Equistone Partners Europe Acquires CH&CO Group from MML Capital Partners

Equistone Partners Europe makes minority investment in QuestGates

August 5, 2024

Professional Services

Equistone Partners Europe has made a significant minority growth investment in QuestGates, the UK’s largest independent provider of complex loss adjusting and claims solutions. QuestGates, headquartered in Birmingham with c.500 employees and £41m revenue in FY2023/24, will continue to be led by CEO Chris Hall and remain majority-owned by its management team and employees; the capital will support organic growth, capability development and further acquisitive expansion.

Compass Group Acquires CH&CO from Equistone

January 22, 2024

Restaurants & Hospitality

Compass Group PLC has agreed to acquire CH&CO, a UK & Ireland premium contract catering and hospitality services provider, for an initial enterprise value of £475 million plus an earn-out. The transaction, subject to regulatory approval, buys CH&CO from private equity owner Equistone and expands Compass's capabilities and footprint in the UK and Ireland; CH&CO generates c. £450m revenue and employs over 10,000 people.

CH&CO Acquires Blue Apple and Pabulum (Equistone-backed)

August 22, 2023

Restaurants & Hospitality

Equistone-backed CH&CO has completed two bolt-on acquisitions, buying workplace caterer Blue Apple and education caterer Pabulum to expand its workplace and education portfolios in the UK. Financial terms were not disclosed; Blue Apple serves 58 locations with turnover of £14m and nearly 300 employees, while Pabulum (based in Fleet, Hampshire) operates in over 100 schools with turnover of £28.5m and over 800 employees.

Equistone Partners Europe Acquires Majority Stake in GSCM Group from Orfite

July 19, 2021

Construction

Equistone Partners Europe has entered into an exclusive agreement to acquire the majority stake in GSCM Group (Groupe Solfab Constructions Modulaires) from Orfite. Equistone will hold the majority alongside GSCM management and existing investor BNP Paribas Développement (both of whom are reinvesting) to support the Group's buy-and-build growth strategy across temporary and permanent modular construction segments.

Equistone Partners Europe Acquires Majority Stake in TIMETOACT GROUP

May 7, 2021

IT Services

Funds advised by Equistone Partners Europe have acquired a majority stake in TIMETOACT GROUP, a Cologne-based IT consultancy and services provider. The TIMETOACT founders Felix Binsack and Hermann Ballé will remain as managing directors and retain a significant stake while Equistone will support the group's buy-&-build growth strategy.

CH&CO (Equistone-backed) Acquires Mitie Catering (Gather & Gather & Creativevents)

August 19, 2019

Restaurants & Hospitality

CH&CO, a portfolio company backed by Equistone Partners Europe, has acquired Mitie Catering — comprising Gather & Gather and Creativevents — from Mitie. The bolt-on deal adds c.£137m of turnover, 330 sites across the UK and Ireland and approximately 3,600 team members to CH&CO, and includes a strategic partnership to continue serving Mitie's IFM clients.