International software and digital solutions developer Civica Group has been bought for just over £1bn.
Partners Group, a private equity group, purchased the firm from OMERS, which bought it four years ago.
Civica currently employs 3,700 people worldwide, providing services to the commercial and public sectors.
It has 30 offices across the UK, which is home to 75 per cent of its workforce, the remaining quarter are based in Asia, Australasia and North America.
Bilge Ogut, managing director of Partners Group, said: “We have been impressed by Civica’s track record of long-term growth.
“We see our investment as an opportunity to back a high-quality market leader in a sector with evolving customer needs and the potential to increase scale through select acquisitions.
“We are excited to work with Civica under the leadership of Simon Downing and Wayne Story and to continue to grow the business.”
Partners Group will support the existing management team and its ongoing strategy as well as seeking out complementary acquisitions to enhance the business.
Civica chairman Simon Downing said: “Civica has performed extremely well during the period of OMERS ownership, and moves on significantly enhanced in scale and capability.
“The business is very well placed to respond to the changing needs of our customers and the investment by Partners Group, with its emphasis on working alongside management to grow companies, ensures we have access to the resources and support to build on our existing plans.”
Wayne Story, chief executive of Civica, added: “This is a very positive development to support our ongoing strategy for the benefit of customers, employees and other stakeholders.
“Under the ownership of Partners Group, it will be an enhanced version of business as normal led by the existing management team, and we remain committed to our strategy and to the long term development of Civica.
“We believe our continued commitment to customers and our sustained investment in our people and our products, along with the hands-on support of our new investor, provides an excellent foundation for the future success of the business.”
Civica has offices in Altrincham, Cheadle, Bath, Bristol, Colchester, Chesterfield, Coleshill, Dorking, Dudley, the Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Hull, Leeds, Luton, Malvern, Pershore, Newbury, Rhyl, Reading, Rickmansworth, Worcester, Yeovil, Woking, London, Belfast and Dublin.