
BGF sells Molecular Products Group to Arlington
Business Growth Fund (BGF) has sold its stake in Molecular Products Group (MPG), a UK manufacturer of breathable gas generators, to US private equity firm Arlington Capital Partners after a two-year holding period.
Financial details of the deal remain undisclosed, though the business has increased its operating profits from £1.2m to £2m between the financial years ending March 2014 and March 2016, according to publicly available figures. Furthermore, the business currently generates 93% of its revenues from non-UK sales and therefore could benefit from the recent devaluation in sterling following the UK's vote to leave the EU.
As part of the deal, MPG's US president, Troy Rhudy, will assume the leadership of the group, with CEO Ian McKernan and general manager Andrew McKernan stepping down. According to publicly available records, Arlington managing partner Peter Manos and vice-president Christopher Neil Stallmann will take a seat on the MPG board.
Since BGF’s initial investment two years ago, MPG has undertaken an international expansion strategy, opening new manufacturing facilities in both the UK and US, as well as increasing its distribution capabilities in China, Australia and India. The GP also introduced Paul Barnard, former president of Fluids Platform and managing director of Rocol, as non-executive chairperson at the company.
MPG generated a turnover of £22.7m in the financial year ending March 2016, according to publicly available records, up from £20m at the time of BGF’s initial investment.
Previous funding
BGF provided MPG with £4m of expansion capital in September 2014 in order to fund international expansion.
Company
Founded in 1973, and headquartered in Harlow, MPG is a developer and manufacturer of oxygen, gas filtration and anaesthesia devices primarily used in the healthcare, military, diving and industrial sectors.
The company has an additional office in Boulder, Colorado, and distribution offices in Australia, China and India.
US sales account for approximately 46% of MPG's turnover, according to publicly available records, with Europe – including the UK – accounting for 23%.
People
Arlington Capital Partners – Peter Manos (managing partner); Christopher Neil Stallmann (vice-president).
Business Growth Fund – Will Gresty (investor).
Molecular Products Group – Troy Rhudy (CEO).
Advisers
Vendor – Mills & Reeve, Anthony McGurk (legal).
Latest News
Stonehage Fleming raises USD 130m for largest fund to date, eyes 2024 programme
Multi-family office has seen strong appetite, with investor base growing since 2016 to more than 90 family offices, Meiping Yap told Unquote
Permira to take Ergomed private for GBP 703m
Sponsor deploys Permira VIII to ride new wave of take-privates; Blackstone commits GBP 200m in financing for UK-based CRO
Partners Group to release IMs for Civica sale in mid-September
Sponsor acquired the public software group in July 2017 via the same-year vintage Partners Group Global Value 2017
Change of mind: Sponsors take to de-listing their own assets
EQT and Cinven seen as bellweather for funds to reassess options for listed assets trading underwater