Mobeus, a leading UK equity investor in the SME market, has successfully completed a transaction with Ellis Recruitment Group. The minority investment will see Mobeus commit £9.5m to accelerate Ellis’ geographic expansion into Europe and North America.
Established by Jason Howlett and Rory Dwyer in 2010, Ellis has grown to become an IT staffing sector specialist, with expertise in the SAP and Oracle markets. The firm has grown substantially since inception, now operating in the UK, Europe & North America, with an impressive track record in assisting clients with major Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) implementation projects.
Through the strategic direction of Mobeus, Ellis is well positioned to execute on its growth plans, with the ERP market projected to experience sustained growth in the coming years. The sector has shown resilience, given wider migration trends to cloud-based solutions.
The Deal
The £9.5m minority investment was structured in a combined debt and equity package. Post integration, there are plans to expand Ellis’ global coverage through the implementation of a hiring strategy which will further excel Oracle and SAP expertise. Alongside Andy McRae, the newly appointed Chair and recruitment industry executive, Mobeus will support Ellis’ existing management team led by CEO, Jason Howlett.
Funding came from Mobeus’s UK-focused small-cap buyout fund, Mobeus V, and represents their sixth investment since its close in 2022.
Jason Howlett (CEO), Ellis Recruitment Group
“We are excited to welcome the strategic investment from Mobeus. This marks a pivotal moment in our journey, as we join forces with a partner renowned for strategic excellence. With the backing of Mobeus, we are poised to unlock new opportunities, accelerate our growth through the attraction of top recruitment talent in the US and throughout Europe, whilst continuing to deliver value to our clients and stakeholders.”
Richard Babington (Partner), Mobeus
“We are delighted to be invited to play a key role in the next stage of Ellis’s development. Since its establishment in 2010, Ellis has rapidly grown to become the market leader in Oracle interim resourcing in the UK and is well on the way to achieving the same position in the US. We have formulated an aggressive hiring plan in both geographies to achieve this, with a view to more than trebling our recruitment consultant base over the next 5 years.”
Charlie Watson (Head of Recruitment & Staffing Transactions), Connect Corporate Finance
“I am delighted to have facilitated the introduction and deal management of Ellis and Mobeus. Since the first time both parties met, the cultural fit was clear and with this capital event comes a new growth phase for Ellis. Operating in such an exciting sector, with Jason at the helm and support from the new Chairman Andy McRae, I am excited to see where the combined organisations can get to, organically and through strategic acquisitions."
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