Ripe Thinking's founder is to retain a 'significant equity stake': A majority stake in a Greater Manchester insurance technology company has been acquired by a US private equity firm for an undisclosed sum. Wythenshawe-based Ripe Thinking has entered into a definitive agreement with Aquiline Capital Partners, which is headquartered in New York and has $6.9bn in assets under management. A digital underwriting and insurance distribution platform, Ripe Thinking was founded in 1997 and will continue to be led by CEO Paul Williams, founder and managing director John Woosey, who will retain a "significant equity stake", and marketing director Sarah Jones.