Eckoh Embraces New Era with Bridgepoint Backing

Deal News | Jan 27, 2025 | Mills and Reeve

Mills & Reeve has advised Eckoh plc on its £169 million acquisition by Bridgepoint, marking a pivotal transition from a public entity to a private company. Eckoh is known for its leading Customer Engagement Payment and Data Security software designed for customer contact centers. The acquisition was conducted under a scheme of arrangement compliant with the Takeover Code. Bridgepoint, a prominent private asset growth investor with £67 billion in assets, has executed this acquisition through its fund BDC V, part of its small-to-mid-cap strategy. The strategic move aims to enable Eckoh to accelerate growth through innovation and opportunity leveraging Bridgepoint's expertise. Corporate Partner Stephen Hamilton led the advising team, with recognition from Eckoh’s CEO, Nik Philpot, for their comprehensive support.

Sectors

  • Data Security
  • Private Equity
  • Customer Engagement

Geography

  • United Kingdom – Eckoh plc is based in the UK, and the legal proceedings for the acquisition occurred under UK law.
  • United States – Eckoh maintains a significant client base in the US, highlighting the geographic scope of its operations.
  • Europe – Bridgepoint, with a strong presence in Europe, is a key player in this transaction.

Industry

  • Data Security – Eckoh plc specializes in providing data security solutions tailored for customer engagement and payment sectors, which is central to the article.
  • Private Equity – Bridgepoint's involvement as a private equity firm specializing in acquisitions and growth investments is a primary focus of the article.
  • Customer Engagement – Eckoh's core business operations involve providing customer engagement solutions, relevant to the contact center market.

Financials

  • £169 million – The all-cash offer by Bridgepoint for the acquisition of Eckoh.
  • £67 billion – Total assets under management by Bridgepoint.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
Eckoh plcTarget CompanyCompanyA global leader in Customer Engagement Payment and Data Security software for contact centers.
BridgepointBidding CompanyCompanyA leading private asset growth investor managing the acquisition through its BDC V fund.
Mills & ReeveLegal AdvisorCompanyProvided advisory services to Eckoh for the acquisition transaction.