ClearCourse acquires e-commerce software provider EKM

October 4, 2021

London | 04 October 2021 - ClearCourse Partnership (“ClearCourse” or “the Group”), a group of innovative technology companies providing useful, integrated software solutions, today announces a deal to acquire EKM, (“the Company”), a leading provider of e-commerce and online retail software. The acquisition strengthens ClearCourse’s e-commerce and online retail capabilities and sees the Company join the Group’s Retail division.

Founded in 2002, EKM provides the UK’s leading independent e-commerce platform, delivering software that powers over £350m of transactions annually for its customer base of SME online retailers. EKM’s system offers a full suite of e-commerce solutions, with capabilities including online shop design and visitor conversion tools. Following the acquisition, EKM and its customers will also benefit from the integration of ClearCourse’s proprietary payments platform, ClearAccept – alongside leading global players.

Brands across the ClearCourse Partnership will reap the rewards of EKM’s acquisition. Those in the firm’s Retail Division, such as Swan Retail and The EPOS Bureau, will benefit from EKM’s e-commerce offering. The latter’s services will be integrated into business domains including furniture, garden centres, department stores, farm shops and artisanal food.

EKM will bring a range of positive synergies to ClearCourse and our existing brands, and its acquisition will be a significant expansion of our e-commerce and retail offering.

Gerry Gualtieri – CEO, ClearCourse

Based in Preston, EKM has helped tens of thousands of independent retailers across the UK and Ireland, servicing small businesses and entrepreneurs from cosmetics retailers to astronomy centres. Its customers are at the centre of the company’s product and customer service, which is designed to help their businesses tangibly increase their revenues with ease.

Gerry Gualtieri, CEO of ClearCourse, commented: “We are very pleased to announce that EKM will be joining the ClearCourse Group. It is a fantastic business which has grown from strength to strength since its inception, and we are excited to learn from the expertise of Antony and his team. EKM will bring a range of positive synergies to ClearCourse and our existing brands, and its acquisition will be a significant expansion of our e-commerce and retail offering.”

Antony Chesworth, Founder and Managing Director of EKM, said: “We are excited to be joining the ClearCourse Group, which will enable us to take the next steps in our nearly 20-year journey to help even more people to spend life doing something they love with their own easy-to-use online shop. The range of services, products and expertise within ClearCourse offers great synergies to our customers and will help us to grow their online businesses even further. “

ClearCourse was advised by Squire Patton Boggs (legal), Alvarez & Marsal (finance and tax), and Crosslake (technical due diligence). EKM was advised by Preston Napthens office (legal), Convex Capital (finance), and MHA Moore & Smalley (tax).

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Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Leading Hospitality Software Provider, Rezcontrol by Avon Data Systems Ltd.

June 10, 2025

LONDON 10th June 2025 : ClearCourse, the provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs and targeted enterprises, announces the acquisition of Rezcontrol by Avon Data Systems Ltd., a leading property management systems (PMS) provider for the hospitality industry. Avon Data Systems Ltd. is one of the largest privately-owned UK technology partners in the property management systems industry, with clients ranging from big hotel groups such as Fuller’s Hotels and Inns to independent hotels across the UK. Founded in 1986, Avon Data Systems Ltd. launched its flagship product, Rezcontrol, in 2020, combining over 30 years’ experience in providing software for the hospitality sector with the latest technology to offer its customers a sophisticated and intuitive tool that’s adaptable to their changing needs. Today, Rezcontrol serves over 450 hotels across the UK, helping them to streamline operations, from guest communications and housekeeping to payments and distribution. Whether a full-service hotel or a pub with rooms, Rezcontrol can be tailored to a customers’ needs, and offers many additional integrations from table reservations and point-of-sale, to CRM and revenue management. A key differentiator for Avon Data Systems Ltd. is its commitment to providing white-glove, personalised support to its customers. Many of its colleagues have direct hotel and hospitality experience, enabling them to act as a collaborative, knowledgeable partner to hotels. This ensures that their customers not only gain a state-of-the-art PMS but also benefit from a knowledgeable team focused on helping them maximize Rezcontrol's potential for their businesses. Joining the ClearCourse group at this time will support Avon Data Systems Ltd.’s ambitious growth plans to become the go-to-solution in the market. The cross-selling opportunities with other leading products in ClearCourse’s portfolio, such as TISSL and Giftpro, will provide Rezcontrol customers with a one-stop-shop for PMS, POS, gifting, embedded payments and more. ClearCourse aims to become a leading engine powering small businesses in the UK by putting big tech solutions in the hands of founders and their growing businesses. This latest addition to the group marks an important step in line with this vision. Christina Hamilton, CEO of Clearcourse said : “It is fantastic to welcome Avon Data Systems into the ClearCourse group as part of our Retail & Hospitality Software division, which will further strengthen our offering in this high-growth sector. Avon Data Systems’ Rezcontrol is an innovative solution that puts cutting-edge software in the hands of growing businesses who need them most. We are excited by the natural integration points of Rezcontrol into our existing customer bases, strengthening the ClearCourse value proposition as an integrated and comprehensive solution set for our customers.” Sarah Cade, Managing Director of Avon Data Systems Ltd. said : “We’re really excited to be joining the ClearCourse group to supercharge our next stage of growth. For the past 30 years, we’ve been working with our customers to ensure we are providing them with the innovative solutions they need to run their businesses smoothly and efficiently. ClearCourse is the ideal strategic partner to continue building on our goal of becoming the go-to solution for hospitality businesses looking for reliable, integrated software and payment solutions.”

Software and Payments Specialist ClearCourse Acquires Carpet and Flooring Retail Software Provider Computers for Flooring

April 16, 2025

ClearCourse, the provider of industry-specific software and embedded payment solutions for SMEs, announces the acquisition of Computers for Flooring, a premier management software provider for the flooring industry.