Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance has advised international renewable energy consulting firm, Taylor Hopkinson Associates, on the growth capital investment by London-based private investment firm SEA Equity.
Taylor Hopkinson Associates specialise in the renewable and clean energy sectors, providing senior contractors, permanent staff and executives globally. Founder Tom Hopkinson has led the company’s growth and international expansion with offices in Glasgow, London, Madrid, Houston and Mexico City.
SEA Equity focuses on backing small and medium sized companies across the UK and Europe. Taylor Hopkinson is SEA Equity’s fourth investment, and the first from its recently raised £50m fund. SEA Equity provides growth capital for Taylor Hopkinson to further strengthen its leading market position as a renewable energy specialist and grow its operations geographically to access new markets and talent.
Working with a diverse, global client base that includes multinational utilities, independent power producers, developers, Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and Engineering Construction Procurement (EPC) contractors, Taylor Hopkinson is active across renewable energy technologies, in sectors such as wind, solar, hydro, biomass, smart grid and transmission and distribution.
As part of the transaction, SEA Equity has introduced new directors to the business who will join the company’s board. Stewart Cantley joins Taylor Hopkinson as Chairman, alongside Mike Bell who takes the position of CFO.
Stewart and Mike will work alongside the existing management team, which includes business founder and Chief Executive Officer Tom Hopkinson, to support the execution of the company’s growth strategy.
Advising on the transaction for Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance was partner Carl Swansbury, alongside Alex Simpson, Simon Hopwood and Charlie Burton, with legal advice from the team at international law firm Pinsent Masons LLP, led by Kevin Devanny. SEA Equity was advised by a corporate finance team from RSM led by Rebecca Guerin with legal advice from TLT, led by Jon Gill and a commercial due diligence team led by Robin Illingworth of Drystone Strategy.
Tom Hopkinson, CEO of Taylor Hopkinson, said: “We have reached a significant point in our growth strategy where the support and experience of a third party will enable the business to enhance its positive development. SEA Equity’s expertise and market knowledge makes it the perfect partner for Taylor Hopkinson and we look forward to welcoming Stewart Cantley and Mike Bell to the board.”
Stani Schmidt-Chiari, partner at SEA Equity, said: “As an entrepreneurial private equity house we aim to work closely with successful and growing SMEs led by talented management teams. Taylor Hopkinson clearly fits with that model and is at an exciting stage of its development, which we are keen to build upon though support and investment that will take it into new markets and open up new opportunities.”
Carl Swansbury, partner at Ryecroft Glenton Corporate Finance, said: “We have been working with Taylor Hopkinson’s shareholders to identify a partner that has the knowledge and experience required to help scale-up the business over the next three years, and we believe we have found that partner in SEA Equity given its significant knowledge of the renewable energy market. It has been a pleasure advising Tom and the management team on this transaction and I wish the enlarged team all of the very best for the future.”