OpenGate Capital, LLC, a global private buyout firm, announced today it has sold its remaining investment interest in Models 1, one of Europe’s leading supermodel agencies, to its management team led by Mr. John Horner, Karen Diamond, and Kathy Pryer. OpenGate Capital acquired Models 1 in 2008 and is divesting the business after creating significant new value and increased earnings. No financial terms were disclosed.
Andrew Nikou, OpenGate Capital’s founder, Managing Partner and CEO stated, “The acquisition of Models 1 has been an incredible opportunity to learn about an exciting industry, and to apply investment skills into a business perfectly positioned for growth. Over four and a half years I have been able to guide the management team at Models 1 in the development of new and improved business principles. The combination of the management team’s in-depth knowledge of the fashion industry, and OpenGate’s strategic oversight, yielded growth and increased value including improved profitability and double EBITDA growth.”
OpenGate Capital acquired Models 1 in November of 2008 from Nova Capital Management and the Models 1 management team, and in 2011 the firm sold a majority portion of the business to Mr. Oleg Tscheltzoff. As a result of the investment, OpenGate Capital and Mr. Tscheltzoff yielded two times their invested capital. Going forward, the Models 1 management team will continue to oversee the business and will drive the next phase of the agency’s growth.
Models 1 is an English modeling agency that was founded in 1968 in London, England and has grown to become one of the largest agencies in Europe. Models 1 is at the forefront of discovering, developing and sustaining the careers of many famous models including Yasmin Le Bon, Twiggy, and Rosie Huntington-Whitely. The portfolio of talent includes supermodels Bar Refaeli, Alessandra Ambrosio, Linda Evangelista, Nadja Auermann, Amber Valetta and Agyness Deyn, and male stars Brad Koenig, Noah Mills, Adrian Bosch and Lars. Models 1 gained greater awareness through its partnership with Britain’s Next Top Model, with winners receiving a one year contract for representation with the agency