Catapult exits Stagecoach

Enderby, UK - 22^nd August 2018.  Catapult portfolio company Stagecoach Theatre Arts Limited (“Stagecoach”) has been sold to Trafalgar Entertainment Group Limited (“Trafalgar”), a live theatre and entertainment business, generating a profitable exit for the Catapult Growth Fund.

Stagecoach is the market leader for performing arts education, operating a network of part-time performing arts schools for children aged 4 to 18 years old, with 45,000 students attending classes each week across the UK and internationally.

Catapult first invested in Stagecoach in 2012, shortly after it had been delisted from AIM by lead investor Encore Capital. Since the investment, Stagecoach has doubled in size and expanded its international footprint into Germany, Canada and China.

Commenting on the transaction, Nick Wright, CEO of Catapult said: “We have enjoyed supporting Stagecoach and the lead investor Encore Capital, as they restructured the company and positioned the business for even stronger international growth. We wish the team well under their new owner Trafalgar.” 

The sale, which completed on 1st July 2018, is Catapult’s 11th profitable exit since 2015.

Since 2015 Catapult has recorded 11 profitable exits averaging 3.9x money multiple, including Accutronics (9.1x), Lumora (4.7x), Oxford Cryosystems (5.2x), Systems Integration (4.9x), Monica Healthcare (3.6x), BWB Consulting (3.2x*), Hangar7 (3x), Haemostatix (3x*) and Stagecoach (2x).

[* expected]