AMJPE and Link Up Mitaka talk same language

Investee Company – Link Up Mitaka Ltd, Trading as thebigword.

Investee Company Business Type – Language Translation website, and Software Localisation.

Type of Financing – Expansion Capital.

Equity Providers – Aberdeen Murray Johnstone.

Equity Leader (Individual) – Peter Lane.

Debt Providers – No Debt Provided.

Debt Type – N/A.

Debt Leader (Individual) – N/A.

Equity Amount – £5 million.

Total Deal Value – £5 million.

Other Advisors – Robin Skelton (Eversheds), Richard Feltham (Deloitte & Touché), Sebastian Chambers (CIL), all advised Aberdeen Murray Johnstone. Chris Ball (Ernst Young), and Wendy Harrison (DLA), advised Link Up.

Comments – Link Up Mitaka is a global business, and is one the UK’s largest language translation, websites and software localisation companies. Managing director, Larry Gould, established the company in 1980. The growth of the company has developed from its early days when it was initially a value-added service for corporate clients of Link Up Recruitment. Gould sold this company, a temping agency, in 1996.

In 1999 Link Up acquired Mitaka Ltd to insure the company had good capabilities in language translation in the Far East. As a result, the name Link Up Mitaka was created, and the company has been able to take advantage of business development opportunities in website localisation in the Pacific Rim.

The £5 million development capital investment by Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity will fund the company’s two-fold expansion plan. Gould plans to enhance the company’s involvement in the software and website localisation markets. This means enhancing the translation of software for global usage and websites for multi-national companies. The second area for expansion is through the company’s traditional language translation operations. This is planned mostly through acquisitions, while maintaining organic growth.

Speaking about the investment and Link Up Mitaka’s prospects for the future Peter Lane, investment director of Aberdeen Murray Johnstone Private Equity, said: “Increasing demand for the localisation of software and websites, and the continuing trend for corporates to outsource this kind of work further add to the growth prospects of Link Up Mitaka. Under Larry Gould, the company’s management has an established track record for growing successful businesses and coupled with its market position the team is well placed to make a success out of Link Up Mitaka.”