CVC has invested in Ridge, backing the U.K. multidisciplinary built environment consultancy following several years of rapid organic expansion.
CVC is acquiring its stake from Horizon Capital, which has partnered with Ridge since April 2023. Ridge’s Equity Partners will remain significant shareholders following the transaction.
Founded in 1946 and headquartered in Oxford, Ridge provides services across the full lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure, including planning, advisory, design, engineering, program management and project management.
Since 2022, Ridge has grown revenue at an approximately 23% compound annual growth rate and more than doubled its workforce from around 800 employees to roughly 1,650 across 16 U.K. offices.
Much of that growth has been organic.
Ridge has expanded into areas including defense and security, science, healthcare, education and infrastructure through senior hiring and development of new capabilities.
Approximately 88% of revenue comes from repeat business, reflecting the company’s long-standing client relationships.
Selective acquisitions have complemented organic growth by adding expertise in areas including data centers, motorsport tracks, master planning and project controls while expanding Ridge geographically into Wales and Southwest England.
CVC’s investment will support further spending on people, client capabilities and the capacity to undertake larger projects, alongside continued organic expansion and strategic M&A.
KEY QUOTES:
“This next chapter isn’t about Ridge becoming a different business – it’s about giving us the scale and capability to grow as we always have.”
Adrian O’Hickey, Senior Partner at Ridge
“We have been particularly impressed by the quality and ambition of the team, and the entrepreneurial culture and operating model they have fostered at Ridge.”
Udaibir Banga, Managing Director at CVC
