
BGF invests £4.5m in Simworx
The Business Growth Fund (BGF) has invested £4.5m in Simworx, a designer of theme park attractions.
The investment will be used to support Simworx's acquisition of RoboCoaster, a designer of theme-park rides.
The fresh capital will also be used to double the size of Simworx's production plant in Kingswinford, and to increase its demonstration facilities. Furthermore, the company plans to hire 20 new people over the coming year.
The deal took 15 months to complete.
Company
Based in the West Midlands, Simworx specialises in media-based theme park attractions. The company created the Angry Birds 4D cinema at Thorpe Park, as well as one of the attractions at the newly opened Shrek's Adventure theme park in London, whereby riders board a themed motion simulator, surrounded by a 360 degree 3D cinema screen as well as sound, smell and weather effects.
Established in 2005, the business currently employs 30 people.
Warwickshire-based RoboCoaster is a developer of passenger-carrying robotic technology and trackless dark rides.
People
Terry Monkton and Andrew Roberts founded Simworx. Gino De-Gol created RoboCoaster.
As part of the deal, BGF has named Mike Lloyd as the company's non-executive chairperson. Gurinder Sunner and Mark Freer led the deal for BGF.
Advisers
Equity – Gateley (Legal).
Company (Simworx) – Higgs & Sons (Legal); Claritas (Tax); Intelligent Corporate Finance (Financial due diligence).
Company (RoboCoaster) – DWF (Legal).
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