• Acuity secures investment from FPE Capital in Kallik, a leading provider of Labelling and Artwork Management SaaS solutions to the Medical Device, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sectors

    MANAGEMENT BUY OUT

FPE Capital LLP (‘FPE’), a growth private equity investor has completed the buyout of Kallik, a Midlands-based global leader in Labelling Compliance systems.

Founded in 2001 by Neil and Carole Gleghorn, Kallik has been recognised by Gartner as a world leader in the burgeoning labelling and artwork management sector. The company is focused on high-consequence verticals such as Medical Devices, Pharmaceuticals and Chemicals, where the risk of non-compliance with labelling regulation is high and an increasing focus of boardroom concern. Its products provide one cloud-based collaborative platform to ensure that labels are produced efficiently and consistently in a compliant format in multiple jurisdictions, delivering traceability across the entire labelling supply chain. The company has an impressive array of customers including Exxon Mobil, Cardinal Health, Molnlycke and Integra.

FPE plan to accelerate growth. David Bennett, former Head of Sales at FPE Capital investee company, Inforsense, and former Head of Sales at Zinc Ahead, a high-growth compliance SaaS provider to the pharmaceutical industry, joins the business as CRO at completion. John Hawkins, an experienced software executive and former Chair of FPE investment Kallidus, has also joined the Board as Non-Executive Chairman.

Dan Walker, Partner at FPE Capital:

“We work with many advisors, but found the way Acuity combined their deep understanding of Kallik’s part of the technology sector, along with a real understanding of how private equity look at deals, to be a great asset in delivering a successful outcome for all parties.”

Neil Gleghorn, Founder of Kallik:

“We met with five potential advisors to support on the sale of the business, and appointed Acuity on the basis of their track record, network and confidence of delivering a great result. Throughout the process Marcus, Brian and the team worked extremely hard to produce excellent material and access appropriate parties from across Europe and North America. I was particularly impressed in their ability to manage both the emotional as well as the commercial aspects of the transaction and their experience and considered perspectives undoubtedly helped to deliver a result I’m thrilled with.”

Marcus Allchurch, Partner at Acuity Advisors:

“I am delighted to have led this highly successful process to secure a focused and very well suited private equity backer for Kallik, and an exit for its founding shareholders. We ran a competitive international process with offers from both sides of the Atlantic, but FPE’s vision and approach set it apart and led to its ultimate success. I wish all parties every success as they now look to the company’s next phase of growth.”

Richard Baker, Managing Partner at Acuity Advisors:

“Yet another great result delivered by Acuity this year. We are delighted to have been able to facilitate this transaction, which reinforces Acuity’s position as a leading mid-market advisor in the Software and Services sector.”

“We met with five potential advisors to support on the sale of the business, and appointed Acuity on the basis of their track record, network and confidence of delivering a great result. Throughout the process Marcus, Brian and the team worked extremely hard to produce excellent material and access appropriate parties from across Europe and North America. I was particularly impressed in their ability to manage both the emotional as well as the commercial aspects of the transaction and their experience and considered perspectives undoubtedly helped to deliver a result I’m thrilled with.”

NIEL GLEGHORN | Founder
Kallik

Marcus joined Acuity in 2014, before which he held senior leadership and corporate finance positions with some of the UK’s most successful advisory and telecoms businesses. Roles with EE, KPMG Corporate Finance and BDO Corporate Finance have seen Marcus work in the UK and across the globe with successful entrepreneurs seeking exit, and at board level with multi-national corporates looking for growth through organic and inorganic investment.

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