Mills & Reeve advises Eckoh plc on £169m acquisition

Over the past decade, Hemel Hempstead company Eckoh has become a global leader in Customer Engagement Payment and Data Security software for the Contact Centre market, delivering strong financial and operational performance.

Its solutions are used by over 200 enterprise clients, primarily based in the US and the UK, who operate customer-facing contact centres across retail, insurance, healthcare, travel, telco and financial services sectors.

Bridgepoint is one of the world’s leading quoted private asset growth investors, specialising in private equity, private credit and infrastructure. With €67 billion of assets under management and a strong local presence in Europe, North America and Asia, Bridgepoint combines global scale with local market insight and sector expertise.

The acquisition of Eckoh marks the first deployment made via BDC V, the latest fund of Bridgepoint’s small-to-mid-cap strategy, Bridgepoint Development Capital, which focuses on investing in fast-growing businesses with an Enterprise Value of up to £300 million.

The public-to-private takeover of Eckoh by Bridgepoint was implemented by Takeover Code compliant scheme of arrangement under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.

Mills & Reeve Corporate Partner, Stephen Hamilton, who led the team with principal associate Emma Plaxton, advising Eckoh, said: “Having worked with Eckoh for many years, we are delighted to have been able to support the group as it embarks on its next phase of development.

“With Bridgepoint behind it, we have no doubt that the business is well positioned to accelerate its strategy to grow through innovation, expansion, and strategic opportunities to unlock its full potential.”

Nik Philpot, CEO of Eckoh, said: “The completion of this transaction marks a significant milestone for Eckoh. We are now entering a new era as a private company and are excited to have found the right partner in Bridgepoint to help unlock Eckoh’s full potential.

“The team at Mills & Reeve were there with us every step of the way through this transaction and we are very grateful for their dedicated support and guidance.”

Eckoh was also advised by Stifel and Singer Capital Markets. Bridgepoint was advised by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and Houlihan Lokey.