Appriss Retail Acquired by Gemspring Capital
Deal News | Mar 12, 2025 | Clearlake Capital
Appriss Retail, a provider of real-time decisioning software for omnichannel retailers, has been acquired by Gemspring Capital. Clearlake Capital Group and Insight Partners, who backed Appriss, had previously spun off the company from Appriss, Inc. in 2023. Under Clearlake and Insight's ownership, Appriss Retail enhanced its AI and machine-learning capabilities, formed strategic partnerships, and improved its go-to-market strategy. The company serves more than 60 of the top 100 U.S. retailers, playing a significant role in minimizing return fraud and improving shopper experiences. Michael Osborne, CEO of Appriss Retail, credited the progress to the strategic support from Clearlake and Insight. Evercore and Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP were financial and legal advisors, respectively, for Appriss Retail in this transaction.
Sectors
- Technology and Software
- Private Equity and Venture Capital
- Retail
Geography
- United States – Appriss Retail serves the U.S. market predominantly, providing solutions to many of the top 100 U.S. retailers.
- Global – Appriss Retail has a presence in 45 countries across six continents, indicative of its global reach.
Industry
- Technology and Software – Appriss Retail operates in this sector by providing AI-powered software solutions for fraud prevention in omnichannel retail.
- Private Equity and Venture Capital – Clearlake Capital and Insight Partners, both operating in the PE/VC sector, were backing Appriss Retail prior to its acquisition by Gemspring Capital.
- Retail – Appriss Retail's solutions are aimed at omnichannel retailers, helping them to combat fraud and improve customer experiences.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appriss Retail | Target Company | Company | A provider of AI-powered solutions for omnichannel retailers to minimize return fraud and enhance shopper experiences. |
| Clearlake Capital Group | Selling Company | Private Equity Firm | Former backer of Appriss Retail, involved in the strategic development and enhancement of the company's capabilities. |
| Insight Partners | Selling Company | Venture Capital Firm | Former backer of Appriss Retail, contributed to scaling and enhancing the company's AI-powered intelligence platform. |
| Gemspring Capital | Bidding Company | Private Equity Firm | Acquired Appriss Retail as a strategic investment. |
| Evercore | Financial Advisor | Advisory Firm | Acted as the financial advisor to Appriss Retail in the transaction. |
| Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | Legal Advisor | Law Firm | Served as the legal advisor to Appriss Retail in the acquisition by Gemspring Capital. |