CLOUD software specialists Civica in Belfast has paid £13 million to acquire HR Solutions, the HR and payroll business of the London FTSE 100-listed Equiniti Group.
HR Solutions, also based in Belfast, is trusted to improve the efficiency of payroll processes, reduce costs and deliver an assured payroll experience for employees.
It is expected to generate £5.9m revenue and £1.7m profits this year, whilst last year the business processed more than £4 billion of payments and issued nearly 3 million payslips.
The acquisition will strengthen Civica’s existing integrated HR, payroll and time and attendance capability, as well as complement the group’s broad suite of workforce management solutions.
It will also increase the scale of activity and extend the delivery of payroll solutions into core markets such as the health sector for Civica, giving it a combined 200 employees in Northern Ireland.
Civica has a strong track record as a technology provider for public services, working with a number of the north’s main public sector bodies including the Department of Health, NI Direct and the PSNI.
During the current pandemic Civica helped launch the health department’s CovidCareNI app in just two weeks, alongside working with Southern Health and Social Care Trust on a new employee app
HR Solutions provides payroll solutions across a range of markets including the NHS, and current customers include Camden & Islington NHS Trust, South Warwickshire NHS Foundation Trust, the Met Office and Scottish Parliament.
Mark Owens, managing director at Civica NI, said: “Aquiring Equiniti HR Solutions shows our commitment to continued investment in Northern Ireland and strengthens our capability to help customers ensure efficient and high-quality payroll activities.
“We look forward to supporting our customers across Northern Ireland’s public services in delivering their people strategies using our innovative cloud software and solutions.”
Equiniti Group plc chief executive Guy Wakeley added: “HR Solutions is joining a business which provides payroll software and services to 500 organisations around the UK, and will provide an opportunity for the business to scale and grow. We wish our colleagues the best of luck for the future.”
Civica has also recently instigated a brand refresh, designed to support the acceleration of digital public services with the theme of “Ideas into Action”.
It comes as the firm has had an increasingly visible presence in the UK software and IT services market for a number of years now, growing the business and becoming an increasingly prominent player.
