ClearCourse acquires two payments businesses Adelante and E-Novations

October 6, 2020

London | 06 October 2020 - ClearCourse Partnership LLP (“ClearCourse” or “the Group”), a group of innovative technology companies providing useful, integrated software solutions to businesses around the world, today announces the acquisition of two UK based payments businesses, Adelante and E-Novations. The acquisitions are ClearCourse’s 19th and 20th, marking a major milestone in its expansion and bolstering its payments capabilities.

Adelante was founded in 1998, and provides a diverse range of credit and debit card payment solutions through its ConnectPay gateway. The platform allows its clients to process payments online, over the phone or through a smartphone app, and through its bespoke recurring card payment hardware system. Reticent of the diverse needs of individual companies, Adelante does not take a one-size-fits-all approach, instead allowing its clients to choose which elements of its product suite are the best fit for them. Adelante’s clients comprise of well-known high-street retailers, local authorities, and membership organisations including Ann Summers, Scholastic and Surrey Heath Council.

Darrell Bluck, Managing Director of Adelante said: “I’m incredibly proud of what the Adelante team has achieved over the past 22 years. We have secured a position as one of the UK’s most successful payments processing businesses, facilitating nearly nine million transactions a year. We were ready to take the business to the next level and in ClearCourse we see the ideal partner to drive further growth at a rate that matches our ambitions. I’m looking forward to working closely with Gerry and the team to deliver the best possible payments solutions to our clients.”

Adelante and E-Novations will become an important part of our evolving payments solutions

Gerry Gualtieri – CEO, ClearCourse

E-Novations is a global provider of EPOS (electronic point of sale) software and hardware to the retail and hospitality sectors. Founded in 2000 and with offices in the UK, Hong Kong, India and UAE, it provides clients with digital payment collection solutions, comprising cloud-based dashboards and automated processing that integrate seamlessly with its proprietary payment terminals. It also offers 24/7 consultancy services and support to its global customer base which includes the NHS, Rugby Haven, CostCutter, and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Manoj Jethwa, Founder and CEO of E-Novations commented: “ClearCourse is an innovative company that has emerged as a leader in the payments and technology sector in the UK. As we planned our expansion, we realised that growth would require opportunities to globally scale our business. ClearCourse has a large portfolio of complementary businesses through which we can realise numerous operational synergies. Working together, we are certain that E-Novations and ClearCourse can make an impact on the payments processing sector.”

The two companies join a rapidly growing family of complementary businesses that have payments functions at their core. ClearCourse has already demonstrated the ability to integrate its Group companies technology to create synergies and realise operational efficiencies, including integrating direct debit functionalities into its CRM systems.

Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, commented: “Both these new acquisitions represent an exciting point in our journey. Now comprised of 20 companies, we have built one of the largest groups of technology companies in the UK, serving hundreds of thousands of end users around the world. Adelante and E-Novations will become an important part of our evolving payments solutions, enabling us to integrated workflow and payments capabilities to our clients and delivering both operational and cost benefits.”

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FinTech Software and Payments veteran Simon Black joins ClearCourse board

December 11, 2024

11 December 2024, London, UK: ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and payments for UK SMEs, is pleased to announce the appointment of FinTech, Software and Payments veteran Simon Black as Non-Executive Director. Simon has a track record of leading technology companies through rapid periods of growth and brings a wealth of experience in strategy, branding, M&A and fundraising. Simon has over three decades of experience in Fintech software and Payments. He is the former CEO of PPRO which he transformed from a German start-up into a global leader in alternative payments, via international expansion and multiple successful funding rounds. Prior to PPRO, Simon was CEO of SagePay, where he led the business to 10x revenue growth. Simon currently advises growth-stage companies and private equity investors on driving innovation, market disruption and long-term growth. This appointment comes at an exciting time for ClearCourse, as the company expands its UK market presence while continuing to provide mission-critical products and services to help customers manage and grow their businesses. Throughout 2024, ClearCourse acquired an additional 4 businesses in ThinkSmart, CSY, Gob2b and Harbour Assist as part of its strategy to build a strong presence in key vertical markets characterised by high digital adoption and establishing itself in the fast-growing online and mobile payments space. Christina Hamilton, CEO of ClearCourse, said: “ I am delighted to welcome Simon to the ClearCourse board at a pivotal stage of our growth journey. He shares our ambition of building the business into a major actor in the embedded fintech space. Simon’s impressive track record of scaling payment businesses will be invaluable in supporting ClearCourse grow further in the UK and beyond and we look forward to working closely with him. ” Simon Black, incoming Non-Executive Director, added: “ I am delighted to be joining the board of ClearCourse, an exciting, innovative business with many opportunities as the high demand for embedded payments from SMBs continues unabated. I have known Christina and the Aquiline team for some time, and I have been impressed by ClearCourse’s rapid growth to date. The Group’s winning combination of deep vertical domain expertise and seamless integrated payments is truly market leading. I look forward to supporting ClearCourse’s continued leadership in attractive key sector verticals. ”

Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Marina and Harbour Software Provider Harbour Assist

October 17, 2024

London, 17 October 2024 – ClearCourse, a leading provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, announces the acquisition of Harbour Assist. Founded in 2013 and based in Cornwall, Harbour Assist is a leading cloud-based marina management system that integrates customer relations, communications, asset management, invoicing and reporting into a single, easy-to-use software package. Harbour Assist serves a diverse range of marina and harbour clients across the UK, Canada, Fiji, Mexico, New Zealand, US, Australia, and the Middle East. Their clients include independent operators and multi-site organisations, Trust Ports and public sector such as Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, Lakeland Leisure Estates, Fowey Harbour, Port of Ramsgate. Harbour Assist’s reach extends to some of the world’s most prominent marinas and harbours. Harbour Assist’s industry-specific software focuses on enhancing administrative efficiency, improving customer service, and providing robust tools for managing moorings, berths, billing, and communication with boat owners. With ClearCourse, the platform will gain access to embedded payment tools as well as additional development resources, enhancing its capability to deliver a greater quantity of features at pace. Christina Hamilton, Chief Executive Officer of ClearCourse, said : “We are delighted to welcome Harbour Assist into the ClearCourse Group. As a market leader and disrupter in marine and harbour software, Harbour Assist acquisition underscores our aim for success in 2024. This collaboration will not only enhance the service, and solutions offered to Harbour Assist’s customers but also provide them with access to a broader range of resources and expertise. We eagerly anticipate working with Nick, Graham, and the team to explore new markets, improve operational efficiencies, and deliver an integrated offering to our customers.” Nick Gill and Graham Laidler Co-founders of Harbour Assist said : “It’s very exciting to join the ClearCourse group at this crucial stage in our growth journey. For over a decade, we've earned our reputation by delivering mission-critical software designed and developed by a team of maritime professionals. Leveraging years of practical experience and ongoing customer feedback. Partnering with ClearCourse enables us to expand further and future proof our business by adding a range of innovative and efficient payments solutions, something we are incredibly excited about.” Harbour Assist will be part of the ClearCourse Sports and Leisure division. This announcement follows the recent acquisitions of B2B eCommerce platform GOb2b and retail EPOS solutions provider CSY. With these strategic additions, ClearCourse is poised to leverage enhanced capabilities and resources, driving innovation and delivering superior features to its users. Established in London in 2018, ClearCourse is a leading software and embedded payment specialist. The group’s vertical software solutions provide essential, industry-specific technology to help their customers manage and grow their businesses. Since inception, the company has undergone rapid growth by acquiring over 40 leading software and payments solutions in its core market verticals which are all underpinned by ClearCourse Payments and Services. The terms of the deal are undisclosed.