Limerston Capital successfully exits Arch Sciences following sale to Element
Immediate release
Limerston Capital has completed its exit of Arch Sciences Group (“Arch Sciences”), a leading provider of outsourced analytical solutions to the laboratory research and testing sector, following its sale to Element Materials Technology Group (“Element”). The sale realised a return for Limerston Capital in excess of 30% IRR.
Manchester-headquartered Arch Sciences operates across five locations and three countries providing outsourced analytical services and solutions to the laboratory research and testing sector. Since Limerston Capital’s investment in 2017, the company delivered on an ambitious organic growth strategy, significant investment programme including the move to a new larger laboratory in Manchester and three successful strategic acquisitions in the US, Ireland and the UK. The group currently employs over 170 full time employees of which c. 20% attained at least PhD level qualifications.
Element is a global provider of testing, inspection and certification services, with more than 6,000 experts in over 200 laboratories across five continents. Element helps customers make certain that their products, materials, processes and services are safe, compliant and fit for purpose.
Martim Avillez, Limerston Capital Founding Partner said: “Arch Sciences has benefited from our investment to leverage its analytical know-how, customer service and strong culture and create the leading business in its niche. It has been a real pleasure working with Scott and the talented management team over the past three years. We wish the Arch Sciences management and Element every success in this next step of the journey.”
Jo Wetz, Element CEO said: “Arch Sciences is our seventh acquisition of 2021 and creates a strong platform to expand the pharmaceuticals segment of our life sciences business in Europe. Element is rapidly developing its position as a full-service solutions provider to the life sciences sector, which is now the most significant end market for the Element Group”.
Weil, Gotshal & Manges (James MacArthur, Candice Lambeth and Lennard Ong) acted as legal advisers in the transaction.
(20/07/21)
About Limerston Capital
Founded in 2015, London based Limerston Capital pursues control investments in UK lower mid-market companies and seeks to create value through the firm’s operationally focused and buy-and-build model. The firm targets businesses with EBITDA of between £5 million and £15 million, that have a solid value proposition, but have potential for operational improvements, have mispriced underlying returns on capital or provide opportunities for strategic repositioning and consolidation. Limerston Capital’s fully integrated team of operating partners participates in all aspects of deal origination, value creation and portfolio management.
About Element
The Element Materials Technology Group is one of the world’s leading global providers of testing, inspection and certification services for a diverse range of products, materials and technologies in advanced industrial supply chains where failure in use is not an option. Headquartered in London, UK, Element’s scientists, engineers and technologists, working in our global network of over 200 laboratories, support customers from early R&D, through complex regulatory approvals and into production ensuring their products are safe, sustainable and achieve market access.
For more information about Element, please visit our website, connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter and subscribe to our Youtube channel.
