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Synova Mergers and Acquisitions Summary

Private Equity Firm Profile

In the last 3 years, Synova has acquired 1 company. It has also invested in 5 others.

Synova’s most common sectors for investment aresoftware (14%) and business services (14%) . The Firm’s most common investment types include buyout (lbo, mbo, mbi) (46%) and growth capital (38%). In total, Synova has invested in 1 US state and 4 different countries. Its largest (disclosed) acquisition occurred in 2016 when it acquired Oakland Care for $46M.

In the last 3 years, Synova has exited 6 companies. The Firm’s most common exit type is trade sale (56%). Synova’s largest (disclosed) exit occurred in 2019 when it sold Defaqto for $114M.

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M&A Summary

  • M&A Total Activity55
    • M&A Buy Activity37
    • M&A Sell Activity18
  • Total Sectors Invested 16
  • Total Countries Invested 4
  • M&A Buy/Sell Connections 14
  • M&A Advisors 5

Synova

Synova LLP

45 Mortimer Street,
London, W1T 3PT
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 20 3475 7660
www.synova.pe
newbusiness@synova-capital.com

Synova is an independent private equity firm that invests in mid-market companies throughout the UK. Prospective companies generally possess stable cash flows, strong competitive positions and are led by experienced management teams. Synova looks to invest £15 to £150 million in transactions valued up £250 million. Synova will also consider co-investment situations. The Firm targets companies operating in the consumer products, financial services, leisure, healthcare, education business services, and IT sectors. Funds are generally used to support buyouts and growth capital needs. Synova was formed in 2007 and is based in London.


Investment Criteria

Sectors of Interest: Business Services, Consumer Products, Consumer Services, Digital Media, Education, Financial Services, Healthcare Services, Information Services, Information Technology, Insurance, Internet Software and Services, Leisure, Life Science, Software, Technology Hardware, Test/Measurement Equipment

Target Transaction Types: Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI), Consolidation, Divestiture, Growth Capital, Secondary Buyout

Geographic Preferences: United Kingdom

Transaction Criteria Min Max
Target Revenue - -
Target EBITDA - -
Investment Size 15 150
Enterprise Value 20 250
values in millions of GBP

M&A Summary

Buy vs Sell

Year ≤ '20 '21 '22 '23 '24 '25 T
Buy (1.6/yr) # 29 2 3 - 2 1 37
vol $114M $114M
Sell (1.6/yr) # 10 2 1 - 5 - 18
vol $118M $118M
  55

Most Recent M&A

Company Date Value Type
Bishop Fleming LLP 2025-06-18 - Growth Capital
Exeter, United Kingdom · www.bishopfleming.co.uk
Charnwood Discovery 2024-11-05 - Trade Sale
Chapel-en-le-Frith, United Kingdom · www.charnwooddiscovery.com
Syslink Xandria Ltd. 2024-10-01 - Secondary Sale
London, United Kingdom · www.avantra.com
AllClear Insurance Services Ltd. 2024-05-29 - Trade Sale
Essex, United Kingdom · www.allcleartravel.co.uk
MK Test Systems Ltd. 2024-05-01 - Trade Sale
Wellington, United Kingdom · www.mktest.com
Synectics Solutions Ltd. 2024-04-01 - Growth Capital
Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom · www.synectics-solutions.com
Mecsia 2024-03-13 - Secondary Buyout
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom · www.mecsia.com
Vistair Systems Ltd. 2024-01-08 - Merger
Bristol, United Kingdom · www.vistair.com
Mallcomm Ltd. 2022-11-16 - Growth Capital
Bury St Edmunds, United Kingdom · www.mallcommapp.com
Unity Five Ltd. 2022-09-09 - Growth Capital
Exeter, United Kingdom · www.unity5.com
View All >>

Portfolio M&A

Company Acquired Add-On/Sale Date #
Pacifica Group Ltd. 2019-03-01 Pacifica Group - Homes Services Division 2022-01-21 1
Houghton le Spring, United Kingdom · www.pacifica.co.uk Houghton le Spring, United Kingdom

M&A by Sector

Sector Current # Value All-time # Value
Business Services 4 (25%) - 5 (14%) -
Software 1 (6%) - 5 (14%) -
Healthcare Services 2 (13%) - 4 (11%) -
Education 3 (19%) - 3 (8%) -
Insurance 1 (6%) - 3 (8%) -
Internet Software and Services 1 (6%) - 3 (8%) -
Consumer Services 2 (13%) 46M (100%) 2 (5%) 46M (40%)
Information Services - - 2 (5%) 37M (33%)
Financial Services 1 (6%) - 2 (5%) -
Information Technology 1 (6%) - 2 (5%) -
Test/Measurement Equipment - - 1 (3%) 31M (27%)
Consumer Products - - 1 (3%) -
Digital Media - - 1 (3%) -
Life Science - - 1 (3%) -
Medical Products - - 1 (3%) -
Technology Hardware - - 1 (3%) -
Total 16 $46M 37 $114M

Acquisitions By Geo

State/Country Current # Value All-time # Value
United Kingdom 14 (88%) 46M (100%) 33 (89%) 114M (100%)
Ireland 1 (6%) - 2 (5%) -
Spain 1 (6%) - 1 (3%) -
United States - - 1 (3%) -
  New York - - 1 (3%) -
Domestic 14 (88%) 46M (100%) 33 (89%) 114M (100%)
Cross-border 2 (13%) - 4 (11%) -
Total 16 $46M 37 $114M

Acquisitions by Deal Type

Type Current # Value All-time # Value
Buyout (LBO, MBO, MBI) 5 (31%) 46M (100%) 17 (46%) 77M (67%)
Growth Capital 9 (56%) - 14 (38%) -
Secondary Buyout 2 (13%) - 4 (11%) 37M (33%)
Consolidation - - 1 (3%) -
Divestiture - - 1 (3%) -
Total 16 $46M 37 $114M

Exits by Deal Type

Type Total # Value
Secondary Sale 7 (39%) -
Trade Sale - Public Company 6 (33%) 118M (100%)
Trade Sale 4 (22%) -
Merger 1 (6%) -
Total 18 $118M

Top M&A Advisors

Financial Deals
Alantra
1
Clearwater International
 1
DC Advisory
 1
Legal Deals
Taylor Wessing
 1
Squire Patton Boggs
 1

Deal Values

buy # Total
< $100M 3 $114M
TOTAL $114M
Largest Oakland Care Ltd.
$46M (2016-07-21)
sell # Total
$100M to $1B 1 $114M
< $100M 1 $4M
TOTAL $118M
Largest Defaqto Ltd.
$114M (2019-03-20)

M&A Connections

Deals
Acquired from
Investor(s)
11%
4 (11%)
Strategic(s)
3%
1 (3%)
Exited to
Investor(s)
39%
7 (39%)
Strategic(s)
61%
11 (61%)

Investor Summary

Investor Type

Private Equity Firm

Size

Large

PE Assets

1.7B GBP

Established

2007

Specialist/Generalist

Generalist

Leadership

David Menton

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Philip Shapiro

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Ben Snow

Managing Director

Thomas Usher

Managing Director

Alex Bowden

Partner

FAQ

When was Synova founded?

Synova was founded in 2007.

What type of investor is Synova?

Synova is a private equity firm.

Where is Synova headquartered?

Synova is headquartered in London, United Kingdom.

How much capital does Synova have under management?

Synova has 1.7B GBP under management.

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