Jeff Brink is back. In a big way. The language industry veteran is set to become a significant player in the ongoing consolidation among language service providers (LSPs) after partnering with an Atlanta-based private equity firm to execute a buy-and-build strategy.
In Atlanta-based MSouth Equity Partners, Brink said he found what he was looking for, highlighting the strong operating experience of the PE firm’s partners and their background as entrepreneurs. “It’s not very common to have that mix of talent,” Brink said.
MSouth is a lower-middle-market PE firm with over USD 2.2bn in assets under management across four funds. In May 2018, the company raised USD 940m for its fourth fund.
Brink’s new project? A company called Big Language Solutions, under whose umbrella Brink and MSouth plan to “assemble a portfolio of high-performing and complementary language service providers.” Big Language Solutions will be headquartered in Atlanta and Brink will act as the company’s CEO.
Brink’s first deal? Miami-based ProTranslating, an LSP with annual revenues of around USD 25m, founded in 1973, and led by Luis R. de la Vega, son of company founder Dr. Luis A. de la Vega. The deal closed on June 21, 2019. De la Vega will stay on post-acquisition, continue to lead the ProTranslating business, and report to Brink. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.
