Epiris team developments

POSTED 25 April 2015

Epiris announces today a number of people changes in line with its long-term succession plan and the continued development of its investment team: Charles Elkington and Chris Hanna have been promoted to Partner; Zoe Clements from LGV Capital has been appointed as Investment Director; Shakira Adigun-Boaye and Tom Stenhouse have been promoted to Investment Manager; and that Tim Syder, Deputy Managing Partner, and Rhian Davies, Partner, are retiring as planned.

First, we are very pleased to announce the promotion of Charles Elkington and Chris Hanna to Partner. Charles joined Epiris in 2005 as an Investment Partner having spent 12 years in corporate finance with Arthur Andersen and Deloitte. Charles currently sits on the board of Nuaire, Audiotonix (previously known as Console Group) and Sentinel and has also been involved in Epiris’ investments in CALA, MPS and SAV Credit. Chris joined Epiris in 2011 as an Investment Partner, having previously been at Phoenix Equity Partners and Morgan Grenfell Private Equity. Chris currently sits on the board of Elian and Treetops Nurseries and has also been involved in Epiris’ investments in Allflex and the EP1 Secondary Portfolio.

Second, we are delighted to welcome Zoe Clements as Investment Director with effect from 5 May 2015. Zoe joins from mid-market UK private equity firm LGV Capital where she was a Director. Zoe was with LGV for 10 years where she worked on a wide variety of deals. Her board seats included ABI, Air Energi, Craegmoor, Snow + Rock, South Lakeland Parks and Total Fitness. Previously she was an Associate Director at Royal Bank of Scotland in the leveraged finance team. 

Third, Shakira Adigun-Boaye and Tom Stenhouse have been promoted to Investment Manager. Shakira joined Epiris in 2012 as an Investment Associate, having previously been at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Shakira currently sits on the board of TGI Fridays and has also been involved in a number of Epiris’ investments including Audiotonix, Elian and Hotter Shoes. Tom joined Epiris from Boston Consulting Group in 2012 as an Investment Associate. Tom has been involved in a number of Epiris’ investments including Hotter Shoes, AXIO Data Group and the EP1 Secondary Portfolio.

Finally, we are also today announcing the planned retirements of Tim Syder, Deputy Managing Partner, and Rhian Davies, Partner, from the partnership. Tim retired on 31 March 2015 and Rhian is due to retire on 30 June 2015. Both will continue as Senior Advisers to Epiris and therefore remain involved in their deals; Tim on Nuaire, Premier, Promontoria and Labco, and Rhian on Daler-Rowney and Kalle.

Epiris’ flexible investment approach allows it to invest broadly across the private equity market with a particular focus in three areas: buyouts & co-investments, secondaries and debt. In the year to 30 September 2014, Epiris announced a record level of investment, investing £410 million on behalf of its major client Electra Private Equity PLC, completing three control buyouts and, including co-investments and bolt-on transactions, 10 deals in total.

As at 30 September 2014, Epiris had funds under management of over £1.6 billion including capital available for investment of circa £300 million. In December 2014, Epiris added the UK franchise of casual restaurant chain TGI Friday’s to its portfolio with Electra Private Equity PLC investing £99 million. Earlier this week Epiris announced it was supporting portfolio company The Original Bowling Company in its acquisition of Bowlplex.

Epiris refers to Epiris LLP acting on behalf of its client Electra Private Equity PLC. 
 
Ends


For further information please contact:

Andrew Honnor and Matthieu Roussellier, Greenbrook Communications    +44 (0)20 7952 2000
Andrew Kenny and Nicholas Board, Epiris    +44 (0)20 7306 3932


Note to Editors:

About Epiris LLP
Epiris is an independent private equity fund manager with over 25 years' experience in the mid-market. During the last 25 years it has invested in excess of £4.4 billion in more than 200 deals. As at 
30 September 2014, the firm had funds under management of over £1.6 billion including capital available for investment of circa £300 million. 

Epiris’ flexible investment strategy allows it to invest broadly across the private equity market with a particular focus on Buyouts and Co-investments, Secondaries and Debt. In addition to this, its long-term capital base means it is not constrained by expiring investment periods or exit pressure driven by fund raising cycles and is therefore able to realise investments only when returns are maximised for its investors.

The firm's major client is Electra Private Equity PLC (“Electra”), a private equity investment trust which has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 1976. Electra’s long-term investment performance has been consistently superior to private equity and other benchmarks. Over the ten years to 30 September 2014, Electra has seen diluted NAV per share growth of 262% (equivalent to a ten-year annualised return on equity of 14%) compared to a 120% increase in the FTSE All-Share.

For further information please visit www.electrapartners.com.

Epiris LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.