Eckoh Acquired by Bridgepoint for Robust Growth
Deal News | Jan 20, 2025 | Bridgepoint
Bridgepoint, a prominent private asset growth investor, has successfully acquired Eckoh plc, a global leader in customer engagement payment and data security solutions. The deal priced Eckoh's shares at 54 pence, marking the first investment under Bridgepoint's new small-to-mid-cap strategy fund, BDC V. This acquisition sets the stage for Eckoh to transition from a public to a private entity and delist from the London Stock Exchange by 21 January 2025. Eckoh, with over a decade-long track record in the contact centre market, leverages patented solutions to provide secure interactions across various channels, being trusted by more than 200 enterprises. Bridgepoint plans to support Eckoh through geographic expansion, product innovation, and strategic acquisitions, aiming to enhance the company's customer base and long-term profitability. Eckoh's CEO, Nik Philpot, expressed confidence in this partnership to drive growth, particularly in North America. Alan Payne of Bridgepoint emphasized the firm's expertise in technology and financial services sectors and its enthusiasm to collaborate with Eckoh's management to harness global trends in contact centre technology.
Sectors
- Technology
- Financial Services
- Private Equity
Geography
- United Kingdom – Eckoh is based in the UK and will delist from the London Stock Exchange following the acquisition.
- North America – Eckoh plans to focus a significant portion of its growth and expansion efforts in North America.
Industry
- Technology – Eckoh is a key player in customer engagement payment and data security software, serving the contact centre market.
- Financial Services – Bridgepoint has extensive experience investing in technology and financial services, supporting firms in payments and cloud solutions.
- Private Equity – The acquisition was facilitated by Bridgepoint, a leading private equity and asset management firm.
Financials
- 54 pence per share – The acquisition price for Eckoh's shares.
- Enterprise Value up to 300 million – Bridgepoint's BDC V fund focus on investing in enterprises with this enterprise value.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eckoh plc | Target Company | Company | A global provider of customer engagement and data security solutions. |
| Bridgepoint | Buyer | Company | A private asset growth investor known for backing technology and financial services companies. |
| Nik Philpot | Chief Executive Officer | Person | CEO of Eckoh, leading the company through its transition to a private entity. |
| Alan Payne | Partner and Deputy Head | Person | Partner at Bridgepoint Development Capital, key in executing this acquisition. |