TMP Worldwide
In 2006, Graphite Capital led the £27 million management buy-out of TMP Worldwide, the UK’s largest recruitment advertising agency, from Monster Worldwide. Over the next decade, we supported the company in expanding its services, with a strong focus on the digital channel, and built the UK’s leading employer brand & communications agency.
TMP provided clients with a wide range of resourcing solutions, from employer branding to multi-channel integrated recruitment marketing solutions. Other services included candidate management, assessment and recruitment process outsourcing, with a specialist team focusing on Graduate and Apprentice recruitment. The business had long-standing relationships with over 1,000 customers, including FTSE 100 companies, local government organisations and central government agencies. At the time of Graphite’s exit TMP employed over 350 staff in six offices throughout the UK.
KEY BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENTS
Substantially improved working capital management to allow a refinancing early in the life of the investment
Increased focus on management information to drive higher customer profitability
Built a world-class employer branding agency led by a highly experienced management team
Successfully developed the Yocto RPO brand to move the business into higher value-add market segments
2.1x
RETURN ON GRAPHITE'S INVESTMENT
BUSINESS EXIT
In 2018 TMP Worldwide was sold to True Blue Inc, a large NYSE-listed provider of workforce solutions, generating a money multiple of 2.1 times cost and an IRR of 13 per cent.