- Ports Group serves long-standing customer relationships built on a reputation for high-quality service and an attractive full-service offering.
- The company has delivered impressive financial performance, achieving 27% revenue growth since 2018.
- Bridgepoint will support Ports Group in its next phase of growth, with a focus on international expansion, continued service and product expansion, as well as leveraging M&A opportunities.
Bridgepoint has today announced that Bridgepoint Development Capital IV (“BDC” IV), a fund focused on investing in mid-market growth businesses, has agreed to make a majority investment in Ports Group, a leading provider of IP management and brand protection, headquartered in Sweden.
As part of the transaction, Priveq, a Swedish private equity firm, will sell its stake in Ports Group, where management and key employees within the group will reinvest alongside Bridgepoint. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Ports Group operates a ‘one-stop-shop’, tech-enabled brand protection platform, delivering vital IP solutions across domain management, trademark management and web security. Their client base spans across SMEs to major enterprises.
Bridgepoint estimates that the global Domain and IP protection market is valued at some €6bn, with an annual growth rate of 6%. This growth is driven by increasing awareness of the value of IP assets and as the market shifts from traditional legal services to tech-enabled solutions.
Ports Group is well-positioned to capitalise on this large and growing market. On the back of a strong technology platform, full-service offering, loyal customer base and strong track record of financial performance, the company is expected to continue to deliver long-term revenue growth and set the standard with industry-leading offerings and service delivery.
The partnership builds on Bridgepoint’s growing track record and expertise within tech-enabled services, with other recent investments including LanguageWire, a leading language service provider and Achilles, a supply chain risk management provider.
Magdalena Bonde, CEO at Ports Group said:
“We are excited to have Bridgepoint on board as our new majority shareholder. We are confident that they will be a strong partner for Ports Group as we embark on our ambitious growth and development journey going forward. In a short period of time, Ports Group has established a European footprint, offering strong capabilities to serve clients on an international stage. We are pleased to have attracted Bridgepoint, who believes in our unique model, our strategic direction and our team.”
Johan Dahlfors, Partner and Head of the Nordics at BDC said:
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Ports Group, a distinguished leader in IP management and brand protection in the Nordic region with a growing footprint across Europe. Their broad service offering, tech-driven approach and platform addresses an underserved demand in the market. This means they are well-positioned which for long-term growth and potential consolidation opportunities in a fragmented market. With an ambitious vision for expansion across products and geographies and a strong international team, Ports Group is poised to reshape the landscape for digital brand protection and further its reputation as a leader.”
The transaction closed on 30 August 2023. It marks the twelfth platform investment by BDC IV and its second in the Nordics.
Ports Group was advised by EY Corporate Finance and Setterwalls Advokatbyrå.
Bridgepoint was advised by Lincoln International (Financial Adviser), Vinge (Legal Adviser), Alvarez & Marsal (Financial, Tax Due Diligence and Tax Structuring), EY-Parthenon (Commercial and Technology Due Diligence), Anthesis Group (ESG Due Diligence) and Marsh (Insurance Due Diligence).