Advisor to Risk Capital Partners on their investment into Simpson Travel

About the Parties

Risk Capital’s focus is working with entrepreneurs with ambition and helping them to achieve transformational growth through acquisitions, roll-out programmes and bold organic growth strategies.

Risk Capital look to invest £2 to £15 million of equity in established, profitable companies based in the UK. Their flexible and open-minded approach to investing means that they consider most industry sectors, though they have been most successful in the consumer, leisure and retail sub sectors.

Risk Capital Partners’ involvement in travel has included Neilson Active Holidays and Cruise.co.uk, which was sold to Bridgepoint Development Capital for £52 million in 2016.

Luke Johnson, co-founder of Risk Capital Partners and former chairman of Pizza Express and Channel 4, was chairman of Neilson Active Holidays from 2014-18 before it was sold. He was also the largest shareholder and a non-executive director at Elegant Hotels, which was sold to Marriott for $200 million in 2019.

Johnson commented: “We believe Simpson Travel is a terrific brand with a tremendously loyal customer base. We look forward to supporting Ed Pyke (MD) and the management team in their ambitious plans to develop the business.”

Dan James, Director at Wilson Partners commented: “We were delighted to support the Risk Capital team on this transaction. Simpson Travel has a strong brand in the sector and can only benefit from the expertise that Luke and Jon will bring to the table.”