Foresight : completes sale of Accrosoft, a high growth SaaS software company, to Acendre Technologies Inc, a US-based HR software business, delivering 2x return in three years

13 October 2021

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• Accrosoft and its subsidiary, Vacancy Filler, which streamlines talent acquisition and recruitment management for organisations, has been acquired by Acendre
• Prior to completion, Weduc, a leading communication platform for schools, was spun out of Accrosoft with Foresight retaining the existing shareholding
• The sixth successful exit for Foresight's Private Equity team in the last twelve months

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London 12 October 2021: Foresight Group LLP ("Foresight"), a leading UK listed infrastructure and specialist regional private equity investment manager, is pleased to announce the sale of Accrosoft Limited, a recruitment and employee onboarding software company, to Acendre Technologies Inc., a global HR software business headquartered in the US.

Based in Loughborough, Accrosoft was founded in 2008 by Alex Khakbiz and Mitesh Chauhan, experienced SaaS entrepreneurs. Accrosoft's Vacancy Filler ("VF") software streamlines talent acquisition and recruitment management for organisations. VF helps millions of candidates to apply for jobs easily and empowers thousands of recruiters and hiring managers to recruit better and faster. The product now supports customers across a range of sectors, including supermarket chain Aldi, which manages thousands of applications daily.

Since the original investment in August 2018, Foresight has taken a proactive approach alongside the management team to strengthen the business, accelerating both product development and commercial activities. The company has established several strategic partnerships to extend the platform's functionality and developed a range of features to strengthen its offering in its core markets, including education, the public sector, leisure and retail. This successful exit returns 2x to Foresight funds in a little more than three years with further upside for investors given the ongoing investment in Weduc.

Prior to the sale of Accrosoft, its subsidiary, Weduc, was spun out with Foresight's funds retaining their shareholding. Weduc is a leading communication platform sold into the education sector and was initially launched in 2017. The company has grown significantly since Foresight's original investment, doubling its customer numbers over the past year following a £1.4m funding round in December 2020 led by Foresight and the management team. Weduc is expected to continue on this growth trajectory over the coming years, taking advantage of the increasing digitisation of the education sector.

Acendre and Accrosoft's VF product are complementary businesses and by joining forces they will be able to offer a recruitment and HR management software platform across a much wider customer base as well as establishing a presence in Europe.

This transaction represents the sixth successful realisation by Foresight's Private Equity team in the last 12 months, cementing its position as one of the most active SME investors in the UK market.

Alex Khakbiz, CEO of Accrosoft, said: "Foresight's support over the last three years has been invaluable in taking our business to the next level. We are delighted to begin the next chapter of our company's journey with Acendre, which will enable us to showcase our Loughborough, UK-born technology offerings on a global scale".

David Miles, Senior Investment Manager at Foresight, added: "It has been a pleasure to work with Alex, Mitesh and the whole Accrosoft team over the last three years. This sale, to a large US buyer, validates Foresight's approach of supporting regional UK businesses in their ambitions to become global players. This realisation delivers an attractive financial return to investors, while offering the opportunity for further upside through the remaining holding in Weduc."

Daniel Woodcock, Managing Director at Weduc, said: "There are exciting times ahead at Weduc. Thanks to our continued working relationship with Foresight, we are able to realise our ambitious plans and the dramatic growth we always knew we can achieve."

Foresight and the other shareholders were advised by Acuity Advisors and Shakespeare Martineau.

RSM and RW Blears provided tax structuring advice.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Borja Miquel: [e-mail] / [phone]

Will Easton: [e-mail] / [phone]

Notes to Editors

About Foresight Group LLP ("Foresight"):

Foresight is an award-winning listed infrastructure and private equity investment manager which has been managing investment funds on behalf of institutions and retail clients for more than 35 years.

Foresight has £7.8billion of Assets Under Management across a number of funds, including Listed Vehicles, Limited Partnerships, Enterprise Investment Schemes (EISs), Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs), Inheritance Tax Solutions using Business Relief (BR) and Open-Ended Investment Companies (OEICs).

Foresight's Private Equity Team, comprising over 30 investment professionals, manages c.£700 million and a portfolio of more than 100 companies and pursues four discrete but complementary investment styles: Venture, Impact, Growth and Replacement Capital through its growing regional office network.

Since 2020, Foresight has been shortlisted for more than 35 awards. Foresight was recently recognised as 'Venture and Growth Capital House of the Year' at the Unquote British Private Equity Awards and is currently shortlisted for 'Best VCT Investment Manager 2021' and 'Best EIS Investment Manager 2021' by Growth Investors, 'VCT of the Year 2021' by Investors All Stars as well as 'The VC/Private Equity Team of the Year 2021' by North West Rainmakers. Foresight was a commended finalist in the Best Venture Capital Trust Provider category at the 2020 Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards.

Foresight's largest office is in London with regional UK offices in Edinburgh, Manchester, Nottingham, Milton Keynes, Leicester, Cambridge and Guernsey and international offices in Sydney, Rome, Madrid and Luxembourg.

www.foresightgroup.eu