Status:

Realised

Commitment:

£22m

Date of investment / Realisation:

2015 / 2020

Sector:

Data & Analytics

Buy & Build:

1 completed acquisition

“With a pedigree in taking entrepreneurial businesses to the next stage of growth, we had a strong partner in Horizon Capital. They helped us meet our ambitious goals.”

Sebastien RoussotteCEO, Style Analytics

Background

Style Analytics enables over 280 asset managers, asset owners and consultants build objective and comprehensive factor analysis on markets, peers and portfolios. By creating transparency through factor exposures – the systematic drivers of portfolio risk and return – Style Analytics helps investment professionals (typically part of the front-office), validate and make strong investment decisions.  Horizon acquired Style in 2015 following extensive mapping of the fintech market.

Style is the global leader in independent factor analytics.  While delivering recognised value-add for its customers through quality delivered via a unique and easy-to-use ‘skyline’, it was a heavily product-led and technically-oriented business.  Horizon identified an opportunity to professionalise and commercialise activities.

The Journey

Horizon Capital helped strengthen the management team, recruiting an NX Chairman, bringing in a new CEO to replace the founder alongside a strong FD, sales director and heads of marketing and product management.  The new team successfully repositioned the business and helped drive above-market rates of organic growth and profitability.  

Following  Horizon Capital’s investment, headcount more than doubled with office locations expanding to London, Boston, Paris, Tokyo and Sofia.  Style Analytic’s product set grew to include new tools covering ESG, interactive peer comparison, a what-if simulator and managed services for asset owners.

At the time of exit, Style Analytics roster of blue chip financial service customers included 80% of the largest global asset managers with net revenue retention of 100% reflecting high levels of customer satisfaction.

Realisation

During the investment period, Style Analytics revenue growth accelerated into double-digits, with profits growing faster still.  The business was sold to US-based strategic purchaser Investment Metrics in late 2020.

News & Insights

Related Infomation

January 12, 2021 in News, Style Analytics

Horizon Capital Successfully Exits Portfolio Company Style Analytics

Horizon Capital is delighted to announce the successful sale of one of its 15 portfolio companies, Style Analytics. The SaaS-enabled portfolio analytics business serving the global investment community has been…
Read More
July 24, 2018 in News, Style Analytics

China Life Pension Company selects Style Analytics Enterprise as new portfolio style analysis platform

Horizon-backed Style Analytics, the provider of factor-based analysis software for investment professionals, today announces a strategic agreement with China Life Pension Company (CLPC), the largest pension fund in China and…
Read More