Automation specialist acquired in £13m deal

Software and automation business Netcall has acquired Gloucestershire-based Govtech in a deal worth up to £13m.

Govtech specialises in digital process automation, with a strong focus on local government revenues and benefits processes. Its platform handles approximately 30m transactions annually for around 50 local authorities, including Bristol, Edinburgh and Leeds city councils.

The deal will expand Netcall’s local government customer base, and it will now work with one-in-three UK councils.

All 39 Govtech employees, including the founders, will remain with the business and continue to be based in Cirencester.

James Ormondroyd, chief executive of Netcall, said: “The acquisition of Govtech significantly expands our presence in the local government sector, strengthening our product proposition and providing substantial new cross selling opportunities, while adding to our growing base of recurring revenues.”

The deal will see £9.15m paid now, a further £450,000 in a year’s time, then a two-year earnout potentially adding another £3.4m of cash and shares.