SME

Private Equity

3 minutes

05/04/2023

Foresight exits Datapath Group Limited delivering an 11.7x return

  • Foresight’s investment supported material growth and global expansion
  • One of four successful exits over the last three months with an average return of 5.7x money
  • The sale delivers an 11.7x cash-on-cash return for Foresight-managed funds

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London, 3 April 2023: Foresight Group LLP (“Foresight”), a leading infrastructure and private equity investment manager, has announced the successful exit of Datapath Group Limited (“Datapath” or the “Company”).

Headquartered in Derby and with global operations, Datapath is a market leader in the design and development of video wall, multiscreen displays and control room solutions.

Since the original investment, Foresight has supported Datapath through a period of material growth with revenues growing from approximately £7m to £25m. Datapath has developed a market leading hardware and software product suite for the delivery of multi-screen displays and video walls, which is sold globally to a diverse customer base across a range of sectors.

Foresight continues to be one of the most active investors in smaller companies, having completed more than 90 investments in 2022 alongside a number of exciting exits. In the same year, Foresight’s private equity team announced three new funds, the acquisition of Downing’s ventures business and expanded its regional office network, opening offices in Dublin and Leeds. Further expansion is planned in 2023.

Matt Smith, Partner, Co-Head of Private Equity at Foresight, said: “Datapath is an impressive company and a true global market leader. Foresight has been a patient partner to Datapath over many years supporting management with their growth plans. We wish the Company and team every success for the future.”

ENDS

For more information contact:

Lucy Sherwood: marketing@foresightgroup.eu / +44 (0)20 3763 6977
Chris Barry: barry@thisisinfluential.com / +44 (0)7733 103693

Advisers

Foresight and management were advised by Provantage Corporate Finance, with UK legal advice from Shoosmiths and French legal advice from Jeantet.

About Foresight Group LLP (Foresight):

Foresight Group was founded in 1984 and is a leading listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager. With a long-established focus on ESG and sustainability-led strategies, it aims to provide attractive returns to its institutional and private investors from hard-to-access private markets. Foresight manages over 350 infrastructure assets with a focus on solar and onshore wind assets, bioenergy and waste, as well as renewable energy enabling projects, energy efficiency management solutions, social and core infrastructure projects and sustainable forestry assets. Its private equity team manages eleven regionally focused investment funds across the UK and an SME impact fund supporting Irish SMEs. This team reviews over 2,500 business plans each year and currently supports more than 250 investments in SMEs. Foresight Capital Management manages four strategies across six investment vehicles with an AUM of £1.4 billion.
Foresight operates across seven countries in Europe and Australia with AUM of £12.3* billion. Foresight Group Holdings Limited listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange in February 2021. https://www.foresightgroup.eu/shareholders

*Based on Foresight Group unaudited AUM as at 31 December 2022.

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