We are meeting founders every week that need help in growing their companies and also larger corporates that need a reliable counterparty to sell non-core Irish assets to.”
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May 30th, 2019
Investment Will Support Company’s Expansion as Demand for Professional Waste Management Services Continues to Grow
Dublin, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, has agreed to make an investment in The City Bin Co., an award winning waste management company. The investment, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to be completed in the coming months.
The City Bin Co. was co-founded by Gene Browne in 1997 to bring a customer-centric approach to the waste management industry. Today the company is a leading provider of waste management services in both Dublin and Galway City, serving in excess of 80,000 household and commercial customers. Unlike traditional waste operators, The City Bin Co. solely focuses on source segregated waste collection from residential households and commercial businesses. The company’s core strategic focus is customer service and The City Bin Co.’s investment in people and its reputation for service excellence are renowned. The relentless pursuit of customer service excellence has delivered industry-leading customer retention rates and exceptional customer satisfaction as measured by Net Promoter Score (NPS). Approximately 150 people are employed by the company across its operations.
Gene Browne will remain as CEO of the company and the existing management team, including Niall Killilea, Managing Director and Louise Niemann, Chief Financial Officer, will continue to lead the company. Ian Daly, Director, Cardinal Capital Group, Esmond Greene, Director, The Carlyle Group, and Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group will join the board of directors of The City Bin Co. upon completion of the investment.
Gene Browne, CEO, The City Bin Co., said: “The City Bin Co. has grown consistently in a very competitive market through our customer focused business model. This approach has served us very well and truly differentiated the company. We’re delighted to partner with a fund of the pedigree, experience and resources of CCI as we prepare for our next stage of growth. Our focus will remain on setting the standard for customer service across the waste management industry and delivering exceptional value for money to our business and household clients”.
Esmond Greene, Director, The Carlyle Group, said: “The City Bin Co. investment is CCI’s eleventh in the Irish market and we are delighted to partner with a business which has an unrivalled reputation for customer service, strong brand recognition and an experienced management team that has overseen a doubling in size of the business over the past 5 years. The fragmented waste management services market provides a significant opportunity to service growing household and business demand for professional waste management services through continued investment and via acquisitions, and we look forward to supporting the company’s continued expansion and to growing the 80,000+ customer base.”
Ian Daly, Director, Cardinal Capital Group, said: “Managing waste is a critical part of any household or commercial customer’s budget and The City Bin Co.’s service and technology proposition enables it to employ the most effective and sustainable methods in processing more than 100,000 tonnes of black, green and brown waste every year. The Irish waste market is continually evolving and CCI’s focus is always to grow the companies it invests in. We and management have a collective ambition to double the size of the business over the next 5 – 6 years through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth.”
CCI has been an active growth investor in Ireland since 2014. The City Bin Co. is the fund’s eleventh investment and CCI continues to explore other investment opportunities across the Irish market. Current CCI investments include The AA Ireland, Sports Surgery Clinic, Carroll Cuisine, Learning Pool and McCauley Pharmacy Group. CCI previously invested in Lily O’Brien’s and General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS). During April 2019, CCI announced the sale of Payzone to a joint venture company established by AIB plc and First Data Corporation.
CCI’s investment in The City Bin Co. is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
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Press Contacts:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel: +353 (0)1 703 8620 Mob: +353 (0)86 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 (0)87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
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About The City Bin Co.
The City Bin Co. was co-founded by Gene Browne in 1997 to bring a customer-centric approach to the waste industry. Today it is a leading provider of waste management services in both Dublin and Galway city, serving in excess of 80,000 household and commercial customers. The City Bin Co. was the first and only company in the waste management industry to be placed on the ‘Index of Excellence’ by Excellence Ireland. The practice and pursuit of excellence is part of the company’s culture. It has been a Deloitte Best Managed Companies (Ireland) four years in a row as well as twice representing Ireland in the European Business Awards in the area of ‘Customer Focus’.
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland and investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across four business segments: Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions. With $222 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2019, Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of our investors, portfolio companies and the communities in which we live and invest. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,725 people in 33 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/OneCarlyle
Tweets: http://www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: http://www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
Advisers
The City Bin Co. and its shareholders were advised by IBI Corporate Finance, Flynn O’Driscoll Solicitors and KTA, while William Fry and PwC advised CCI.
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June 16th, 2019
‘Don’t be afraid to change your career path if you are not happy’
Each week, we profile one of Ireland’s corporate leaders, tracing their career to date and exploring the lessons they have learned along the way. This week, we meet Jonathan Cosgrave of the Carlyle Group.
Jonathan Cosgrave is a managing director at the Carlyle Group and co-head of the €292 million Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund. CCIF has invested in Irish companies including the City Bin Co and Sports Surgery Clinic, and sold Payzone for €100 million.
Tell us about your career to date.
I graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a first-class honours degree in Pharmacy and, after a brief period working as a pharmacist, returned to study at UCD’s Smurfit School of Business.
I then moved to London, joining JP Morgan’s investment banking team. In 2004, I moved into private equity, joining private equity firm Warburg Pincus where I focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities.
Ten years later, in 2014, I was headhunted by the Carlyle Group. The opportunity to move back to Dublin and co-head Carlyle’s investment business in Ireland was one I couldn’t refuse.
Are you where you expected to be in your career?
When I did my Leaving Cert, I didn’t even know that private equity existed, so to my 17-year-old self it’s a big surprise to be where I am today. Starting out in the mid-1990s, a traditional profession was considered the better career path and this, together with an interest in science, led me to Trinity College and pharmacy.
I quickly realised that working in the pharmacy industry was not for me and left it to study business. The lure of London beckoned and I accepted a job with JP Morgan without fully understanding what investment banking was all about.
It’s been a recurring theme in my career – being offered jobs in sectors of which I had no in-depth knowledge, but trusting my instincts that the path I was on was the right one.
Investment banking led me to private equity investing, which I love. I now have a 15-year track record of investing at two of the world’s biggest private equity firms which I never thought possible.
The role provides me the opportunity to look after people’s capital, solve complex problems, invest in great companies and work with brilliant management teams to support them to realise the potential of their businesses.
I’m further along in my career than I ever expected, and the biggest lesson I’ve taken away from my career is to try new things and trust your instincts. If it feels right, it probably is.
What was the best career advice you got along the way?
My old Warburg Pincus boss said to me: “Even if you’re very talented and can work hard, you’re better off fishing in a less crowded pond.”
What he meant is that if you want to excel and grow, avoid working in industries, companies and cities that attract huge waves of talent and where you are just another cog in the wheel with limited headroom.
That was very relevant when I moved to Dublin, as the private equity market was in its infancy so it was quite entrepreneurial.
Based on your own experience, what are your top career tips?
Don’t be afraid to change career paths if you are not happy. Work forms so much of our life that it would be miserable to be in a job you don’t enjoy. It takes courage to change direction or career.
I was very apprehensive taking on a new career when I realised pharmacy wasn’t for me, but what I learned was that it’s best to change quickly and it’s not a sign of failure, just another chance to learn.
In many ways, “talent” is overrated. The ability to work hard, be curious, learn quickly and act with common sense are real talents in themselves.
I’d encourage anyone starting their career to consider sales, as all jobs involve selling. People need to be better at selling themselves and their ideas – don’t hide your light under a bushel.
You only have one reputation, which takes a long time to build, but it can be taken away very quickly. So conduct your business with integrity and do the right thing every time.
I look after the capital of pension funds, the savings of individuals and I take that responsibility very seriously. I treat their money it as if it were my own and balance risk and reward when I make an investment.
Have the courage to back yourself. The prize in life goes to the person who thinks they can.
How would you define your work style, and how has this evolved over the years?
My personality leans more towards the introverted and analytical, so I’m often happiest working on my own, but that too has evolved as I’ve matured.
I’ve come to realise that there is more value in being part of a team where you can get to a better answer to a problem from the diversity of views offered.
I no longer believe every answer is black or white, but more often grey. Dealing with ambiguity is a hugely important part of investment decision-making.
In terms of managing teams and individuals, what are your insights?
Encourage and support people to develop confidence – confidence to seek advice, to take a chance, fail and call it early.
I try to listen more than I speak, and all team members need to know their views are as important as anyone else’s.
It’s also critical to be human and show your vulnerabilities – by doing so, you are indirectly giving permission for others to ask for help, to seek advice and share issues and concerns.
I also believe in constant constructive feedback. I’m not a fan of annual reviews, and prefer to provide and receive regular feedback throughout the year.
What about communication and negotiating the typical ups and downs of working life?
In general, people in Ireland are great talkers, but not always the best communicators and that was certainly the case for me when I started my career.
I have benefited from communication training and coaching over the years, which has demonstrated the power of clear and concise verbal and written communications, and the importance of non-verbal communication.
I can hold pretty definitive views, but working with so many different management teams and boards of directors has taught me the value of strong communication and debate, and that two heads are always better than one in making good decisions.
Has networking played an important part in your career?
Business is built on relationships. Establishing Carlyle in Ireland and originating investments to create a track record for the CCI Fund has meant that I have had to network extensively, and it has confirmed to me the value of making personal connections and building and maintaining relationships.
Be open-minded and genuine. Don’t feel the need to change your character to suit the situation. People choose to do business with you because they like and trust you, so be your authentic self.
If you had to choose another career tomorrow, what would it be and why?
If I wasn’t working in private equity, I’d still love to invest and manage capital on behalf of families or individuals for the long term, helping to protect and grow their capital.
# # #
2018
March 30th, 2018
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has sold a majority ownership in GSLS, Ireland’s largest independent secure logistics company, to STAR Capital (“STAR”), a leading European fund manager, for an undisclosed sum.
Founded in 2004 GSLS has grown to become one of the most advanced secure logistics companies in the Irish market, with a blue-chip customer base that includes some of the largest banks, retailers and public-sector organisations in Ireland.
CCI, the Irish private equity fund sponsored by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, acquired a majority shareholding in GSLS in 2014. The company has grown significantly during this period and GSLS now has 200 employees, up more than 70% under CCI’s ownership. This growth was achieved with significant investment in the company’s fleet, premises and IT systems enabling GSLS to introduce new and enhanced services to its customers. It has also allowed the company to become a partner of choice for the largest banks in Ireland.
STAR will continue to support GSLS’s existing management team to help the company grow and develop further.
ENDS
Press Contact:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
STAR Capital
Ed Bridges/Stephanie Ellis, FTI Consulting +44 20 3727 1000
About GSLS
GSLS is one of the most advanced cash management services companies in Ireland. Using a fleet of 90 armoured vehicles and two state-of-the art cash centres in Dublin and Limerick, it makes over 6,500 cash collections every week.
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. A €292 million private-equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities, CCI has become an important source of funding and support for Irish companies, investing in eight companies, including AA Ireland, Abtran, Carroll Cuisine, Learning Pool, Payzone, and Sam McCauley, and employing more than 4,000 people across its portfolio.
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
About The Carlyle Group The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $195 billion of assets under management across 317 investment vehicles as of December 31, 2017. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Credit and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,600 people in 31 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: http://www.carlyle.com/media-room/corporate-videos
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About STAR Capital
Established in 1999 and fully owned by its partners, STAR is a specialist investor in and developer of strategic asset-based businesses in Western Europe. Through active management, STAR is able to expose, build and realise the long-term cash flow characteristics of these businesses. Since inception, STAR has invested over €1 billion of equity across 20 businesses, representing over 70 acquisitions including add-ons.
www.star-capital.com
# # #
2017
May 18th, 2017
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Invests in Sam McCauley Chemists Limited
Co Wexford, Ireland – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, has agreed an investment in Sam McCauley Chemists Limited, the independent retail pharmacy group. The investment, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to complete before the end of the summer.
Having joined his father’s business in 1978, Sam McCauley has transformed it from a single family-owned chemist shop in Enniscorthy, County Wexford, to the third largest retail pharmacy group in Ireland. With 30 stores and almost 600 employees nationwide, the company had a turnover of €75 million in 2015. Through a relentless focus on customer service and patient well-being, Mr. McCauley spearheaded the evolution of the company from a traditional pharmacy model to a customer-led Health, Wellness and Beauty brand offering a unique combination of prestige products and services. Mr McCauley will continue as a significant shareholder of the company and remain on the board of directors alongside Ian Daly and Jonathan Cosgrave from CCI.
Upon completion of the investment, Patrick McCormack will step down as Managing Director of the company following more than 25 years’ service, to pursue other business interests. Mr McCormack joined Sam McCauley’s as a pharmacist in 1991 and was appointed Managing Director in 2007. His tenure as Managing Director has seen the company expand store numbers nationwide and launch a successful online health and beauty offering. Tony McEntee, one of Ireland’s most experienced retailing executives, and the former CEO of Allcare Pharmacy Group and Finance Director of Lifestyle Sports, will join the company as CEO following the completion of the investment.
Sam McCauley, said: “The health and well-being of our customers is at the heart of everything we do at Sam McCauley’s. We have maintained that customer focus and high degree of service as the business expanded in size over the years through a continuous focus on introducing new products and services. The investment from CCI allows us to continue this growth as an Irish-owned business and will accelerate future innovations for the benefit of our customers and for the development of our loyal employees. I thank Patrick for his commitment, dedication and long service to the business, and for the significant growth that the company achieved under his leadership. I look forward to working with Tony and CCI during this exciting next stage in the company’s evolution”.
Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group said: “CCI is focused on investment opportunities in businesses supported by strong growth drivers. We believe in the long-term potential of retail pharmacy as a cornerstone of frontline healthcare service delivery despite the unprecedented changes to the industry in recent years. The Irish population aged over 65 years is expected to increase by 35% over the next 10 years and Sam McCauley’s has a demonstrated ability to meet the increasing healthcare needs of our aging population in the community setting. We and the Sam McCauley management team have the collective ambition and capital to double the size of the company – through a combination of organic and acquisitive growth – over the next three-to-five years to maintain Sam McCauley’s as the largest Irish-owned pharmacy group.”
Ian Daly, Director, Cardinal Capital Group, said: “We are delighted that our first Irish retail sector investment is in an outstanding business servicing both patient and consumer health and wellness needs. The Sam McCauley brand is synonymous with high levels of trusted customer service and replicating this bond between its customers and employees across an expanded retail network is a key part of our investment. An increasing focus on healthier lifestyles underpins growth in the Health, Wellness & Beauty market for the foreseeable future and we believe that Sam McCauley’s superior in-store service levels and product range combined with its online, mobile and social media touch-points position the company very favourably to meet this demand.”
CCI has been an active growth investor in the Irish market over the last three years. Sam McCauley Chemists Limited is the fund’s eighth investment and the fund continues to explore other investment opportunities. Current fund investments include The AA Ireland, Payzone, Carroll Cuisine, Lily O’Brien’s, General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), Learning Pool and Abtran. Upon completion of the Sam McCauley investment, the CCI portfolio companies will employ more than 4,000 people across the island of Ireland.
The investment is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC).
*****
Press Contacts:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
About Sam McCauley Group
Sam McCauley Chemists was founded in 1953 by the late G.B. McCauley who acquired the Brooke Kelly Pharmacy at 21 Rafter Street, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford which had operated as a pharmacy since the early 1900’s. Over the next 40 years McCauley Chemists grew into a thriving enterprise. Sam McCauley and his wife Leslie, both Pharmacists, joined the family business in 1978 maintaining the well-established ‘family Chemist’ culture, long nurtured by Sam’s parents and staff.
Sam McCauley Chemists Group occupies a unique niche in the Irish retail pharmacy market. The company’s ‘One Stop Health & Beauty Shop’ concept embraces a wide range of products and services, including Digital Photo Centres, Prestige Cosmetics and Perfumery, Beauty Salons, and expanded Healthcare Services, all this in addition to the core traditional services provided by experienced friendly pharmacists and staff.
Today Sam McCauley Chemists operate 30 stores across Ireland including Wexford, Dublin, Cork, Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford, Cavan, Meath, Tipperary and Kerry. The company employs almost 600 staff, including c.40 people at its Support Office in Wexford. The award-winning company is one of the best recognized retail pharmacy brands in Ireland building on a tradition of excellent customer service. In 2016 it was voted the 4th best customer experience in Ireland according to a survey conducted by Consumer Experience Insights, making it the highest ranking pharmacy chain for customer experience in Ireland. Sam McCauley Chemists is ranked amongst the top 500 companies in Ireland and is one of a small group of retail pharmacies which holds the title of ‘Deloitte Best Managed Companies’.
Web: www.sammccauley.com
Twitter: @sammccauleychemists
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sammccauleychemists
Youtube: Sam McCauley Chemists
Instagram: sammccauleys
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $162 billion of assets under management across 287 investment vehicles as of March 31, 2017. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,550 people in 31 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market- commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
###
May 20th, 2017
Emma’s first guest is MD of the leading exponent of what is actually a relatively new concept here in Ireland, equity investment. Peter heads up the Irish wing of the The Carlyle Group, a 40 year-old global equity investment fund with Headquarters in Washington & a staggering 170 billion dollars in capital.
# # #
December 22th, 2017
Lily O’Brien’s to be acquired by Colian Holdings SA for €40 million
Strong growth during Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund Ownership to Continue with Colian
Lily O’Brien’s, the Irish manufacturer of premium chocolate and desserts, has agreed to be acquired by Colian Holding SA for €40 million on a debt-free, cash free basis from its existing shareholders, the Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Fund (CCI) and members of the Lily O’Brien’s management team. The acquisition is expected to complete in January 2018.
Based in Kildare and founded in 1992 by Mary Ann O’Brien in the kitchen of her home, Lily O’Brien’s today employs 120 people at its Newbridge plant and generated revenues in excess of €30 million during 2016.
Employing approx. 2,000 people, Colian Holdings SA is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange (COL:WSE) and is a Polish producer and distributor of food products in the confectionary, culinary products and beverage sectors. Colian has a number of leading and trusted brands in the Polish market, and exports to over 60 countries around the world. Colian also owns the well-known UK chocolate brand, Elizabeth Shaw.
CCI, the private equity fund focusing on investments across the island of Ireland founded by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, acquired a majority shareholding in Lily O’Brien’s in January 2014, investing alongside Eoin Donnelly (CEO), Mary Ann O’Brien (founder) and other members of the management team. Lily O’Brien’s has undergone significant growth during the four years of CCI ownership. Since 2013, total revenues and global export revenues have increased by almost 50%, underpinned by increased investment in production facilities and new product development.
Lily O’Brien’s represents a compelling strategic fit for Colian with its high level of brand recognition and market position, complementing Colian’s existing products. Lily O’Brien’s currently exports more than 80% of its products and the brand is sold in more than 15 countries. In addition to its international retail presence, the company also supplies airlines and food services companies, with the brand available on 20 airlines around the world. Lily O’Brien’s has a successful innovation track record that can be applied across the enlarged group, as well as an accomplished international management team.
Lily O’Brien’s will continue to be run by its existing Irish management team led by CEO, Eoin Donnelly, with Mary Ann O’Brien remaining as a director and consultant to the company. Colian’s vision is to continue the growth trajectory of Lily O’Brien’s as a premium global chocolate and dessert brand through further investment in production, sales and marketing, and innovation. Lily O’Brien’s will continue to develop its Newbridge operations to support this growth.
Eoin Donnelly, CEO, Lily O’Brien’s said; “CCI has been a fantastic partner for Lily O’Brien’s and the management team over the last four years, as the company increased its international sales, invested in new production capacity and enlarged the employee base. We selected Colian as the new owner for the business given our shared vision of growing our brand globally. Colian exports to over 60 countries worldwide, providing us with access to potential new markets, and their commitment to new product development and innovation is very exciting for employees and the company”.
Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group said; “Lily O’Brien’s was our first investment in the Irish market and working with a world class management team led by Eoin and Mary Ann has been a privilege for us. The business has grown in every respect during the four years of our investment and the acquisition price recognises the value of both the Lily O’Brien’s brand and the capabilities of the business. It has also created a sustainable impact for the Irish economy”.
Nick Corcoran, Founder, Cardinal Capital Group said; “The Lily O’Brien’s investment highlights the value of private equity for Irish companies and their management teams. Over the last four years, we have become an important source of funding and support for Irish companies, investing in eight companies, including AA Ireland, Carroll’s and Sam McCauley, and employing more than 4,000 people across our portfolio. We look forward to supporting more Irish companies with investment in 2018. We thank Lily’s management team and employees for all their efforts and wish them and Colian continued success for the future”.
Ends.
Press Contacts:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
Colian Holding SA
Beata Kolterman, Kolterman Media Communications
Tel. +48 501184164, b.kolterman@kmc-pr.pl
About Lily O’Brien’s
Lily O’Brien’s is an Irish-based manufacturer of premium chocolates and desserts. It was founded by Mary Ann O’Brien, a well-known Irish businesswoman, in 1992. Although well established in Ireland, Lily O’Brien’s is an export-led business with over 80% of its turnover derived from international sales in more than 15 countries. Lily O’Brien’s primary focus is premium branded chocolate and it offers a diverse range of chocolate products including gifting, everyday, self-treat and seasonal products. Lily O’Brien’s expanded into the desserts sector in 2011 and now supplies its branded products into blue chip international airlines and food service companies. 120 people are employed at Lily O’Brien’s headquarters in Newbridge where the company’s manufacturing and product development operations are located.
About Colian Holdings SA
Founded in 1990 by Jan Kolański as a producer of organic herbs and spices for the domestic Polish market, Colian is now a leading European branded business with strong international recognition through its successful exporting to over 60 countries across the world. Colian operates across three strategic business units including confectionary, culinary products (seasoning products, nuts and dried fruit) and beverages. Colian’s acquisition of Elizabeth Shaw, a UK chocolate business, in 2016 represented Colian’s first international acquisition and of its strategy of continued expansion into international markets through high quality and well-loved brands.
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $174 billion of assets under management across 306 investment vehicles as of September 30, 2017. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,550 people in 31 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market- commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real-estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
Advisers
Lily O’Brien’s and its shareholders were advised by IBI Corporate Finance, PwC, KPMG and A&L Goodbody.
2016
May 03th, 2016
Award Winning e-Learning Company Moves to Next Phase of Growth With New Investor Partner
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has invested in Learning Pool, the Northern Ireland based e-learning company which delivers cost effective online learning solutions to organisations throughout the United Kingdom. The company enjoys a significant presence in the UK market where over 80% of local councils use Learning Pool for effective staff training. CCI, the private-equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group to undertake investments on the island of Ireland, will partner with existing management and staff to continue the company’s growth and drive product innovation. The financial terms of the investment have not been disclosed.
Founded in 2006 by CEO Paul McElvaney, Derry-based Learning Pool now employs 80 people servicing clients in the UK, Ireland and internationally. Every day a community of 1.25 million learners across 350 companies and government bodies uses Learning Pool’s products and services to meet compliance requirements and drive performance improvement. Learning Pool’s award winning technology and training catalogues are used by a range of companies in both the public and private sectors. Customer organisations include the NHS, the UK Houses of Parliament, Jury’s Inn, Capita, and British Sugar.
Learning Pool’s decision to partner with CCI was driven by the fund’s global contacts and strategic experience in growing similar sized companies. The investment from CCI will help Learning Pool continue to build out the team and develop new, innovative products to serve existing customers and attract new ones. Learning Pool’s existing management team, including CEO Paul McElvaney, will continue in their current leadership roles and are investing further as shareholders in the business. Jonathan Cosgrave and John Dolan from CCI will join the board of directors of Learning Pool.
Paul McElvaney, CEO, Learning Pool said: “We have always believed in Learning Pool’s potential to take on the world and have doubled our business over the last three years. In CCI we believe we have exactly the right partners to help us develop our business and help us realise that potential. This investment will fast track our growth and allows us to build out our technology and content at a quicker pace for our customers benefit. I’m excited about the next phase of Learning Pool’s growth that will see us deliver more product innovation and significant expansion of our customer base and our team.”
Jonathan Cosgrave, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group said: “Learning Pool is well positioned to continue growing its share of the estimated £675 million UK e-learning market. We’ve been impressed with Learning Pool’s innovative technologies, quality of service and the entrepreneurial leadership team, and we look forward to supporting further growth of the business. We’re also delighted to complete our first investment in Northern Ireland and we continue to look at other potential investments in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group said: “The recent trend has been for companies to spend more of their training budgets online. The ease of access for employees from mobile devices together with a more consistent experience means the e-learning market is growing at over 10% each year. Learning Pool is ideally placed to meet this demand with their online offering and training catalogues which companies can customise as they require. Effectively, Learning Pool provides its customers with a one-stop solution for their e-learning needs.”
Equity for the investment will come from Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, a €292 million private equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland. The fund has previously completed investments in Abtran, a business process-management company, Tullamore-based cooked meats producer Carroll Cuisine, Kildare-based premium chocolate manufacturer Lily O’Brien’s, General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish cash management solutions provider, and Payzone, the largest provider of multi-channel consumer payments across Ireland.
* * * * *
Press Contact:
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
About Learning Pool
Leaning Pool is Northern Ireland’s largest e-learning company. Founded in Derry in 2006 by Paul McElvaney, Learning Pool’s 80 employees deliver a one-stop-shop solution for organisations seeking consistent and cost effective online learning services to train their employees.
Customer organisations typically use Learning Pool’s online learning services to meet a compliance requirement or to improve organisational performance. Learning Pool provide a hosted online-learning management system that allows training to be published, tracked and reported, and a library of online content catalogues that can be tailored to individual customer training requirements. Through Learning Pool’s annual subscription offering, customers benefit from a flat-rate affordable solution which is capable of delivering the appropriate training to their learners regardless of when or where learner access is required.
Learning Pool’s clients include Government bodies, public sector organisations and mid-to-large corporates operating across a range of sectors. The company has a significant presence in the hospitality, healthcare and public sectors. Customers include the NHS; Amway; Jury’s Inn; Somerset County Council; the UK Houses of Parliament, Capita, British Sugar, St James Hospital (Dublin), the Nursing and Midwifery Council (UK), and the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health.
An award-winning company, Learning Pool achieved the highest possible accreditation of three stars in the 2016 Sunday Times list of Top 100 companies to work for – an accolade reserved for companies regarded to be ‘extraordinary’. CEO Paul McElvaney was named SME Director of the Year for Northern Ireland by the Institute of Directors in April 2016. In 2015, Learning Pool was named one of Ireland’s fastest growing technology companies in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Awards, won the Institute of Customer Service, Customer Focus Award and was recognised by the Learning and Performance Institute as their Learning Provider of the Year.
Web: www.learningpool.com
Twitter: @LearningPool
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/learning-pool-ltd
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $178 billion of assets under management across 125 funds and 164 fund of funds vehicles as of March 31, 2016. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 36 offices across six continents
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
# # #
June 29th, 2016
The Carlyle Group & Carlyle Cardinal Ireland to acquire AA Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) has partnered with Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners (CGFSP) to acquire the AA Ireland from the AA plc (AA:LSE) for €156.6 million including consideration for cash left on balance sheet.
The AA has been operating in Ireland for over 100 years and is a highly respected and trusted brand. The AA Ireland is one of the largest insurance intermediaries in Ireland and one of the best known motoring services provider employing more than 430 people. The company is a highly diversified business with more than 350,000 customers across its motor, home, travel and life businesses.
The business in Ireland will continue to be run by the current executive team, who have also invested in the company, led by Brendan Nevin, CEO. Peter Garvey, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group and Michael Savage, Carlyle Global Financial Services Partners, led the investment for the buyers.
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI) have been active growth investors in the Irish market over the last two years and are current investors in a range of well-known Irish branded companies including Lily O’Brien’s, Carroll Cuisine and Payzone.
The Carlyle Group previously made a highly successful investment in the RAC in the UK and also has a deep understanding of the insurance sector through its investments notably including PIB Insurance Brokers, Barbon, JenCap and Epic.
Brendan Nevin, CEO, The AA Ireland, said: “We are excited that the AA Ireland will now be an Irish headquartered company run by its local management team. Our new owners have a proven track record of success across the sectors we operate in, which will benefit the AA Ireland as we look to continue growing the company.”
“Our focus is on delivering great products and services and our recent entry into the life assurance market is a signal of bigger and better things to come for our members and customers in Ireland.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group, said: “This is CCI’s seventh investment in growing Irish companies since 2014 and we continue to explore further potential investments. The AA Ireland is a fantastic brand with a high degree of recognition and trust among consumers. That trust, and the premium service provided by AA Ireland’s 430 employees is reflected in the high customer-retention rates. With our investment building on the existing strengths of the business, there is a strong platform to achieve the long-term growth opportunities that have been identified for AA Ireland.”
Peter Garvey, Managing Director, The Carlyle Group, said: “Our firm has a keen understanding of the motoring services and insurance sectors. Through the introduction of key value creation initiatives at RAC we successfully grew revenues by 83% across a four year period. We will look to bring that relevant experience to bear at The AA Ireland. We are committed to working with Brendan and the executive team, supporting continued investment to deliver fantastic products and services to the Irish market.”
The acquisition of The AA Ireland is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the Central Bank of Ireland.
*****
Press Contacts:
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710 laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666 tom@tommcenaney.com
AA Ireland
Conor Faughnan
Tel: +353 87 2530495 faughnanc@theaa.ie
About AA Ireland
The AA is Ireland’s major motoring organisation and one of the country’s leading consumer service businesses. It specialises in Motor, Home & Travel insurance and it provides emergency rescue for people on the Road and in the Home. It has a customer base of more than 350,000 customers across its motor, home, travel and life businesses. The AA Rescue service attends well over 100,000 car break downs every year, 80% of which are fixed on-the-spot.
About Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group. The €292 million private equity fund is focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across the island of Ireland.
The fund has previously completed six investments including Abtran, a business process-management company, Tullamore-based cooked meats producer Carroll Cuisine, Kildare-based premium chocolate manufacturer Lily O’Brien’s, General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish cash management solutions provider, Learning Pool, the Northern Ireland based e-learning company and Payzone, the largest provider of multi-channel consumer payments across Ireland.
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital, directing private-equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors in the Irish market. Cardinal invests its own capital alongside institutional funders to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams as well as real estate investors and developers.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
About Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $178 billion of assets under management across 125 funds and 164 fund of funds vehicles as of March 31, 2016. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 36 offices across six continents
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
###
2015
March 09th, 2015
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Invests in Payzone, Provider of Consumer Payments Solutions in Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland joins management to support future growth of the business
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the Irish private equity fund founded by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, today announced that it has agreed to acquire Payzone Ireland, the largest provider of multi-channel consumer payments across the country, from Duke Street. The change in ownership will have no impact on the day-to-day business operations of Payzone in Ireland. The senior management team, including Mike Maloney, Jim Deignan and Nigel Bell, will remain in their roles and will roll over substantial equity into the new partnership.
With 11,800 points of sale across 7,000 agents, Payzone Ireland has one of the largest physical retail payments networks in Ireland. It is estimated that 97% of all consumers in Ireland are within a quarter of a mile of a Payzone agent, providing them with a convenient way to pay for a multitude of everyday items from road tolls to energy bills to mobile phone top-ups.
Peter Garvey, Director of Carlyle said: “As well as being a prominent and reputable brand in Ireland, Payzone is a high quality business with a great management team who have helped grow and diversify the business in recent years. CCI’s extensive experience in backing consumer and financial services businesses means that we are well-placed to work with Payzone’s leadership to continue their growth journey in the coming years.”
Jim Deignan, Managing Director Payzone Ireland, commented: “Payzone is at the forefront of developing the e-payments industry in Ireland and processes more than 1 million transactions per week in retail, online and mobile phone payments. We have worked hard to grow the business to offer many new and exciting products to the consumer across a variety of channels, including in store, online or via our apps. Our recent focus has been in the areas of transport, utilities and financial services, where consumers are increasingly using electronic payments. We are committed to this growth path with CCI as our new partner, benefiting from their experience in working with other businesses like ours.”
Charlie Troup, Partner at Duke Street, majority shareholder in the Payzone Group, added:
“We are proud to have worked with Payzone’s talented management team through the journey of restructuring the group, and growing and selling its Cashzone ATM operations while strengthening the market position of the remaining Payzone businesses and generating excellent returns for Duke Street’s investors. This hard work has delivered an attractive business with significant further growth potential. We see CCI as well qualified to back management for the next phase of growth.”
Equity for the investment will come from CCI, a €292 million Irish private equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across Ireland whose investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland. The fund has also made investments in the Kildare-based premium chocolate manufacturer Lily O’Brien’s, and General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish cash management solutions provider.
The operations of Payzone UK and Payzone Romania, the two remaining businesses in the original Payzone Group, are unaffected by the deal.
The acquisition of Payzone Ireland by CCI is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
* * * * *
Enquiries
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 8143710
laurie@mkc.ie
Payzone Ireland
Sheila Gahan, Wilson Hartnell
Tel 01 669 0030 /087 234 2409
sheila.gahan@ogilvy.com
Duke Street
Stephen Benzikie, IHA Consulting
Tel. +44 20 3393 1185
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $194 billion of assets under management across 128 funds and 142 fund of funds vehicles as of December 31, 2014. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 40 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: http://www.carlyle.com/news-room/corporate-videos_new
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About CardinalCardinal Capital Group (“Cardinal”) is a specialist investment management firm with offices in London and Dublin. Cardinal’s business activities encompass alternative investment management including hedge funds, private equity and real estate. Cardinal Asset Management Limited (UK) is registered and authorised by the Financial Services Authority as a financial advisor and maintains regulatory approval to conduct a wide range of financial services activities. Cardinal was founded in 2003 by Nigel McDermott and Nick Corcoran.
About Payzone Ireland
Payzone Ireland is the largest consumer payments network in the country with over 7,000 retail agents which process a variety of electronic transactions services, including: mobile phone top ups; debit/credit card transactions; M50 motorway toll payments; Leap travel cards; local property tax payments; parking fees; pre-paid utility and parcel collection services. Based in Sandyford, Dublin the company employs over 70 people in Ireland. Payzone’s focus is on delivering leading edge payment services that drive greater efficiency for clients and increased revenues for its retail partners. As industry leader, Payzone’s technology credentials, capabilities and expertise are a particular strength of the business.
About Duke Street
Duke Street is a leading operationally focused European mid-market buyout group, founded in 1988. It is currently investing across five key sectors: business services, financial services, consumer, healthcare and industrials/engineering. Duke Street has a proven model of value creation by successfully transforming businesses through implementing operational change and buy and build, having made nearly 60 bolt-on acquisitions for its portfolio companies. Other Duke Street investments in the financial services arena have included Marlin and Xafinity. Duke Street has a strategic partnership with its cornerstone investor Tikehau Capital, a leading alternative asset manager with more than EUR 5 billion of assets.
# # #
March 31th, 2015
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the Irish private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group, has finalised the terms of its investment in Carroll Cuisine, backing a management buy-out of the company from Aryzta AG. The transaction, terms of which are not being released, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2015.
Kieran Carolan, CEO, Carroll Cuisine, said: “As the largest equity investment fund in the Irish market coupled with extensive experience working with branded food companies both within Ireland and internationally, CCI is the ideal partner to support the future growth of the business. Carroll Cuisine is now well placed to maintain our strong business momentum, and to further consolidate our position as the leading supplier of cooked meats and chilled ready meal meals in the country. Our focus will be on continuing new product development and innovation to support further expansion of the business.”
The company’s existing management team – CEO Kieran Carolan, COO John Comerford and Finance Director Fiona Delaney – have acquired a shareholding in the business and will continue in their leadership roles. Jonathan Cosgrave, a Carlyle Director and John Dolan, a Cardinal Director, will join the board of Carroll Cuisine.
Carroll Cuisine produces and distributes branded and private label pre-packed sliced cooked meats, deli hams, chilled ready meals and other chilled food products, supplying large grocery retailers and convenience stores across Ireland. The company employs 150 people in Tullamore.
Carlyle Director Jonathan Cosgrave, said: “Carroll Cuisine is a great example of the type of high quality business CCI seeks to invest in – a proven company driven by a brand with a unique heritage and consumer appeal, and with a track record of growth and innovation. We are excited to partner with the management team and believe that CCI’s investment will help the management team achieve their ambitions.”
Cardinal Director John Dolan, commented: “The food sector is a core focus for our investment fund. We see this as a first step in building a larger company with a broader portfolio of chilled food businesses in Ireland. The combination of Carroll Cuisine’s leading market position and state-of-the-art production facilities in Tullamore provides a strong platform to expand and grow as the leading Irish chilled food supplier.”
Hilliard Lombard, Chief Executive of ARYZTA Europe and Asia Pacific, said: “We are pleased to see how Carroll Cuisine flourished under our ownership. Considerable investment in the company over recent years has enabled the brand to expand its presence in existing and new markets, increasing sales in the process. We wish the team continued success.”
Mr. Lombard added: “ARYZTA’s programme of investment in Ireland continues. We are advancing our ARYZTA Food Solutions and ARYZTA Bakeries businesses from our €200 million centre of excellence in Grangecastle, with further growth developments anticipated this year.”
Equity for the investment will come from CCI, a €292 million Irish private equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across Ireland, whose investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and EnterpriseIreland. The fund has also made investments in the Kildare-based premium chocolate manufacturer Lily O’Brien’s, General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish cash management solutions provider, and Payzone, the largest provider of multi-channel consumer payments across Ireland.
* * * * *
Enquiries
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel: +353 1 703 8620 / 086 8143710
laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666
tom@tommcenaney.com
Carroll Cuisine / ARYZTA AG
Dan Pender, PR360
Tel: +353 1 6371777 / 087 2313415
dan@pr360.ie
Paddy O’Dea, PR360
Tel: +353 1 6371777 / 086 3573365
paddy@pr360.ie
About Carroll Cuisine
Carroll Cuisine produces and distributes branded and private label pre-packed sliced cooked meats, deli hams, chilled ready meals and other chilled food products. Carroll Cuisine products can be found in all retail outlets across Ireland. www.carrollcuisine.ie
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $194 billion of assets under management across 128 funds and 142 fund of funds vehicles as of December 31, 2014. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than 1,650 people in 40 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: http://www.carlyle.com/news-room/corporate-videos_new
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group (Cardinal) is a specialist provider of alternative capital directing private equity capital, mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of sectors including technology, food, healthcare, support services, financial services and real estate. Founded in 2003, Cardinal invests the principals own capital alongside international institutional investors to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams. Cardinal has an extensive client base of international investors including domestic and international sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, endowments, global public and private pension funds, family offices and insurance companies. Cardinal Capital Group is authorized as an alternative investment fund manager and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
About Aryzta
ARYZTA AG (‘ARYZTA’) is a global food business with a leadership position in speciality bakery. ARYZTA is based in Zurich, Switzerland, with operations in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. ARYZTA has a primary listing on the SIX Swiss Exchange and a secondary listing on the ISE Irish Exchange (SIX: ARYN, ISE: YZA).
# # #
November 23th, 2015
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland joins management to support future growth of the business
Dublin – Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the Irish private equity fund established by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group, today announced that it has finalised the terms of an investment in Abtran, a provider of Business Process Management (BPM) services in Ireland. The transaction, terms of which are not being disclosed, is expected to close in early 2016.
Abtran is one of Ireland’s largest providers of customer and business process management services, employing over 2,000 people in Cork and Dublin. Established in 1997, the company has a proven capability in delivering transformative service solutions to public and private sector clients across multiple sectors.
Abtran’s existing management team, including CEO Michael Fitzgerald and COO Pat Ryan, will continue in their leadership roles and are investing further as shareholders in the business. John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal, Peter Garvey, Managing Director, Carlyle and Nick Corcoran, Cardinal founder will join the board of Abtran.
Michael Fitzgerald, CEO, Abtran said, “CCI is the largest equity investment fund in the Irish market and brings extensive local and international experience to Abtran which will be of significant strategic benefit to us in the future. Abtran is continuing its successful growth and development including major investments in facilities, technologies, skills and resources. We are also growing our IFSC-based Consulting and Technology Services Division which forms an important part of our future. The CCI investment provides access to capital which will underpin a strategic and structured growth programme and will also ensure continuing long term career development opportunities for our people.”
John Dolan, Managing Director, Cardinal Capital Group said, “This is CCI’s fifth investment in fast-growing Irish companies in the last two years, reflecting the significant growth opportunities in the Irish market. Michael and the Abtran team have exciting plans for the development of the business in the medium term and using CCI’s network and resources we look forward to working with management to accelerate those growth plans.”
Peter Garvey, Managing Director, Carlyle said, “Abtran is a deeply innovative company with an excellent management team who have a clear vision for the future growth of the company. Its success to date has been built on an impressive track record of high quality service delivery for a diverse base of clients. Abtran has identified a range of strategic opportunities including international growth in key market sectors where it already has strong expertise and we’re looking forward to partnering with the company in realising these plans.”
The investment is subject to approval from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.
Equity for the investment will come from Carlyle Cardinal Ireland, a €292 million Irish private equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across Ireland, whose investors include the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund and Enterprise Ireland. The fund has also made investments in Tullamore-based Carroll Cuisine, Kildare-based premium chocolate manufacturer Lily O’Brien’s, General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish cash management solutions provider, and Payzone, the largest provider of multi-channel consumer payments across Ireland.
* * * * *
Enquiries
The Carlyle Group
Laurie Mannix, MKC Communications
Tel. +353 1 703 8620 Mob: 086 814 3710
laurie@mkc.ie
Cardinal Capital Group
Tom McEnaney, McEnaney Media
Tel: +353 87 2222 666
tom@tommcenaney.com
Abtran
Tim Kinsella, MKC Communications
Mob: +353 86 813 7512
tim@mkc.ie
About Abtran
Abtran is one of Ireland’s largest providers of customer and business process management services, employing over 2,000 people in Cork and Dublin. Established in 1997, the company has a proven capability in delivering transformative service solutions to public and private sector clients across multiple sectors.
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between The Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $188 billion of assets under management across 126 funds and 160 fund of funds vehicles as of September 30, 2015. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Investment Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs more than
1,700+ people in 35 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: http://www.carlyle.com/news-room/corporate-videos_new
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal Capital Group
Cardinal Capital Group (Cardinal) is Ireland’s leading provider of alternative capital directing private equity capital, real estate mezzanine finance and alternative lending to a broad range of business sectors including technology, food, healthcare, business services, financial services and real estate. The Cardinal team consists of experienced professionals with a proven track record, internationally and domestically, of investing in and assisting the development and growth of companies operating across a broad range of sectors.
Founded in 2003, Cardinal is an innovative investment firm that invests its own capital alongside international institutional investors to support entrepreneurs and corporate management teams. Cardinal has an extensive client base of institutional investors including domestic and international sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, endowments, global public and private pension funds, family offices and insurance companies.
Web: www.cardinalcapitalgroup.com
# # #
2014
January 27th, 2014
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland joins the founder to support future growth of the business
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the Irish private equity fund founded by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital Group today announced it has made a significant investment in Lily O’Brien’s, the Irish manufacturer of premium chocolates and desserts sold in 16 countries.
Equity for this investment comes from CCI, a new fund that invests in small and medium-sized businesses across Ireland. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1992 from her kitchen in Kildare, Mary Ann O’Brien has grown Lily O’Brien’s into a global brand name in premium chocolates and desserts now employing 260 people at peak production times. As well as a burgeoning online business, Lily O’Brien’s supplies branded products to many high street retailers and airlines.
The company has driven strong product growth outside of the UK and Ireland, with 2012 sales to Australia increasing by 370% between 2011 and 2012, and sales to the U.S. increasing by 100% in the same period.
Robert Easton, Managing Director of CCI said: “Lily O’Brien’s is a great example of an Irish business with a world-class reputation. We are delighted to join the founder and management team to continue to grow the business. The company’s growth has accelerated in recent years, thanks to their unique recipes delivering award-winning products fuelling increasing demand in the domestic and international marketplace. Our investment will help Lily O’Brien’s takes their chocolates and desserts to an even wider audience of consumers around the world.”
Founder Mary Ann O’Brien, who will continue to play an active role within the company, said: “The success of our business is thanks to Eoin Donnelly, managing director, our management team, staff and loyal customer base. While we have grown Lily O’Brien’s from a kitchen table business into an international brand, the investment from CCI, along with CCI’s global network should ensure Lily O’Brien’s continues to grow to the next level. The CCI team has a proven track record of working with businesses such as ours and we are excited about what we can achieve in the coming years.
* * * * *
Enquiries
The Carlyle Group
Catherine Armstrong
catherine.armstrong@carlyle.com
+44 20 7894 1632
Cardinal Capital Group
Catherine Troy
catherine.troy@cardinalcapitalgroup.com
+ 353 1 631 9730
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland is a joint venture between Carlyle Group and Cardinal Capital Group.
The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $185 billion of assets under management across 122 funds and 81 fund of funds vehicles as of September 30, 2013. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Fund of Funds Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America.
Cardinal Capital Group (“Cardinal”)
Cardinal Capital Group (“Cardinal”) is a specialist investment management firm with offices in London and Dublin. Cardinal’s business activities encompass alternative investment management including hedge funds, private equity and real estate. Cardinal Asset Management Limited (UK) is registered and authorised by the Financial Services Authority as a financial advisor and maintains regulatory approval to conduct a wide range of financial services activities. Cardinal was founded in 2003 by Nigel McDermott and Nick Corcoran.
About Lily O’Brien’s
Lily O’Brien’s Chocolates started life as the brainchild of Mary Ann O’Brien who in 1992 discovered her true passion for all things chocolate. Embarking on a journey of discovery, Mary Ann honed her chocolate-making skills among world class chefs and chocolatiers in both South Africa and Europe before starting her own mini enterprise from her Kildare kitchen. With little more than two saucepans, a wooden spoon and her then toddler, Lily, acting as production manager Mary Ann began to create high quality chocolate recipes for friends and family. Not satisfied with the scale of her enterprise she soon expanded in the hope of positioning excellent Irish chocolate on the world map. Naming the company after her daughter Lily seemed like the most natural thing to do at the time and since then Lily O’Brien’s chocolates has established itself as one of Ireland’s best-loved chocolatiers.
With Mary Ann still at the helm of the business, the passion that first inspired her chocolate honeycomb hedgehogs is still present in every aspect of the business, and family values remain at the very core of Lily O’Brien’s. Based in the heart of Co. Kildare, Mary Ann and her team continue to develop mouth-watering chocolate creations using the finest quality ingredients.
# # #
November 16th, 2014
Carlyle Cardinal Ireland Invests in General Secure Logistics Services
Investment to Provide Growth Opportunities for the Irish Provider of Cash Management and Cash Logistics Services
Dublin, Ireland — Carlyle Cardinal Ireland (CCI), the Irish private equity fund formed by The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) and Cardinal Capital, today announced it has invested in General Secure Logistics Services (GSLS), an Irish Cash Management Solutions provider.
GSLS provides a comprehensive cash logistics service, including cash in transit services, cash processing and the supply of notes and coins to an array of businesses across the Republic of Ireland.
Equity for the investment came from CCI, a €292 million Irish private equity fund focused on growth capital and buyout investment opportunities across Ireland. The investment was completed on September 30, 2014.
A spokesman for GSLS said: “We are pleased to partner with CCI to continue building our business. The investment, along with the expertise and network of CCI, will allow us to continue to grow and serve our diverse customer base.”
Further details of the transaction were not disclosed.
* * * * *
About GSLS
Independent Irish company operating in the cash logistics sector. The company was founded in 2004 and provides the following services to both financial and retail clients:
· Cash collections
· Cash verification, reporting and banking
· Coin and note supply (floats)
· International movements
· High valuable storage
Currently the business employs 140 people based in Dublin and Limerick.
About The Carlyle Group
The Carlyle Group (NASDAQ: CG) is a global alternative asset manager with $203 billion of assets under management across 129 funds and 141 fund of funds vehicles as of September 30, 2014. Carlyle’s purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, many of whom are public pensions. Carlyle invests across four segments – Corporate Private Equity, Real Assets, Global Market Strategies and Solutions – in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and South America. Carlyle has expertise in various industries, including: aerospace, defense & government services, consumer & retail, energy, financial services, healthcare, industrial, real estate, technology & business services, telecommunications & media and transportation. The Carlyle Group employs 1,700 people in 40 offices across six continents.
Web: www.carlyle.com
Videos: www.youtube.com/onecarlyle
Tweets: www.twitter.com/onecarlyle
Podcasts: www.carlyle.com/about-carlyle/market-commentary
About Cardinal:
Cardinal Capital Group (“Cardinal”) is a specialist investment management firm with offices in London and Dublin. Cardinal’s business activities encompass alternative investment management including hedge funds, private equity and real estate. Cardinal Asset Management Limited (UK) is registered and authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority as a financial advisor and maintains regulatory approval to conduct a wide range of financial services activities. Cardinal was founded in 2003.
Media contacts:
CCI:
Media.Europe@carlyle.com