Thames Valley: Deals Awards finalist Mobeus fundraising oversubscribed

Mobeus Equity Partners, a finalist in the Thames Valley Deals Awards, announced today that it has closed its VCT Linked Offer for the 2012/13 tax year raising £24 million. Mobeus experienced strong demand for the fundraising, which exceeded its original offer size of £21m.  2013 has started well for Mobeus. Buoyed by winning both 2012 accolades of VCT of the Year at the Investor AllStars Awards and VCT Manager of the Year at the “unquote British Private Equity Awards, Mobeus has already invested £10m in two new investments this year. These are the MBO of Gro Group, the Devon-based nursery brand, and financing portfolio company Motorclean’s acquisition of Forward Valeting Services to create the UK’s largest provider of car valeting services.

Mobeus managing partner Mark Wignall believes that investors were attracted to invest in the Offer by the firm’s MBO transaction focus and the VCTs’ performance track records and dividend payment history. He commented: “This is our first fundraising under the Mobeus brand following our own MBO last year and it’s pleasing to see it oversubscribed. Our MBO investment strategy is delivering value and attractive tax free income for our investors. We now have over £170 million of evergreen funds under management. This is a significant pool of long-term capital for high quality UK smaller companies seeking finance and we look forward to backing many more successful and ambitious management teams.”

Mobeus is a leading VCT manager with a focus on MBO transactions. It has been chosen by judges as a finalist for Private Equity Firm of the Year in the Deals Awards, which take place at Madejski Stadium, Reading on April 25.