News & Analysis

Vision ponders portfolio sale

The direct secondaries firm is trying to sell a group of portfolio companies it acquired in 2007 or earlier, which could include consumer electronics and white goods company BrightHouse.

-

Direct secondaries firm Vision Capital is trying to sell a group of portfolio companies it acquired in 2007 or earlier, Secondaries Investor has learned.

It’s unclear whether the companies will be sold via a large portfolio sale or a number of single asset sales, but this is the first time Vision has explored a portfolio exit.

Vision declined to comment.

There are 12 companies from 2007 or earlier remaining in Vision’s portfolio, but according to a source familiar with the situation, the sale won’t include all 12 companies. The largest of the pre-2007 companies listed on Vision’s website is BrightHouse, a consumer electronics and white goods company. BrightHouse had £333 million of revenues as of March 2014 and appointed a new chairman earlier this year.

London-based Vision acquires controlling interests in mid-market European and American companies and is currently investing its Vision Capital Partners VII, a €676.2 million 2009-vintage fund, according to PEI’s Research & Analytics division.

Last month, Vision lost its head of investor relations Charles Robinson to Black River Asset Management, the alternative investment arm of food and industrial products supplier Cargill. The firm has not revealed any immediate plans to replace Robinson.