Technology, media and telecommunications
The media and technology industry has proven time and again that it’s home to some of the most agile, resilient, and innovative businesses around. We take this agility and creativity into our work with the sector, finding new ways to help businesses improve and expand. Many of our media and technology specialists have spent years in the industry so they understand both the challenges you face and the technical solutions to them.
Technology, media and telecommunications and deal services
CASE STUDIES
Auto Integrate Group Ltd
RSM UK has advised Auto Integrate Group Ltd, the premier maintenance authorisation platform, on its sale to Fleetio, the leading fleet optimisation software platform, marking a successful transatlantic deal in the automotive industry.
Portsmouth-based Auto Integrate provides a vehicle fleet maintenance authorisation software platform for fleet management companies and repair shops, enabling them to electronically submit repair orders for approval, dramatically reducing vehicle downtime and improving operational efficiency. This capability will fully integrate with Fleetio's comprehensive platform, creating a seamless experience for businesses managing complex maintenance operations.
Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Alabama, US, Fleetio offers an optimisation platform to help companies manage their fleets, providing resources needed to run, repair and optimise vehicles and assets. The platform provides various solutions from fleet management and maintenance to logging work orders, digital inspections, vehicle parts and inventory.
Fleetio announced simultaneously the successful closing of over $450 million to finance the acquisition, valuing the combined business at over $1.5 billion. The round was co-led by existing Fleetio investor Elephant and new investor Growth Equity at Goldman Sachs Alternatives. Auto Integrate’s management team have also reinvested in Fleetio and will become shareholders at the company.
This strategic union creates a platform designed with customer-centricity to serve fleet operators of all sizes across North America. The combined entity will service over 8 million vehicles and process more than 13 million repair orders per year through its network of 110,000+ repair shops across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
RSM UK advised the shareholders of Auto Integrate in the transaction, led by Corporate Finance Partner Clodagh Tunney, with Simon MacDonald leading on providing financial advice, and Eoin Gribben leading on technical due diligence.
We have known and worked with Fleetio for many years and watched their transformational growth, so are excited to be part of Fleetio. We look forward to working together as we continue to strive to provide the best service for our customers and would like to thank RSM’s deals team for its support throughout the process.
Terry Bartlett, CEO
Auto Integrate
DriveWorks
Our M&A and private equity team has successfully advised UK-based software developer DriveWorks Group Limited on its sale to global technology company Bechtle AG.
Founded in 2001, DriveWorks develops innovative Design Automation, Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) and 3D Product Configurator software solutions to support companies with product customisation and configuration. Based in Thelwall, Cheshire, DriveWorks is a SOLIDWORKS Gold Partner that has maintained an impressive growth trajectory, evolving into a global software provider with customers in over 50 countries as of 2024.
Bechtle AG, founded in Germany in 1983, is one of Europe’s leading IT providers, with a presence across 14 countries. The company provides digital transformation services to businesses in industrial, trade, financial, and public sectors. As an established technology provider, Bechtle recognised the strength of DriveWorks’ offering and the strategic opportunity to enhance its software portfolio and UK presence. This move supports DriveWorks’ ambition for sustainable future growth and the opportunity to benefit from new synergies.
Our M&A deal team, with specialist support from data analytics and due diligence, advised DriveWorks on its sale, undertaking an extensive marketing process, negotiating key terms and project managing the transaction through to completion.
RSM’s understanding, knowledge, skill and dedication to the process were invaluable in securing a great home for the next stage in DriveWorks’ growth story.”
Maria Sarkar, Vice President and Co-Founder
DriveWorks
IdentityE2E
Our deal services team successfully advised the shareholders of IdentityE2E, a specialist UK technology consultancy, on its sale to CACI Ltd, a leading data and technology solutions company.
IdentityE2E has unparalleled consultancy expertise in delivering high-profile critical national infrastructure projects. With significant government contracts in areas like biometrics, cloud engineering and telecommunications – and with advanced cloud platforms and facial matching software at its disposal – the company supports the delivery of enterprise-grade digital solutions to leading clients across the public and private sectors.
CACI is a multinational professional services and information technology company providing services to many branches of the US federal government including defence, homeland security, intelligence and healthcare.
We acted as lead advisers, supporting IdentityE2E’s shareholders through the transaction process, identifying buyers, leading negotiations and project managing the purchase through to completion. With a successful outcome, IdentityE2E can accelerate its growth across new markets and expand its innovative product offerings, while CACI can enhance its national security and critical national infrastructure business.
We chose to partner with the RSM team for the acquisition of our company based on our initial meetings with the team where they were very clear in explaining the process, were not pushy on signing with them until we were comfortable, and they gave us confidence that they could represent us effectively and through to a completion. Most of all it was a decision based on relationship, because we believed we would have a good working relationship with the team. It proved to be the right decision. Throughout the year-long process, the RSM team demonstrated their professionalism, commitment to us and our best interests, and dedication to help navigate us to completion. It was a long road, with a number of tricky obstacles, but we would not have achieved the outcome without the RSM team.
Richard Garner, Founder and CEO
IdentityE2E
Talos360
RSM UK successfully helped LDC-backed Talos360, one of the UK’s fastest growing HR software businesses, acquire performance management platform Appraisd.
Cheshire-based Talos360 helps more than 800 businesses attract, recruit and retain talent through its applicant tracking software and talent technology. Established in 2009, Talos360 received investment from LDC in 2022 and has now become one of the UK’s fastest growing HR software platforms.
Founded in 2012, Appraisd is an award-winning performance management business, empowering over 65,000 employees in more than 65 countries. Created as an employee-first solution, Appraisd promotes talent development, organisational alignment and employee success.
RSM’s North West deal team managed the acquisition, led by James Wild and Austin Halewood. With the successful acquisition of Appraisd, Talos360’s strategic growth plans in the human capital management market can accelerate, helping facilitate a fully integrated talent suite that covers the entire employee lifecycle, from hiring to retiring. The deal also opens different geographies for Talos360, such as the USA, UAE, Australia and Canada, while deepening its presence in Europe.
I couldn’t be happier we chose RSM as our partner for our recent acquisition. Working with them was like working with an extended part of our team, and we simply wouldn’t have achieved the highly successful outcome without their advice, knowledge and patience. It’s not often you work with advisers who take the time to get to know what is important to you and bring that to the party at every step, while handling sensitive or tricky negotiations with ease. I am looking forward to working with the team on our next deal! Thanks so much.
Janette Martin, CEO
Talos360 Limited
Townsend Music Limited
Our deal services team has successfully advised UK-based music retailer and distributor Townsend Music Limited on its sale to Dutch distributor and vinyl producer Artone B.V.
Townsend Music traces its roots to the Townsend Records shop, opened in 1978 in Great Harwood. Since then, Townsend has grown into an established global direct-to-consumer (D2C) e-commerce music retailer and distributor, selling both physical and digital music, as well as merchandise, using its proprietary platform.
Headquartered in the Netherlands and with 14 offices across Europe, Artone B.V. is a leading provider of end-to-end physical music solutions. Townsend Music's partnership with Artone creates a strong opportunity to fast-track its plans for European expansion by tapping into Artone’s established network of sales, distribution, and manufacturing capabilities. This move supports Townsend's ambition to grow as a global D2C leader in music and merchandise.
We advised Townsend Music on its sale, negotiating the key terms and project managing the transaction through to completion.
The guidance, dedication, and professionalism from all the corporate team at RSM was a great help, and invaluable in navigating a successful conclusion to this process.
Steve Bamber, Founder Townsend Music Limited
DEAL CARDS
Adatis Group Limited
Acquirer Incremental Group
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Caboodle
Celerity Limited
Acquirer Business Growth Fund (BGF)
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Cellular Solutions Holdings Limited
Acquirer Communications Plus Limited
Sector Telecommunications
Sub sector Telecommunications & IT
Chilli IT Limited
Acquirer Celerity Limited
Sector Technology
Sub sector IT Services
Dancerace Plc
Acquirer Newable Capital
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
EnquiryMax
Acquirer Keyloop Holdings (UK) Limited
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
FISC Global and FISC Limited
Acquirer Keyloop Holdings (UK) Limited
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
MxP Partners LLP
Acquired Motormax
Sector Technology
Sub sector Hardware
NEC Software Solutions
Pinnacle Health Partnership LLP (PHP)
Acquirer EMIS Group Plc
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Practice Labs Systems
Acquirer MIS Training Institute
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Rockpool Investments LLP
Acquired CareScribe
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Room58
Acquirer LeadVenture Inc
Sector Technology
Sub sector Software
Seven Telematics Limited
Acquirer Connexas Group
Sector Telecommunications
Sub sector Telematics
Spotlight
Acquirer Talent Systems LLC
Sector Media
Sub sector Motion picture and TV production
The Roald Dahl Story Company Ltd
Townsend Music Limited (Buy Side)
Acquired Artone B.V’s
Sector Media
Sub sector Music and sound
Visualisation One (V1)
Acquirer Together Group
Sector Media
Sub sector Digital agencies
