Investment Approach

J. Leon is a diversified group with interests in the widest variety of investment sectors.  The group manages its property activities in-house and uses third party managers to invest in non-core assets.

J. Leon has been an active investor in private equity since the early 1990s. Its third party fund programme was started in 1998.

Please note: the group does not consider unsolicited investment proposals.

Long-only Investing
Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds
Direct Private Equity
Iceni Capital

Long-only Investing

The Thesis Lion Growth Fund was established in 1999 and is a quoted authorised unit trust through which the group runs its long-only and UCITS compliant investments. The vehicle currently has more than 30 sub-managers and is thoroughly diversified by strategy and geography.

Hedge Funds and Private Equity Funds

J. Leon uses an array of managers in Alternatives to invest in specific strategies.

Key asset classes for Leon’s hedge fund and private equity are as follows:

  • US and International fund of funds
  • US and International secondaries
  • Distressed assets
  • Energy
  • Energy infrastructure and related resources
  • Credit opportunity funds
  • Timber, aircraft financing and other niche asset strategies

Direct Private Equity

J. Leon selectively invests directly in private equity opportunities. The group’s main focus is on smaller UK businesses with high growth potential.

Current and previous investments include:

Logo & Details Activities Type Status
Name: ACIS
Location: High Wycombe 		Provision of real time passenger information
 Start-up Sold to Inflexion Private Equity
Name: Antenna Audio
Location: London 		Audio guides for museums and art galleries
 Early stage Sold to the Discovery Channel
Name: Apollo Lifts
Location: London 		Installation and maintenance of lifts
 Buyout Sold to Schindler
Name: AXIT
Location: Germany, Poland 		Cloud-based software for the logistics industry
 Growth capital Sold to Siemens AG April 2015
Name: Carluccio’s
Location: London 		Italian casual dining format
 Growth capital Exited via IPO
Name: Deverill
Location: Poole 		Provision of IT services, solutions and training to private and public sector organisations
 Buyout Sold to 365itms April 2016
Name: Dexion Capital
Location: London 		Investment bank focused on distributing and placing alternative investment funds
 Minority Sold to Fidante Partners
Name: Ito World
Location: Ipswich 		Collection, management, analysis and presentation of complex transport data
 Early stage Current portfolio
Name: Mentor IMC Group
Location: London 		Provision of senior engineers and associated support services to oil and gas clients worldwide
Buyout Sold to Vinci Energies
Name: Stockwell Communications
Location: London 		Strategic communications consultancy focused on corporate reputation management
 Start-up Sold to Teneo Strategy LLC
Name: Ted Baker
Location: London 		Sale of designer clothing and accessories
 Growth capital Exited via IPO
Name: TMN
Location: London 		Provision of business information, research services and marketing solutions
 Growth capital Exited via IPO
Name: ZeroC
Location: Dorchester 		Property development
 Growth capital Sold to Places for People

Iceni Capital

J. Leon is a cornerstone investor in Iceni Capital, a private equity partnership making investments in smaller UK companies with high growth potential.