US private equity firm splashes out £260m on Alexander Mann
A RECRUITMENT company founded less than two decades ago by Irish entrepreneur Rosaleen Blair has been sold to US private equity firm New Mountain for £260m.
New Mountain has bought Alexander Mann Solutions from Graphite Capital, a UK private equity firm which backed a £100m management buyout in 2007.
Based in London, Alexander Mann is a recruitment process outsourcing firm with clients in 75 countries and employing almost 2,000 people.
Blair, who won the Veuve Clicquot Businesswoman of the Year award in 2007, ran a nanny business in Dublin before moving to London and setting up the company in 1996.
“We have developed this business over the last 17 years and have become the number one provider of talent acquisition and management services globally,” Blair said.
“With New Mountain beside us, we look forward to extending our global footprint, particularly in North America, deepening our sector expertise and expanding our service offering.”
The acquisition is the first for New Mountain in Europe. The New-York-based company, which has over $9bn (£5.6bn) under management, is understood to have beaten off bidders including Permira for the company.