ADDED
VALUE
We add value from our unique investor network, strengthening company boards with seasoned industry experts in non-executive positions and connecting management teams to individuals with a wealth of experience spanning sectors and borders.
ACCESS TO EXPERTISE
Our investment team has a strong track record of delivering value through private company investments. We’re seeking quality SME management teams in profitable businesses, offering hidden value and the potential for growth.
AFTER
TRANSACTION
After completing the transaction, the Rockpool team supports management at a board level to help create value in the business. We particularly seek to add value in the following areas:
- Optimisation of the finance function and management reporting practices
- Introducing experienced non-executive directors and advisers
- Establishing good governance practices
- M&A support (opportunities, deal structuring, negotiation, M&A process, integration support)
- Strategy setting
- Helping to build structure for organic growth initiatives
- Conferences and networking for senior leadership, with access to the wider Rockpool portfolio
- Value creation for eventual exit to mid-market private equity/strategic trade acquirers
We emphasise that we invest to support management teams, and never to dictate how to run their business. We seek to back exceptional management teams and believe they are best placed to deliver growth.
EXITED CASE STUDY
BLUME
blume is a fast growing specialist in the generation of qualified leads for a panel of UK law firms across a number of end sectors, making use of proprietary technology.
Rockpool invested into blume in February 2022, providing growth capital and a partial cash-out for the founder. The investment helped blume to drive further growth via the acquisition of a complementary lead generation and tech specialist business, investment in technology, and senior hires.
New hires to help the founder to deliver on the value creation strategy included an Executive Chair, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Product Officer, Head of Compliance, and Head of People. blume completed the acquisition of fellow lead generation provider, Online Legal, in September 2022.
Since Rockpool’s investment profitability more than trebled. Rockpool and management realised our investment in blume in November 2022 following an approach from a private equity backed trade acquiror. This generated an equity return of 4.4x in under a year.
RECENT EXITS
BLUME
Rockpool invested into blume in February 2022, providing growth capital and a partial cash-out for the founder. The investment helped blume to drive further growth via the acquisition of a complementary lead generation and tech specialist business, investment in technology, and senior hires.
New hires to help the founder to deliver on the value creation strategy included an Executive Chair, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Product Officer, Head of Compliance, and Head of People. blume completed the acquisition of fellow lead generation provider, Online Legal, in September 2022.
Since Rockpool’s investment profitability more than trebled. Rockpool and management realised our investment in blume in November 2022 following an approach from a private equity backed trade acquiror. This generated an equity return of 4.4x in under a year.
MECSIA
Rockpool invested in December 2020, backing the incumbent management team with a management buyout from the founder. Rockpool subsequently provided three additional funding rounds to support Mecsia’s acquisitions of Acorn Engineering, SK Heating, Artic Building Services and Scott Combustion. These acquisitions provided the business with additional scale, expertise and geographic presence, increasing EBITDA by over 8 times. Revenues increased from £15m to over £100m under Rockpool’s ownership.
Mecsia was sold to Synova in 2024 following a highly competitive auction process. The sale generated a blended return of 7.0x capital invested across four rounds of funding (including acquisitions). Rockpool investors that supported the original MBO of Mecsia in December 2020 generated an 11x return on capital invested.
Rockpool re-invested for a minority stake alongside management and Synova and will continue to support Mecsia on its buy and build journey.
TRUSTEDHOUSESITTERS
TrustedHousesitters currently operates in over 130 countries, the platform has facilitated more than two million nights of house sitting, saving its members over £170m in accommodation and pet care costs.
In 2018, Rockpool provided debt and equity funding to de-risk the founders and to provide development capital to further accelerate growth in the business. In 2021, Rockpool provided further capital to accelerate growth and international expansion in the United States.
Rockpool exited its investment in TrustedHousesitters to Mayfair Equity Partners LLP in December 2023, valuing the business at over $100m and delivering a strong return for investors. Rockpool re-invested alongside Mayfair to support TrustedHousesitters in its next phase of growth.