International law firm Addleshaw Goddard's private equity team has advised long standing client Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) on its proposed sale to funds managed by large cap private equity investor CapVest Partners LLP.

KCS is a global provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for distribution, servicing and rental businesses and has expanded substantially with support from global technology-focused investment firm Accel KKR over the last 8 years.

AG's relationship with KCS dates back over 10 years, to a time when KCS was a UK-only business backed by growth capital investor NVM. Since then the firm has advised KCS and its management team on it financial backing by Accel-KKR and numerous follow-on acquisitions, key contracts and other strategic opportunities and transactions. Our Technology Group has developed a detailed understanding of the business's key intellectual property and contractual frameworks throughout KCS's expansion, which contributed towards a successful transaction with CapVest to take the business on to the next stage of its growth. KCS now delivers to a global base of over 32,000 customers across more than 70 countries.

AG's Head of Private Equity Mike Hinchliffe said:

"We are pleased to have supported our long-standing client KCS over many years, watching the extraordinary growth of its business. Advising KCS on this significant transaction is all the more satisfying having partnered with them throughout that journey, and we're looking forward to supporting continued success for the business with its backing from CapVest. KCS's track record shows how it is well placed to continue to capitalise on the ongoing demand for best-in-class cloud ERP services globally over the coming years."

The AG deal team was led by Head of Private Equity Mike Hinchliffe and Private Equity partners Marc Field and Gemma Phillips, supported by a multi-disciplinary team across numerous practice areas including Lauren Sinclair- Williams, Ciaran Ferry and Ben Fry (Corporate), Justine Delroy and Catherine Concannon (Tax), Georgina Powling, Amir Farahabadi, Tom Beevor, Raheema Hussain and Abi Field (Commercial/Technology), Michael Leftley and Katherine Nash (Employment) and Alex Fricke (Pensions). The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions and is expected to close later in the year.

Addleshaw Goddard's Private Equity team is ranked no.1 for private equity deals by volume in the UK and Ireland based on latest mergermarket data, and was recently crowned Pan-European Legal Adviser of the Year at the Real Deals Private Equity awards 2023.