Chaucer
International digital transformation consultancy
Contributing Sustainable Development Goals
Background
Our investment partnership with Chaucer began in February 2014. We wanted to support their transition of a family founded management consultancy business into a high-growth digital transformation provider. They had a long-standing position in the consultancy market with an impressive client list and operations in the UK and US.
We partnered with the Chaucer CEO to buy-out legacy family shareholders and align the equity with an ambitious management team. Management wanted a partner who had experience of growing specialist services businesses, were culturally sympathetic and could add value through organisational evolution, strategic challenge, and acquisition.
During the period of our partnerships Chaucer successfully diversified its service offering and client base, positioned itself as a differentiated digital transformation specialist and acquired specialist technology consultancy, Virtrium. The business doubled headcount, revenue and profitability.
In July 2020 we excited our investment in Chaucer through a transaction with Business Integration Partners (BIP) a large Italian consultancy with international growth ambitions and a key role for Chaucer at the centre of its UK and US strategy.
Strategic Clarity
Business Shape
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Strategy - Evolution of service offering and sector focus to extend services into more technology rich digital transformation verticals and diversify into Government and Life Sciences
Accelerating Growth
Commercial
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Sales/GTM - Investment in sales and marketing strategy, customer acquisition and M&A
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M&A - Follow-on funding for strategic acquisition
People & Organisation
Talent & Culture
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People Function - Evolution of recruitment and people function, focussing on learning and development, recruitment, reduced attrition and equity incentivisation model
Platform for Success
Finance and Operations
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Data/Automation/AI
- Data-driven improvement in margins and cash generation ensuring controlled, profitable growth
Delivering the Best Outcome
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High-Quality Delivery - A funding structure that delivered a clean deal for exiting family members at completion but equity upside for management, including creation of additional equity incentives over time
- Chaucer evolved from a traditional management consultancy model to a well-invested, high growth digital transformation business with exceptional clients and attractive financials
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Exit Preparation - This resulted in an exit that created meaningful value for all shareholders and exciting international growth opportunities and future value for management