Together
Together, formerly Jerrold Holdings, has been a secured lender for over 40 years, offering short-term finance, auction, residential, commercial and buy-to-let mortgages and secured loans.
Headquartered in Cheshire, the business typically operates in the niche areas where high street banks are not present and is reliant on wholesale, securitisation and bond markets for its operational funding.
VALUE CREATION
During the investment period, Equistone has worked closely with the management team to develop the business by:
- Investing a further £12m to support a £700m bank and securitisation extension in November 2007.
- Supporting a number of successful refinancings of the business and extending existing as well as raising new facilities. Its loan book, which has increased by over 300%, currently stands at £1.8bn.
- Supporting the extension and expansion of the group credit facility to £1.5bn.
- Improving the company’s corporate governance with the appointment of four non-executives, five board directors and the development of separate board structure and formal committees.
As a result, Together has demonstrated strong revenue growth with turnover increasing from £95.6m in 2006 to £212.0m forecast for the financial year ending 30 June 2016.
THE EXIT
In October 2016, Equistone sold its Fund II investment in Together to the company’s founder and group CEO, Henry Moser, resulting in exit proceeds (including deferred consideration since received) of £288m plus proceeds received through the life of the investment.
Equistone Partners, who led the investment, have been supportive partners of Together for over 10 years and I would like to place on record our appreciation and thanks for their helpful guidance over a period of significant growth for the business.