Livingbridge opens Stateside office

Livingbridge, the independent specialist asset manager with a significant presence in Manchester, has opened an office in Boston to provide crucial on the ground advice and support for investee companies already in the US and those looking to enter the market.

The office, which will play a key role in helping portfolio companies with their North American growth strategies, is headed up by Rebecca Hooley as VP Livingbridge US.

Hooley, who moves from Livingbridge’s London office where she has been a member of the value strategy team since joining the firm in 2015, has prior experience setting up businesses overseas.

She will be joined in Boston by a director of corporate development and strategy, who is currently being recruited in the US.

Livingbridge has been planning the opening for more than a year and chose the Boston location because of its strong PE ecosystem and networking opportunities as well as its excellent transport links to access the rest of the US market.

Almost a quarter of Livingbridge’s portfolio companies already have significant US operations or interests, and the new office will transform its ability to support them with their existing activities.

This includes hiring for overseas talent, sourcing and executing M&A opportunities and sharing market knowledge. The office will also enable Livingbridge to further develop its local markets insight and help the rising number of its investee companies looking to enter the US for the first time.

Livingbridge already has a strong track record of helping its portfolio companies expand through global M&A. It has built a six-strong in-house Insight team to help management teams identify and source acquisitions, both in the UK and overseas.

Boston is Livingbridge’s second overseas office after it opened in Melbourne, Australia in early 2016.

Hooley said: “Having a permanent presence will greatly enhance our ability to build market knowledge and relationships to help their businesses grow, both organically and by acquisition.”

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