Project Emerald
A confidential acquisition programme for UK software and related services businesses.
Enterprise values from ยฃ2m to ยฃ150m. All UK regions. 100% acquisitions preferred; majority investments considered. Your business has been identified as a potential fit against the client's acquisition criteria.
There is a committed buyer
before any contact is made.
Achieve Corporation has been retained by an established private investment group to acquire UK software and related services businesses. The objective is to build a software and technology services group around a platform business and selected complementary companies.
Achieve Corporation is working under a formal acquisition mandate on behalf of a specific investment group. The client has set its strategy and appointed us to identify suitable businesses and manage the process to completion.
You will not be asked to pay for a valuation, an Information Memorandum, or an introduction. All Achieve Corporation professional fees are paid by the client.
UK software and related services,
from ยฃ2m to ยฃ150m.
UK software and related services businesses with enterprise values from ยฃ2m to ยฃ150m. A strong niche business can be as relevant as a larger one; the client assesses each business on its own merits, not on a fixed multiple.
Vertical SaaS applications
Horizontal and business software
Managed IT and support services
Cloud, hosting and infrastructure services
Cybersecurity software and services
Data, analytics and integration
Software development and consultancy
Regulated or specialist software
Recurring-revenue IT services
Businesses may be considered as the principal platform for the group, a strategically important specialist, or a bolt-on acquisition adding customers, product, capability or recurring revenue.
Built around what you need.
The client's preference is to acquire 100% of the business, which may suit shareholders considering retirement, succession or a full exit.
Majority investments are also considered where owners or senior management wish to retain equity and share in the growth of the wider group. A transaction could involve a full sale and handover, a majority sale with retained equity, continued management involvement, a phased transition, or an advisory role after completion.
A long-term owner.
Not a turnaround buyer.
The client is a long-term owner, not a turnaround buyer. The intention is to build on what already works, not to strip it back or impose a new way of operating. For your business, that means:
The people, the product and the reputation are part of what makes the business worth acquiring. The client's aim is to strengthen them, not replace them.
Assessed individually.
Each company is assessed individually. Depending on the business, the assessment may consider maintainable EBITDA, EV/EBITDA and EV/revenue market multiples, annual recurring revenue, net revenue retention and churn, contracted and recurring revenue, gross margin, customer quality and concentration, proprietary intellectual property and code ownership, product roadmap, management and technical strength, and cash generation.
Any indicative offer is subject to verification, agreement on structure and satisfactory due diligence.
A defined six-stage process.
Project Emerald follows a defined six-stage acquisition process. A suitable acquisition would normally complete within approximately four months, subject to the readiness of information, legal complexity and due diligence. Achieve Corporation manages the process throughout.
Controlled. Confidential.
The client's identity is disclosed once a mutual non-disclosure agreement is signed. This protects the client's strategy and keeps discussions about your business controlled and confidential.
The initial conversation stays high level. No detailed financials, customer information, source code or sensitive documents are required before a potential fit is established. Where there is mutual interest, an NDA is signed, the client is disclosed, information is exchanged confidentially, and both parties decide whether to progress. There is no obligation to continue beyond the first discussion.
Achieve acts for the buyer.
Achieve Corporation acts for the buyer and is paid by the buyer. Achieve does not advise the seller on legal, tax, accounting or financial matters. The seller appoints and pays its own independent advisers if a transaction progresses.
A private,
no-obligation call.
The first conversation is with Mark Ross Roberts, Senior Partner at Achieve Corporation, who has thirty years in M&A advisory. The call is a private, no-obligation discussion to establish whether your business fits Project Emerald and whether there is enough mutual interest to continue under an NDA. Where useful, the next step is a private meeting in person.
No confidential documents are required for the initial conversation.
Please quote "Project Emerald" and the reference on your letter.
No confidential documents are required for the initial conversation. Please quote "Project Emerald".