Inspirit Capital and PCB Partners acquires Palladium Digital Group.
Inspirit Capital, with PCB Partners co-founders Ben Doltis and Tim Farazmand are pleased to announce the acquisition of Palladium Digital Group, a leading digital and strategic consulting firm.
Operating from London and New York, Palladium supports private equity investors and their portfolio businesses to define, design and implement digital capabilities. The group also provides strategic consultancy services to a range of European and North American corporate clients through its White Space Strategy division. Recently ranked in the Financial Times 2025 list of the UK’s leading management consultancies, Palladium is also developing a market-leading position in helping businesses understand and realise the practical benefits of artificial intelligence technologies.
Inspirit Capital is a London-based investment firm that specialise in corporate carve outs, managing capital on behalf of a blue-chip institutional investor base. PCB Partners is a London-based investment bank advising on M&A deals exclusively in the digital ecosystem.
Will Stamp, Partner at Inspirit Capital, commented:
“Palladium has built a market-leading position in recent years and we are delighted to be partnering with James, Mark and the wider Palladium team to deliver the next phase of growth. This transaction also aligns with Inspirit’s expertise in delivering complex corporate carve-outs.”
Ben Doltis, CEO and Co-founder at PCB, commented:
“We are thrilled to be co-investing alongside Inspirit Capital in Palladium. As technology continues to reshape industries, Palladium’s expertise in leveraging data and AI-driven solutions positions it perfectly for accelerated growth. I am excited to back such a first-class management team as they lead the company into its next chapter.”
James Prebble, CEO and Co-founder at Palladium Digital Group, commented:
“We are delighted to welcome PCB Partners and Inspirit Capital as our new investment partners. Their support marks an exciting new chapter for Palladium as we accelerate our expansion in the US and continue to build on our leadership in digital and technology advisory for the private equity sector. With their backing, we are well positioned to capitalise on the significant growth opportunities in AI and data-driven value creation for our private equity clients and their portfolios. We have built strong foundations for Palladiums continued growth in the sector, and we look forward to this next phase of growth alongside PCB Partners and Inspirit Capital.”
Mark Lewis, COO at Palladium Digital Group, commented:
“We are thrilled to embark on the next chapter of Palladium’s journey with Inspirit Capital and PCB Partners. Their investment is a significant milestone in our ambition to become the leading tech, data, and AI consultancy for the private equity sector. Palladium’s unique blend of transaction advisory and value creation services, especially our hands-on approach to implementation and realising value through technology, data, and AI, positions us at the forefront of a rapidly evolving market. Together with our new partners, we will be able to accelerate our growth, deepen our impact with private equity firms and their portfolio companies, and continue delivering transformative results. We are excited to scale, innovate, and prepare for this new phase.”
PCB announces partnership with Qodea to supercharge European M&A strategy.
17 January 2025
PCB, a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm specialising in disruptive technologies and digital transformation, has been appointed to support Qodea in executing an ambitious M&A strategy across multiple regions.
Backed by Marlin Equity Partners, Qodea, Europe’s largest dedicated Google Cloud digital transformation partner, has partnered with the firm to accelerate its growth. Execution of this strategy will reinforce Qodea’s market leading capability and status as expert engineers and deliverers of Google Cloud technology. In addition, PCB’s co-founder, Ben Doltis, will join Qodea’s Board.
Commenting on the partnership, Doltis said: “PCB’s involvement comes at a time when demand for digital transformation is surging across Europe. We are eager to contribute to expanding Qodea’s capabilities and reputation in this dynamic market.”
Newly appointed Qodea CEO, Alan Paton, commented: “PCB has a strong reputation for surfacing companies with the ideal profile to help grow the skilled and innovative bandwidth of Qodea. In particular, their knowledge of companies with specific Google expertise will help us. Going forward, I am confident that they will make a very positive contribution to our ability to scale, as we win more of the major engagements that are already driving our growth.”
About PCB
Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Ben Doltis and former LDC Managing Director Tim Farazmand, PCB is a leading mergers and acquisitions advisory firm rooted in entrepreneurial culture. The firm provides buy-side and sell-side services, focusing on disruptive technologies, digital transformation, management consulting, and creative marketing services businesses. PCB’s leadership team comprises accomplished entrepreneurs, industry veterans who have built and sold their own companies and seasoned corporate financiers – offering clients unparalleled insights and expertise. https://www.pcbpartners.co.uk/
About Qodea
Qodea is Europe’s largest dedicated Google digital transformation partner, specialising in cloud solutions, data analytics, AI and machine learning, and cyber security. With a mission to empower organisations to innovate and scale using Google Cloud, Qodea has been at the forefront of cloud technology advancements and digital transformation projects across industries. Formed in late 2023, through the merger of Appsbroker and CTS (Cloud Technology Solutions), the company has established itself as a Google dedicated challenger in the systems integrator ecosystem, supporting major players across the finance, manufacturing, retail and public sectors, including DPD, Travis Perkins, BT Group, GSK, Booking.com and Sky. Qodea was honoured with two EMEA Partner of the Year Awards at Google Cloud’s Next ’24 conference in Las Vegas.
About Marlin Equity Partners
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm with over $9 billion in capital commitments. The firm is focused on providing corporate parents, shareholders and other stakeholders with tailored solutions that meet their business and liquidity needs. Marlin invests in businesses across multiple industries where its capital base, industry relationships and extensive network of operational resources significantly strengthen a company’s outlook and enhance value. Since its inception, Marlin, through its group of funds and related companies, has successfully completed over 250 acquisitions. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, California, with an additional office in London. For more information, please visit www.marlinequity.com.
Selling Your Business? Watch Out For The Post-Exit Blues
The last 6.5 years building PCB Partners in what was a new category for me personally, in an already mature M&A marketplace; through emotional intelligence, determination, exceptional Partners and talent in our firm, has taken us from the challenger/ disruptor to leading the way in Corporate Finance.. I spoke with Forbes this week about how we work with Entrepreneurs on pre and post exit and it was made a little more special to have Daniel Fox and the Trilogy International Jamie Bernstein and Ivan Jackson Founders participate, who’s business we sold earlier in the month to Korn Ferry.
Click to read the full article and hear more from PCB: Selling Your Business? Watch Out For The Post-Exit Blues
How To Make A Successful Business Exit?
If you want to exit or to know how it works…
You can read the insights in Forbes story with knowledge from Ben Doltis Co-founder of Corporate Finance firm PCB Partners and featuring how to buy a business insights from the talented Gabriele Cipparrone of Apax Partners.
Do you want to sell your company?
Click to read the full article and hear more from PCB: https://lnkd.in/eBkg5yrR
The (other) tech sector attracting “premium” valuations.
PCB’s Founder Ben Doltis speaks this week with the Financial Times, speaking on CEO’s, the importance of their senior teams, and current valuations for “healthy” businesses in technology, he commented:
“While much of the investment market is focused on the investment opportunities surrounding Artificial Intelligence (AI), areas such as data mining, and data analytics are also attracting “premium valuations” when professional services companies providing those services are sold.”
Read full Financial Times article here: The (other) tech sector attracting “premium” valuations – FTAdviser
The 2022 edition of the Spear’s Magazine Spear’s 500 is here — PCB Partners are delighted that Co-Founder Ben Doltis is included in the indispensable guide to the top private client advisers, wealth managers, lawyers and service providers for HNW individuals.
Following on from the Royds Withy King webinar in which they spoke to Scott Moeller about tackling cognitive bias in M&A decision making – launching Headroom, our buy-side thought leadership series, with a joint White Paper with The Business School (formerly CASS), City, University of London and PCB Partners.
You can follow the link below to download now and learn about cognitive processes at play during various decision-making steps, and ways to de-bias the decisions that could have costly consequences:
Tim Farazmand, Chair and impact investor
Background
Tim has been involved in private equity investing since 1987 including significant time spent in 3i, RBS PE and LDC. For the last twenty years he has been involved increasingly in impact investing and currently chairs Palatine’s Impact fund.
Video length
10 minutes
Contact details
www.linkedin.com/in/timfarazmand/
www.palatinepe.com/our-funds/impact/
From Meerkats to Arctic swimming and dancing Grannies, brands have become the talk of mainstream media through the antics of Andrew and his PR firm Frank.
In this interview, Andrew talks about how he comes up with ideas, working with Lord Alan Sugar and the work he is doing now in industries as diverse as new M&A and music.
Interview – click here
’Be bold, take a risk, and if you fail so be it.’ by Ben Doltis
YouTube
https://lnkd.in/dWuj3Aa
Podcast
https://lnkd.in/dFUK2JD