LONDON, UK: Bridgepoint has announced its potential intention to undertake an initial public offering (IPO) and the intended publication of a registration document.

Should Bridgepoint proceed with the IPO, the company will apply for admission of its Ordinary Shares to the premium listing segment of the Official List of the FCA and to trading on the main market of the London Stock Exchange.

The Offer would be expected to comprise new Ordinary Shares to be issued by the Company, raising gross proceeds of approximately £300 million to support Bridgepoint’s growth plans, provide greater strategic flexibility, enhance Bridgepoint’s standing as a trusted counterparty, further drive long-term shareholder returns and repay indebtedness; and existing Ordinary Shares to be sold by existing Bridgepoint shareholders.

Bridgepoint is the global leader in middle market private assets investing with approximately €27.4 billion of total assets under management as of 31 March 2021 in six distinct investment strategies across private equity and private credit.

William Jackson, Executive Chairman of Bridgepoint, said: “Over the last 30 years we’ve built the global leader in middle market growth investing, with strength and depth across two very complementary strategies in private equity and private credit.

Bridgepoint operates across the middle market at scale, providing access for some of the world’s most experienced investors to attractive growth businesses through its unique local insight and expertise and its well-resourced platform. We have delivered strong and consistent returns for investors and shareholders through different economic cycles.

The company has been on its own journey of growth and diversification, increasing its total assets under management from €9 billion in 2011 to €27.4 billion as of 31 March 2021. Today, Bridgepoint has an increasingly global footprint across Europe, North America and Asia. We expect this strong growth to continue in the near and longer-term as we continue to develop our existing strategies and further broaden our platform.”

As the leader in middle market investing, Bridgepoint offers investors a differentiated approach arising from its global reach and ability to deploy capital across middle market strategies. The Directors believe that the middle market is a highly attractive investment proposition for clients given its scale and number of potential investment opportunities, and the significant potential for hands-on value creation, including through operational improvement and add-on acquisitions.

The Group enjoys a favourable competitive position and has one of the best invested private market platforms directed at growth investing. This is untypical of middle market firms and drives origination, value creation and fund investor returns.

Bridgepoint has engaged J.P. Morgan Securities plc (which conducts its UK investment banking activities as J.P. Morgan Cazenove) and Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc as Joint Global Co-ordinators, with J.P. Morgan Securities plc acting as Sole Sponsor in relation to the transaction, and BNP Paribas, Citigroup Global Markets Limited and Merrill Lynch International and as Joint Bookrunners in the event the Offer proceeds. Moelis & Company UK LLP is acting as Financial Adviser to the Company.