Progress Partners, a Boston- and New York-based M&A advisory firm, has advised on the sale of Swiftpage, the provider of Act! CRM software, a leading cloud-enabled platform aimed at helping small and mid-sized businesses grow, to SFW Capital Partners (SFW), a specialised private equity firm that invests in the middle market across the information value chain with a particular focus on information, software, and analytical instrumentation.
SFW’s principals have supported the growth and development of some of the most successful and well-regarded analytical information, data network and workflow management companies, including DaySmart Software, Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), AGDATA, MD Buyline, Keypoint Intelligence, Telephia and IAG Research. With SFW’s strategic support and resources, Swiftpage plans to make significant investments to expand its product portfolio, enhance sales and marketing capabilities, and meaningfully accelerate growth.
“We are excited to enter a new era of growth under SFW, where their expertise will add invaluable guidance and support. SFW will help us further cement our position as the market leader in CRM software for SMBs,” says John Oechsle, CEO of Swiftpage.
Through its experience transitioning DaySmart Software from a license to a subscription product offering, SFW Capital fundamentally understands Swiftpage’s business model and is well positioned to help drive Swiftpage’s next era of growth. “Progress Partners found us the perfect buyer in every aspect of the term,” says Lorcan Malone, COO of Swiftpage.
Omair Sarwar, a Principal at SFW who will be joining the Swiftpage Board of Directors, says: “Swiftpage exhibits the key characteristics that we look for in our investments within the information management and workflow solutions sectors: mission-critical products, large addressable markets, and a potential to unlock meaningful growth through a range of strategic and operational initiatives.”
As the exclusive advisor to Swiftpage in the transaction, Progress Partners and senior managing director Chris Legg were pleased with the successful outcome.
“We have worked closely with the Swiftpage management team and are pleased to have found a partner who appreciates their story and impressive track record. Together, Swiftpage and SFW share a common vision for the future and it will be exciting to watch them take the business to new heights.”