Silver lining for Catapult in US deal

Leicester-based private equity house Catapult has sold its share in Silver Lining Solutions, a Midlands-based provider of employee performance optimisation software, has been acquired by US-based Genesys® for an undisclosed sum.

Silver Lining Solutions is a developer of employee optimisation solutions. The firm has offices in Asia Pacific and the United States and employs more than 20 people.

“Silver Lining Solutions has been a valued Genesys OEM partner since 2009, so this acquisition is a logical step toward increasing our commitment to joint customers, while offering additional workforce optimisation capabilities to our installed base,” said Paul Segre, chief executive officer of Genesys.

He added: “These tools to assess and evaluate employee behaviors, skills, and capabilities are critical for understanding how overall workforce performance can be improved – and ultimately, how they can improve a company’s bottom line.”

Genesys has been offering Silver Lining products — its Performance DNA portfolio comprised of Optimizer and Planner — through Genesys Skills Management, which bundles Genesys Skills Assessor with Genesys Training Manager into one package.

Ed Wass, who led the transaction for Catapult Ventures, said: “We are delighted that the potential we saw in Silver Lining Solutions has been successfully realised. We have supported the business in its development and have seen it go from strength to strength in recent years.

“We are confident that the acquisition by Genesys will be beneficial to both businesses.

“We are very pleased with the return delivered to the investors in our Advantage Enterprise and Innovation Fund.”

The shareholders were advised by corporate finance advisers, Silverpeak and solicitors Hogan Lovells International.