Graphics solutions: Inflexion Private Equity completes the buyout of Alston Elliot

LONDON, 16-Jan-2018 — /EuropaWire/ — Inflexion Private Equity is pleased to announce it has completed the buyout of Alston Elliot, a leading provider of premium data-driven graphics solutions for live sports broadcasts.

Alston Elliot was founded in 1992, initially to provide computerised graphics to the BBC for its coverage of test cricket and World Snooker events. Today the business employs more than 100 people across its offices in London, Johannesburg, New Delhi and Melbourne with clients including Sky, BT, ESPN, Fox, Star, SuperSport and the BBC. The business is led by CEO Nick Baily, who has 27 years’ experience in the TV sports broadcast industry.

Sport is widely considered to be the last live TV event as many other programmes have moved to catch-up streaming services, and this makes it uniquely appealing to broadcasters and advertisers. As a result, broadcasters are competing fiercely for rights over prime sports content. Additionally they are broadening coverage in women’s sport, “lower league” exposure and new activities to fill the expanding airtime, much of which requires the support of Alston Elliot’s services to enhance the action.

New technologies are powering the rapid growth of sports viewing “on-the-move” through mobile devices creating a fresh channel for data-driven sports graphics. Alston Elliot is partnering with some of the leading technology providers in the sector to maximise its position in this new market.

Inflexion’s in-house digital expertise will support management in its development of next-generation software to improve the quality of its services as well as to future-proof the business. The Inflexion’s in-country experts  will aid the continued international growth.

Tim Smallbone, Head of Enterprise Fund, Inflexion, commented, “We are excited to be working with such an experienced management team in a dynamic market segment. Alston Elliot has built a high quality offering and an enviable reputation with some of the world’s leading broadcasters. We look forward to working with the team to help broaden the service offering, expand into other sports and build the international business.”

Nick Baily, CEO of Alston Elliot, said, “We are delighted to have found the right partner with whom to embark on our next phase of growth. Inflexion’s digital expertise and global reach will be invaluable as we continue to develop our business.”

The Inflexion deal team comprised of Andrew Mainwaring, Richard Wootten and Robin Senivassen, Andrew and Richard will join the board upon completion. Andrew Vaughan has been named Chairman of Alston Elliot.

This investment was made by affiliated funds advised by Inflexion Private Equity Partners LLP.

SOURCE: Inflexion Private Equity

For media enquiries, please contact:

Sarah Gestetner
Communications and Marketing Director
T +44 (0)20 7487 9820
M +44 (0)7767 481 163
E-mail sarah.gestetner@inflexion.com

Agnes Riousse 
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
T +44 (0)20 7282 1029
E-mail agnes.riousse@citigatedr.co.uk